Bitten in Two

by Jennifer Rardin

  I glanced at Sterling. He’d closed his eyes. I thought I heard him chanting as Nedo leaned over the wild-eyed survivor, grinning with huge enjoyment when she yelped and crab walked straight back into a bin full of maracas, knocking it over and spilling them with a clash that officially made Ahmed’s the loudest scene I’d ever lingered at after the killings were over. I hoped the neighbors wore earplugs to bed.

  Nedo glared at the single surviving Luureken like he was insulted she hadn’t been decapitated as he inquired, “The Enkyklios ball. Tell us we didn’t die for an empty bauble.”

  Cleahd shrieked, “Tell us we didn’t die in vain!”

  Wrull crawled up beside the survivor’s shoulder and breathed in her ear. “We died for a fucking marble, Eishel. You can’t burn enough incense to comfort our spirits in that knowledge.”

  Eishel reached back, wrapped her hands around a guembri like ones I’d seen musicians strumming in the Djemaa el Fna for the past few days, and stuttered, “N-n-n-n-ooo. You’ve forgotten already. I-i-i-it’s not about the ball. That was just a clue, remember? Sister Yalida left her map inside it. The map that leads to the Rocenz. Roldan made it our solemn duty to guard it—”

  “Aaaahhhh!” screeched Nedo.

  “In vain!” screamed Cleahd.

  “Do you think those CIA fuckers haven’t figured all this out already? They’re probably halfway to the map right now,” Wrull hissed.

  Eishel shook her head. “Impossible! The Enkyklios map hasn’t been disturbed in decades. We’ve seen to that.” She pulled the guitarlike instrument to her chest.

  “No!” wailed Wrull. “The map! You’ve put the map at risk!”

  “Wasted lives!” screamed Nedo. “Empty deaths!”

  “Wait!” Eishel cried before Wrull could wrap his claws around her neck. “It’s still at the Musee de Marrakech. Think! I’m sure you’ll remember if you just try! The rest of our pack is still there, still guarding it. And even if they failed like…” She nearly swallowed her tongue as Cleahd screeched and began tearing out her hair.

  “No! I didn’t mean that!” Eishel scrambled to her feet, holding the guembri out in front of her like a shield. “I’m only saying, even if our enemies did, somehow, find a way to steal it they could never interpret it. The tannery is as much a labyrinth as a warlock’s maze.”

  “Too late!” wailed Cleahd.

  “The vampire and his Trust have already gone!” bellowed Wrull.

  “The map! The map!” chanted Nedo, over and over again, punching his head forward with every other word so that Eishel finally hid her face behind the instrument.

  They pressed so close to her they could’ve walked through her if they’d taken another step. “I’ll warn the pack, all right?” she cried. “They’ll ambush the Trust before they can even crack the door to the storage room.”

  “Go!” demanded Cleahd.

  “Go!” “Leave now!” the other two chimed in, waving their hands like geese herders.

  Eishel ran toward the door, working up such a head of steam I half expected the hoot of a train whistle to toot out of her ass as her arms worked up and down like little pistons. It seemed nothing could stop her from leaping into the street now that the entrance had been destroyed. Instead? She slammed into Raoul’s replacement full force.

  Thunk.

  For a second she reminded me of a cartoon cat, foiled in its endless mouse chase by one of those sudden, unexpected impacts that flattens it, tail to whiskers, before it slides to the floor with a long squeak of surrender. I pressed my lips together.

  This is not funny.

  Then she fell straight back.

  Thud.

  Cole’s strangled whisper broke the silence. “The only way this could get better is if the trapdoor opened underneath that rug she’s lying on and she tumbled down to the basement.”

  Collective intake of breath. Then Cole said, “I barricaded that door shut.”

  Exchange of guilty looks as we realized what we’d been considering. And then Cole said, “Oh. Wait.” One well-aimed kick and we all sighed happily as the floor groaned and Ahmed’s basement access door gave underneath what had been a colossal battle followed by the final insult of Eishel’s fall. She disappeared with a whisper of windswept clothing and a final, satisfying clonk.

  We all grinned happily. Except for Raoul, who’d risen above such petty humor. And Vayl, who just didn’t get us.

