Blood Demon: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Sorcerer's Creed Book 4)

by N. P. Martin

  "I’m not. I’m just being a gentleman."

  "Not many of those around these days," she shouted out from the bedroom.

  "We’re a rare breed."

  Jennifer reappeared wearing dark jeans and a black leather jacket. "That you are, Creed."

  I returned her smile. "You ready to get out of here now?"

  "Sure, once I do one last thing."

  "What’s that?"

  "Give someone a message." She walked to the body she had recently drained and unclipped a radio from the dead man’s vest.

  "You’re radioing the people who just tried to kill you?"

  She nodded. "Just to let them know their ill-advised assassination attempt didn’t work." She clicked a button on the side of the radio. "Come in. Anyone there?"

  The only sound that came over the radio was static.

  "Maybe they’re out," I said, half joking.

  Jennifer spoke anyway. "I’m guessing you assholes know who this is. I’m just letting you know that I’m still alive, and all your men are dead. I’ll be leaving Babylon soon. Don’t try to track me, or you’ll be sorry."

  She was about to toss the radio when a voice came over the line. "You have something we want," said a male voice that sounded educated and arrogantly well mannered.

  Jennifer shook her head at the radio. "I know I do, and you will never get it."

  "Don’t be so sure," the other voice said. "We have our ways. You know this better than most, Jennifer."

  "Yeah, I do," Jennifer said, her voice full of contempt for whoever she was talking to. An Astro Corp executive if I had to guess. "But you should know that I have my ways as well. Don’t test me." She tossed the radio on the floor, and looked at me. "Let’s go."

  "What was that about?" I asked as we headed out the door, Jennifer not looking back even once.

  "I have something they want."

  "I gathered that. What do you have they want so badly?"

  "The most valuable thing to any corporation—information."

  "About what?"

  "Believe me, Creed," she said. "The less you know the better. The less anyone knows the better."

  Needless to say, I was immediately intrigued by what she was hiding, but I knew better than to push her on it. Not the right time. Definitely later, though, if there ever was a later.

  "Not the right time for what?"

  I stopped dead when I heard Max’s voice in my head. Then I turned away from Jennifer slightly as I spoke telepathically back to him. "What the fuck, Max? How long have you been—"

  "In you? I just got here."

  "Why didn’t I feel you going in? Jesus, that sounds disgusting. I think I’m going to barf…"

  "I thought I would slip in silently," Max said with an exaggerated note of salaciousness in his voice. "You know, like slipping it to the wife when she’s sleeping."

  "What? That makes no—"

  "Creed?" Jennifer said. "What the hell?"

  "Sorry," I said to her. "My demon is back."

  Jennifer drew her head back slightly as if she was trying to see the demon in me. "So are you going to like, demon out on me now or something?"

  "No," I said shaking my head. "It’s not like that. I—"

  "I can see the resemblance," Max interrupted. "The daughter is delectable as well, but in a different way that I can’t quite—"

  "Shut up!" I said aloud.

  Jennifer flinched and took a step back. "Are you demoning out?"

  "No, I told you—"

  "I know," Max said. "She has hidden depths. The mother keeps nothing hidden."

  "Yes, well observed, Max," I said. "Now will you shut the fuck up for a minute? We need to get out of here."

  "I’ll teleport us to wherever—"

  "No. I got it, Max."

  "Fine."

  "Can we go now?" Jennifer said.

  "Yes," I said.

  "Creed," Max said. "Remind me to show you the movie of what I was up to here in Babylon. Let’s just say things got a little…freaky."

  I sighed and shook my head. "Shoot me now," I said aloud, and then teleported us out of there.

  13

  Ray

  Ray was in the living room puffing on his pipe with a book in his lap when I arrived back at the Sanctum with Jennifer. "My dear!" Ray said as he put the book he was reading aside, and struggled up out of his chair. "How lovely to see you again."

  Jennifer smiled as Ray made his way over and hugged her. "Hello, Ray," Jennifer said. "Long time no see. You haven’t changed a bit. Still as handsome as ever."

  "Stop," I said. "His ego is big enough."

