by Jaye Wells
My stomach clenched. If the robed terrorists were that worried about losing the owl, I couldn’t imagine Master Mahan would be too thrilled to learn I’d gotten his owl eaten by a zombie.
But something else bothered me, too. Despite the ritualized cutting, nothing in his story implied his attackers were members of any of the dark races. Vamps would have enjoyed the blood play more. Mages would have used magic to accomplish their aims. Weres or faeries didn’t fit, either. A new suspicion started forming in my mind.
“I know you said you didn’t get a good look at them, but is it possible these guys were human?”
Everyone in the room reacted physically to the question. Mac was the most vocal, with a loud snort.
Brooks crossed his arms and leaned back. “I didn’t think of that before now, but you might be on to something. It took four of them to hold me down, which seemed weird at the time. I mean, I’m not exactly muscular, you know?”
“Yeah, but you’re a fae. That means you’re still stronger than an average human male,” Giguhl observed.
“Here’s what I don’t get: Lavinia has access to magical vampires,” Georgia said. “Why would she bother with humans?”
Zen cleared her throat. The vamp cringed. “No offense.” The voodoo queen nodded and turned her attention back to the conversation.
“Maybe they’re humans who serve the Caste,” Mac offered. “What with the robes and chanting, they sure sound like a secret society to me.”
Adam’s eyes widened. “Wait a second. Were they wearing any symbols?”
“Oh, yeah,” Brooks said. “There was an eye symbol on the hood—right here”—he pointed to the middle of his forehead—“above a pyramid, you know like on a dollar bill?” Everyone nodded. “And then on the right breast of their robes was a kind of crest thingie. I didn’t get a good look before they blindfolded me, though.”
“Do you remember any details about it?” Rhea asked.
“There was a fleur de lis, I think. Maybe a moon, too.”
Something tickled the back of my mind, a smoky tendril of memory. “Was there a key?”
His shoulders drooped as he shook his head. “I should have paid better attention, but…”
I shot the fae a sympathetic smile. “Not your fault.”
Adam’s solemn gaze met mine. I knew he was recalling the same thing I’d remembered. But I wasn’t ready to voice my suspicion yet. Not until I had more proof. I grabbed a piece of paper from the desk and scribbled the symbol from memory. I’d only had a couple of brief glances at it, but I think I managed to get the gist. “Like this?”
He took the sheet and lowered the sunglasses just enough to peek at it. What I could see of his eyes made my heart clench. Capillaries crossed the white of his eyes like tiny red webs. He lowered the glasses more for a better look. “That’s it, I think. You’ve seen it before?”
My teeth clenched so hard my jaw cramped. “Unfuckingbelievable.”
Adam took the picture from Zen. “How’d we miss this?”
Giguhl grabbed it from Zen. “Oh, shit!”
“Guys?” Rhea said. “Talk to us.”
“We know who’s been feeding Lavinia our locations,” Adam said tightly.
I crossed my arms and shook my head as my brain went back over my theory to check for holes.
“Well?” Mac said, her voice dripping with impatience. “Who?”
Adam raised his eyebrows, I nodded, perfectly happy to let him take lead on this. Maybe they’d believe it more coming from him. “Alodius wears a tie pin with this symbol.”
Zen let out a frustrated breath and leaned forward. Her expression said she wasn’t buying it. “You’re jumping to conclusions. New Orleans has a long tradition of fraternal orders and benevolent societies. A fleur de lis and crescent moon? Name one building or sign or T-shirt in this city that doesn’t feature one of those symbols. Hell, even keys are everywhere.”
“How about the fact that two major incidents happened right after we visited his shop?” I counted them off on my fingers. “First Stryx shows up right after our first trip to buy blood. Then the vamp attack after Giguhl and I went in.”
Adam piped up. “And I went there last night to get Sabina some blood.”
I nodded. “Did Alodius say or do anything strange while you were there?”
“He was pretty curious about what you were up to. Even asked specifically what we were doing last night. I lied and told him we were taking in the show at Lagniappe. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, since he’s always so damned chatty. But what if he was trying out if the coast would be clear for the attack?”
Mac snorted. “Jesus, you guys are unbelievable. Alodius is a nice old man. Why would he do something like that? He’s friends with these two.” She nodded toward Zen and Brooks.