  They looked at each other while we shook our heads and wiped our eyes—and shrugged.

  Vayl held out his arms. “Do I look like a man who is prepared to steal a map?”

  Raoul gave him a critical once-over. “No. You look like you were just mauled by a lion.” He motioned to the slashes healing on Vayl’s arms and his half-digested calf. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m assuming you won.”

  “It does.” Vayl glanced at us, his eyes lingering on mine just long enough to make sure I understood. “But if that is the impression I leave, you lot would frighten a well-armed street gang. In which case, I suggest we go back to the riad to change before the authorities decide we look too interesting not to question—”

  “Was that our next step?” Cole asked me.

  “Yup,” I replied, staring hard at him, willing him to read my mind. “Right after Raoul sends the Luureken to the great beyond so she can’t warn the pack we’re coming.”

  Raoul scowled at me. “Don’t get used to this. I’m not here to help you start your own morgue.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” I said. “Ahmed’s fridge is way too small for that.” I took off for the back room and the Enkyklios ball it still held while Raoul tied up our loose thread. Cole followed me.

  As I reached for the ball he whispered, “Are we doing what I think we’re doing?”

  I looked over his shoulder. Kyphas was crouched at the edge of the hole, staring greedily down at Eishel, probably trying to figure a way to take credit for her eventual trip to the pit. That didn’t mean she wasn’t paying some sort of attention. So I said, “Yeah. We’re taking the ball with us.”

  When he saw where I was looking he didn’t argue. Just watched me reach for it, think again, and then call for Astral. Who appeared like she’d been waiting for the summons.

  “See the ball? I need you to carry that home for me, okay, girl?”

  Astral leaped to the table, stretched out her neck, and delicately nipped the Enkyklios ball off its flowery stand. Then she swallowed it.

  “You are such a good girl!” I said.

  She didn’t grace me with a reply. Maybe she’d figured out how I’d just risked her little hide, because her attitude seemed haughtier than usual as she walked out the front door, as if she assumed the rest of us were ready to follow her.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  We made it all the way back to the square before anyone even took a second look at us. And even then their eyes barely hesitated before skipping on to a lone musician who was strolling along singing quietly as he accompanied himself on a guembri similar to the one Eishel had shielded herself with. In the time we’d spent away most of the crowd had cleared out. The food carts had rolled off to their garages or were shutting down. The Djemaa el Fna had finally decided it was time for bed.

  As happened with me anytime I saw a city yawn and set the alarm, I felt the adrenaline surge. Now was when our real work usually began, and tonight was no exception. I walked beside Vayl, every sense maxed out, most of them centered on him. Though I’d worked with him nearly every day for the past eleven months, I’d never been so aware of the confident set of his jaw. The impossible broadness of his shoulders. The predatory smoothness in his step. The temptation to claim him by walking inside the circle of his arm while his fingers brushed the curve of my hip locked my teeth together. I wanted to grab him by the front of his shirt, drag him to the center of the square, and scream, “MINE!”

  I knew it was a delayed reaction. Seeing him come back to himself had been too huge for my heart to handle all at once. It mig
ht be weeks before I came down from this fierce joy at having a part of my heart returned to me.

  How is this different than what Kyphas wants with Cole? asked my Inner Librarian. You act as if Vayl is a part of you. Isn’t that a sort of possession?

  I answered because she wasn’t judging. Just asking so she’d know where to file the records. Maybe the line is so thin in places you’d need a microscope to find it. But you and I both know it exists. All we have to do is take a peek at the Domytr we’ve got locked up in my head. The difference is love. Not the use-it-till-you-suck-the-life-out-of-it word you hear on soap operas and talk shows every day. Real love. Unending. Unconditional. Unselfish. That’s why it’s not possession.

  What would you call it, then?

  I didn’t even have to think. I’d call it bliss.

  I looked up at my vampire, breathed in his scent like it was filled with miracles. Smiled into his warm brown eyes. And held back. His touch had reassured me. Now I could wait until we had real time. But I still took advantage of walking close to him, brushing against his arm as everyone else pressed close too, so we could use his power of camouflage to hide our blood-stained, fist-bruised bodies from the people who would be most likely to call the police if they saw us.