  Ray shook his head at me, before turning his attention back to Jennifer. "My," he said as he seemed to marvel at her in a way that I didn’t think was entirely appropriate for a man of his considerable age. "You have grown a good deal since we last met. You look so much like her now."

  "By her, I assume you mean my mother?" Jennifer said. "You still sleeping with her, Ray?"

  "A gentleman never tells," he said.

  "He is," I said, walking away to find the drinks cabinet.

  "What’s wrong with you?" Ray asked me. "Why are you so grumpy? Is that demon playing you up?"

  "I thought I was being a good demon," Max said.

  "Keep quiet, Max," I said as I poured myself a large measure of Glenfiddich, which was also Ray’s favorite brand of whiskey. Then to Ray, I said, "We ran into some trouble in Babylon. I got shot. Jennifer got shot twice."

  "Shot?" Ray said looking at Jennifer. "I didn’t think you capable of making such enemies. Who shot you?"

  "Corporate shills with no soul," she said. "I got into business with the wrong crowd."

  "Unfortunate," Ray said. "But easily done. Do you think you’ve left your unfortunate business behind now?"

  Jennifer puffed her cheeks out as if she was overwhelmed by everything that had happened. There was no doubting that things were moving fast for her. "I’d like to say yes, Ray, but I doubt it."

  Ray nodded. "Trouble does have a way of following you wherever you go. Right, August?"

  I just shook my head at him. "Sure, Ray."

  "My nephew is having his own troubles," Ray said to Jennifer.

  "I know, he told me," Jennifer said as she gave me a look of sympathy. "I can’t imagine what it must be like to have one of those things inside you."

  "Things?" Max blurted within me. "That’s rich coming from a bloodsucking vampire!"

  "Shut up, Max," I said aloud.

  "What?" Jennifer said.

  "Ignore him," said Ray. "He’s just admonishing his demon. Come and sit down, my dear. August, get the lady a drink. It’s terrible that I have to even remind you."

  "What’s your poison?" I asked her.

  "Absinthe would be nice," Jennifer said as she sat down on an ancient looking sofa.

  "Interesting choice," Ray said. "Bottom shelf, August. There’s a bottle of real absinthe there that I picked up on my travels recently. Not like the piss they sell in most places these days."

  I found the bottle Ray was talking about and poured three shots of the bright green Absinthe, just the fumes of which brought tears to my eyes. Then I carried the shot glasses over and gave one each to Jennifer and Ray. Ray raised his glass. "Welcome home, Jennifer," he said with a broad smile. "May things work out for you."

  "Let’s hope," Jennifer said.

  I raised my own glass. "Welcome home, Jennifer. It’s good to have you back."

  Her dark eyes smiled back at me. "Thank you, Creed. It’s actually…good to be back."

  As we drank, I hoped she would feel the same way after spending time with her mother in Blackham. Not that that was my biggest concern at that point. I had other things on my mind now, like traveling to the realm where my family was. Or at least their souls.

  With the absinthe burning my stomach like liquid fire, Ray sent me to fetch another round. When I returned, he had that look on his bearded face. The one that said he was waiting on me
to tell him something. "What?" I said.

  "There’s something you are not telling me," he said. "I can always tell with you. You’re even more standoffish than usual."

  A sigh escaped me as I sat down next to Jennifer on the sofa. "I was going to tell you anyway."

  "Tell me what?" Ray asked as he began stoking his pipe up again. "Is Leona pregnant?"

  I couldn’t keep the shock off my face as I nearly choked on my absinthe. "What? No, of course not. Jesus, the thought…"

  Jennifer tittered to herself beside me. "You should see your face, Creed."

  Shaking my head, I said, "A kid, really? In my line of work? No way."

  "You have to think about carrying on the family line sometime," Ray said.

  "Why haven’t you then?" I asked him.

  "Who says I haven’t?" Ray replied, as he casually lit his pipe.

  "What?"

  Jennifer laughed this time. "Your face, Creed…"

  "You’re squirming inside here," Max said. "A strangely pleasant sensation for me…"

  "Are you serious?" I asked Ray as I ignored Max.

  "No," Ray said smiling. "Maybe. Who knows?"