  Sterling and Cole took the lead. My sverhamin and I walked behind them with Kyphas trailing at the back. I kept an eye on her, but there was really no need. She stayed quiet and thoughtful, though she did keep an eye to our backs so nothing could sneak up on us. She was, in fact, an ideal rear guard. That alone told me something was up. For once, I was glad to know it.

  I elbowed Vayl, tracked my eyes to her, and got his acknowledgment that he’d noticed too. But he didn’t say anything. Just explained what he expected to go down at the museum after we’d all spiffed up for the robbery.

  “With two Sensitives and a warlock on our side, we should easily be able to locate and eliminate the pack guarding the map,” he said. “Eishel said it was in a storage room. Leave the lead Were alive so it can tell us which one. After that, Bergman—”

  Cole asked, “What about Bergman?”

  Vayl looked at me. “I assumed he was waiting for us back at the riad?”

  “No.” I felt that fist in my stomach again. “He’s hurt. It’s not life-threatening, but he’s at the hospital.” Now the guilt descended. What the hell had I been thinking letting some punch-loving stalker guard my little buddy until the cavalry came? It was worse than leaving him alone!

  “I have to call him.” I fished out my phone.

  “Push the speaker button thingy!” Cole demanded.

  “Oh, you’re so technical. Remind me not to let you touch any more of Bergman’s stuff,” I said. But I did activate the group-hear function.

  Miles answered immediately. “Jaz! I’m going to have a scar! Actually, three of them. Isn’t that great?”

  “Uh. Yeah?”

  “Monique’s with me. She hovers like a Jewish mother, only she’s pretty sensitive about her age, so don’t tell her I said that. She just left to find me something to eat because I’m starving! I could probably eat a whole pot of spaghetti right now! Did everything go okay?”

  Bergman on painkillers. Um, God? Let’s not do this too often, ’kay? “Yeah. I mean, great. Just like we’d hoped.”

  “That’s so cool it’s like… empirical!”

  Cole’s shoulders started to shake. Sterling looked back at me and mouthed, Empirical?

  I said, “… Definitely. So. What kind of medication did they give you, dude?”

  “Stuff for pain. And antibiotics. And painkillers. Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

  “Nope. But, uh, I figured you…”

  Cole was gesturing wildly like he either wanted to talk or climb the Atlas Mountains before we left the region. I kept waving him off. Finally Vayl pointed at him then pointed to the ground. The message was clear. Down, boy! He subsided.

  I said, “So, Miles, how long are you in for?”

  “Overnight. Monique’s going to stay with me the whole time. She says she’s worried about me. But I think she might be one of those cougars. You know what I mean? Rrrrrow.”

  When Bergman actually tried to pull off a growl I nearly dropped the phone. Cole had started to slap himself, but it wasn’t working. He covered his entire head with his shirt while Sterling buried his face in Cole’s shoulder and they both shook uncontrollably. Behind us, even Kyphas began to snort.

  Finally I managed to say, “Gee, Miles, are you sure? Maybe she’s just being nice.”

  Bergman said, “Naw, I think she’s hot for my bod. I’ll tell you one thing. I’m not going to put out on the first date. That’s for sure. I’ll definitely make her wait until at least date number two.”

  Cole and Sterling fell to the ground and began to roll around helplessly. Beside me I could see the glint of Vayl’s fangs. If I didn’t end this conversation right now I would probably rupture something vital from the supreme effort it was taking not to laugh out loud. I said, “That’s a sound plan, Miles. You do that. So I’ll pick you up in the morning.”

  “Okay! Have fun boffing your vampire!”

  I hung up. Three beats of silence. And then we all roared.

  The riad seemed smaller without Monique and Bergman there to brighten the corners. I said so to Vayl as we stood outside his door. Everyone else had gone off to their rooms to clean up. I should be on my way too. But it was hard to separate, even temporarily. So I found another excuse to stay by adding, “It’s great that you booked a riad so close to the medina. Makes for a short walk to, well, pretty much anywhere.” Then I grinned like a lottery winner as I realized this was the first time he’d heard my compliment as “himself.”