  I shook my head. "I wouldn’t put it past you."

  "Neither would I," Ray said. "But we’re talking about the fruits of your loins, August, not mine."

  "We’re not talking about mine either, for fucks sake," I said. "I think there’s too much fucking absinthe going around here."

  Again, Jennifer laughed, given credence to my last statement.

  "Relax, son," Ray said. "I’m just playing with you. Although it is something you should certainly consider in the future."

  "Yes," I said. "When I’m done being possessed by a demon, sure I’ll give it some thought, Ray."

  A chuckle left Ray’s mouth. "All right then, son," he said. "Enough talk of procreation. For now."

  "For bloody ever," I said.

  "What’s really going on with you?" he asked.

  I hesitated and stared at the floor for a moment. This was something I had been dreading telling Ray about, simply because I knew what he was going to say. "Well," I began. "You remember how I used the Dark Codex to learn how to defeat Grayson?"

  Ray nodded warily. "Yes."

  "Well, I also used the book to find out where the souls of my family are. Currently, they are in the Realm of the Dead."

  "And let me guess, you’re going to find them?" Ray shook his head. "Not advisable, August. It’s a bad idea to interfere with the souls of the dead. I thought you knew that."

  "Why?" Jennifer asked.

  "Because, my dear," Ray said. "They are in the Realm of the Dead, which is no place for the living. It is too easy to have one’s soul hijacked there. There are many souls who would like nothing better than a second chance at life, even if it is in a different physical body."

  "I’m not worried about that," I said. "I’ll figure out some protection spells before I go. Plus, my body and soul have already been hijacked. Isn’t that right, Max?"

  "Indeed they have," Max said. "Aren’t you the lucky one?"

  "I sure am."

  "Yes," Ray said. "Your demon might actually be an asset in this case. It will be like having an attack dog with you."

  "So people go to this Realm of the Dead when they die?" Jennifer said. "Then what?"

  "Most get taken to the Underworld, or to the Celestial Heavens," Ray explained. "Whichever afterlife they are destined for. Others never leave the Realm of the Dead at all."

  "So who decides where a soul gets taken?" Jennifer asked.

  "No one is entirely sure," Ray said. "Apparently you just get sent where you need to go. Greater universal forces are at play than mere mortals can understand, even the more knowledgeable amongst us. The multiverse is a vast place, my dear, full of unknown entities who wield unimaginable power. It’s like a great machine that operates in the background, keeping things running and sorting out the infinite souls of the beings who inhabit the multiverse at large."

  "It’s best not to think too hard on it," I said. "If you value your sanity."

  "Yes," Ray said nodding. "Plenty have gone mad trying to understand things that are so far beyond their understanding, as to be forever out of reach."

  Max sighed inside me. "Stupid humans with your minuscule intellects," he said. "I have no idea where you all get your smugness from. You know nothing, at the end of the day."

  "Thanks for pointing that out, Max. Is it hard to breathe all the way up there in your ivory tower?"

  "I can breathe just fine, thank you."

  I shook my head at Max, then said to Ray, "Look, I just know my family is in the Realm of the Dead somewhere, and that I have to find them. When they appeared to me that time at the factory, I got the sense that something was wrong."

  "Good," Max said. "Serves them right for screwing me over."

  "Fuck you, Max. You were screwing them over, not the other way around."

  "That may be true," Ray said. "But I still think you should leave it. It’s too risky. You may never return."

  "That’s a chance I’ll have to take," I said. "Trust me, I don’t have a choice here."

  "What do I always say, son?"

  "That there’s always a choice."

  "That’s right. In this case, I don’t think you’re making the right one."

  "Well, that’s on me, isn’t it?"

  "Careful, son. You’re beginning to sound like a martyr, and we all know what happens to martyrs. They get crucified."

  I couldn’t help but laugh. "Sure what’s new? At this point, the fucking cross is stuck to my back permanently."

  "I could go with you," Jennifer offered.

  "Thanks," I said shaking my head. "But no. Like I said, this is on me. I’m not risking anyone else’s soul. Besides, you’ll have enough on your plate when you get back to Blackham."

  "All right," Ray said as he stood up. "If you are going to go on this crazy trip, at least let me give you something that might help. Hold on."

  Ray left the room and arrived back a few moments later with something in his hand, which he placed on the table between us. The object was about the size of my hand, and made of metal that appeared intricately engraved with various symbols. In the center was a metal cog, and in the center of that was a dull green gemstone that resembled a skull. An arrow pointed out from underneath the metal cog. "It’s a compass," I said. "I already have a similar one. It’s for finding people, right?"

  "Not people," Ray said. "Souls."

  "It’s beautiful," Jennifer said.

  "The Realm of the Dead is vast," Ray said. "Trying to find a soul in somewhere that size would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. That’s where the compass comes in. All you have to do is focus on the soul you want to locate, and the compass will lead you to them."

  I took the compass off the table and held it. It felt surprisingly heavy in my hands. "Thanks, Ray," I said. "I appreciate you giving me this."

  "I expect it back," Ray said, his gray eyes focusing on me. "You hear me, son?"

  I locked stares with him for a moment, and then nodded. "I hear you."

  Ray nodded. "Good."

  After a moments silence, I stood up. "We should go now," I said to Jennifer. "Your mother will be waiting."

  Jennifer gave a tight smile, but didn’t stand. "I’m not sure I can do this now," she said.

  "Nonsense, my dear," Ray said. He went over and took hold of her hands, gently pulling her to her feet. "I know for a fact that your mother will welcome you with open arms."

  Jennifer nodded in response, but said nothing. She knew she didn’t have a choice anyway. If she thought anything like me, she would probably have thought her destiny was just catching up with her. Some things in life you just can’t avoid, no matter how far you run, or what you do.

  "Teleport us back to Blackham," I said to Max.

  "And what if said no?"

  "Then you’d be an even bigger dick than I already consider you to b
e."

  Max chuckled. "It’s more fun being a dick."

  "Whatever. You want your answers, you’ll take us back."

  I turned to Jennifer. Thanks to her nerves about going home, she now reminded me of the young, vulnerable girl I had saved all those years ago.

  "Only to now throw her back in the lions den," Max said smugly.

  "You ready?" I said to Jennifer. "My demon hijacker will be teleporting us back."

  Jennifer nodded as Ray released her hands. "I’m ready."

  Ray patted me on the shoulder. "Good luck, son," he said.

  "Thanks, Ray. I’ll hopefully see you soon."

  As we were about to vanish from the room, Ray said, "And August?"

  "Yes?"

  "Get rid of that bloody demon."

  I couldn’t help but smile. "I’m working on it."

  14

  The Grope

  As per my instructions, Max teleported us back to Blackham, landing us outside the gray stone fortress that Angela Crow had called home for decades now. It was the middle of the night, and there was no one around but the four guards posted at the entrance to the building. "It’s good to be home," I said despite my current circumstances.

  "I wish I could say the same," Jennifer said.

  I put a hand on her shoulder. "That’s just the nerves talking. You’ll be fine."

  "Will you come in with me?"

  "What? I…"

  "Please, Creed. I’d feel better if you were there. Just until I see how things go."

  "All right," I said. "I’ll come in with you. Your mother will probably kick me out again anyway."

  "No, she won’t," Jennifer said as we walked to the entrance of the building, the four guards already standing to attention as we came toward them. "I won’t let her."

  I couldn’t help but smile. "Is this new no-bullshit attitude a sign of things to come?"

  "Well, it won’t be like before, I can tell you that much."

  "Glad to hear it." It would be interesting to see how Angela responded to sharing power with her daughter. Something told me it wouldn’t all be plain sailing.

  One of the burly, black suited guards stepped forward from the rest as we approached. I knew his face from my numerous visits over the years, a face that hadn’t aged at all since the first time I saw it. He still looked like a lumberjack in a suit, thanks to his thick beard and massive frame. Normally, the guard, whose name is Bradley, would throw me a few hostile words when he saw me. But this time, his focus was completely on Jennifer. It was the first time I had ever seen Bradley’s face anything but stoney. He looked like he was going to cry. "Princess Jennifer?" he said in a deep voice. "Is that really you?"