  I realized he was thinking along the same lines when he said, “It seems that it was my last lucid move for some time.”

  I said, “I don’t know how long this is going to eat at you. I guess it would bother me for longer than twenty minutes too. But Sterling believes the only reason Ahmed could curse you was because you’d already cursed my mother. And you only did that to protect me. If that’s wrong, you can wallow in guilt for the next hundred years and I won’t fault you.”

  “I know how miserable I made you.”

  I smiled up at him. “You were kind of a dick back in the day, weren’t you?”

  His face went taut and for a second I knew how Ahmed had felt to face his rage. “Yes.” Terse, get-the-hell-out-if-that’s-your-intention tone.

  “But you’re not now,” I noted.

  He pulled a long breath in through his nose. “No.”

  “That’s a helluva feat. I’ll bet I can name fifty men who could live three hundred years and never improve on their dickness.”

  Twitch of the lip. “Is that a word now?”

  “Absolutely. Here, I’ll use it in another sentence. ‘His dickness was so far beyond help they decided to amputate.’ I think that’s—Vayl? Are you… laughing? About the serious malady of dickness? Geez, that’s pretty insensitive of you, considering you beat it yourself.”

  I leaned against the wall, savoring the sound of his pleasure. Then I realized I was leaving a red splotch on the tile. “Ick. I really gotta get a shower. And try to get this shirt clean.”

  “Yes,” Vayl said doubtfully as he viewed it through the stains. “It is so… charming.”

  “I like it. Cole gave it to me for my birthday.” Oops. All that work to stomp out the doomsdays and one slip of the tongue had relit the fire.

  “I missed your birthday.”

  “Not really,” I said. “We had cake.”

  “Do I remember Kyphas being there?”

  I tried to shrug it off. “Yeah.”

  “Then you did not have a true celebration.”

  Wow. He really knew me. Which was probably why he decided to stop with the self-torture and focus on more important matters. “I have a present for you.”

  “You do?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  “Is i
t here?”

  “In fact, it is. Well, it should be. I meant to check if everything had worked out as planned before I—”

  “Oh, baby! Okay, okay, this is great!” I realized I was jumping up and down and clapping my hands. And that Vayl really liked the extra bouncing that caused.

  I stopped when he said, “I will need to make a call. But you should be able to open it”—he motioned to our general nastiness—“as soon as we have changed.”

  I rewarded him with another round of bouncing and, since his clothes were ruined anyway, a bone-cracking hug. No, not his, mine. But damn, did my back feel great afterward!

  I said, “I have to go. Shower. Dress. Clean up. You too. Fast, okay?” I kissed him, hard, on the lips. “Oh, did I say? I love you.”

  There was a hint of gold in his emerald eyes when he said, “I do not suppose you would ever have to tell me again. But I am glad to hear the words.”

  “Great. Okay. I’m outta here!” And I was off to the showers. Because, hey, it was my first birthday with a boyfriend whose idea of fun was to whisk me off to an exotic island for weeks at a time. Who knew what his idea of a great gift would be?

  All the way through my shower I tried to guess. Because surprises tend to gut me. And then I’m left standing, or sometimes lying there, looking like a candy-assed fool. So what could it be? He definitely liked the threads, so maybe a whole new wardrobe. Oh! What about another trip? That would be pretty boss. Like maybe sailing around the world. Or backpacking through Alaska.

  By the time I’d washed the last spot of blood from myself and my clothes, I’d made up my mind. Unfortunately, due to the surprise nature of the surprise, the decision had fallen into direness. Vayl was about to present me with another piece of jewelry. Probably something along the lines of a five-tier diamond necklace that I could wear, yeah, nowhere. Gack.

  I practiced my thankful face in the mirror as I brushed my teeth. It didn’t work until I pasted on the Lucille persona. “No, really, Vayl, you shouldn’t have.” Spit. “Are you kidding? It’s gorgeous!” Rinse, swish, and… spit again. How much did safety-deposit boxes cost? And if I hung on to it until E.J. graduated from high school, would it bring enough at auction to put her through college?