I turned on the werewolf. My conscience nagged at me that she might be right. We were going on assumptions, not real proof of treachery. But I couldn’t just let the coincidences slide without investigating. “Adam told him we were all going to see the show last night. They didn’t expect him to be here.”
“Her,” Brooks whispered so low I barely heard it. I shot him a look, but Zen jumped in.
“Tread carefully here, Sabina. I overlooked your accusations about Georgia because I knew she and Mac could handle you. But Alodius is a human, and until you have real proof, I won’t allow you to harm him.”
“Look, we’re not saying he’s directly responsible,” Adam said. “But the evidence so far dictates we at least have a conversation with him.”
“Right,” Mac sorted. “I’ve been on the receiving end of one of your ‘conversations,’ and I’d put cash money on your chat with Alodius getting physical real fast.”
I speared her with my gaze. “What do you want us to do, Mac? Ignore this? Overlook what happened to Brooks and Elvira? Both attacks were ordered by the same person—Lavinia Kane. How long do you think it’ll be before she sends someone after Georgia? Or you, for that matter?”
“What?” Brooks shouted. “What happened to Elvira?”
Mac shot me a glare that promised a slow, painful death. “She was attacked, too, honey. She”—Mac swallowed hard—“she didn’t make it.”
Brooks’s head fell into his hands as the dam broke. Mac’s chin raised and her eyes hardened as she looked at me. “I take care of my own.”
My conscience prickled for upsetting Brooks, but now wasn’t the time to go soft. I crossed my arms and nodded toward Brooks. “You can’t be everywhere, Mac. They were attacked at the same time.”
She tensed to lunge at me. “Maybe I should save your grandbitch the trouble—”
Her body froze midspring. “Oh, hell no!” Giguhl’s voice cracked like a whip. Mac dangled from one of his claws like a puppy from his mother’s teeth. “Someone needs to teach you some manners, werebitch.”
“Giguhl,” I snapped. “Put her down. Now.”
The demon sighed and released her. Back on her feet, the were stared me down for a moment. “Fuck all of you.”
She jumped into motion, grabbing Georgia by the arm before storming toward the door. Brooks called after them, but Mac stomped out with Georgia in her wake without another word.
“I’ll just show them out and do another perimeter check,” Giguhl said. I nodded and dismissed Mac from my mind.
“Look,” I said to Zen. “I’m not looking to hurt the guy if he’s innocent. But human or not, we can’t take the chance he’s working against us.”
Zen sighed heavily, looking torn. Rhea placed a hand on her arm. “There’s an easy way to find out if he was involved without beating it out of him.”
I perked up, hoping Rhea’s solution might offer a compromise to end the stalemate. Rhea nodded toward Brooks. “Take Brooks with you. If Alodius was involved, he’ll be surprised to see the fae healthy.”
“Absolutely not,” Zen all but shouted.
The drag queen perked up in the bed. “Actually, I’d love to see the expres
sion on his face when he sees me looking fabulous again. If he’s guilty, that is,” he amended.
“Are you sure? I know you’re feeling physically better, but I don’t want to upset you any more than necessary.”
In response, Brooks threw back the covers. “Just give me five to fix my face and throw on something a little less comfortable.”
“No,” Zen said, moving toward the determined fae. “It’s too risky.”
Brooks stood and took Zen’s hand. “I appreciate your concern, darling, but I’m not going to spend the rest of my life hiding because some assholes decided to send a message. If my presence will help Sabina and Adam get answers, then I’m all in.”
I added, “We’ll be safe.”
Zen’s eyes jumped from Brooks to me as she weighed whether to keep arguing. I think we all suspected this wouldn’t end well for the Cajun, but I couldn’t blame her for trying to protect Brooks from further distress. Finally, Zen nodded and forced a smile for her friend. “What are you going to wear?”
Brooks laughed and took the woman by the arm, leading her out of the room to discuss wardrobe choices.
I blew out a breath and turned toward Rhea. “Giguhl’s on watch. If you need anything or if anything odd happens while we’re gone, make sure he knows.”
Rhea nodded but clearly had something else on her mind. “While you’re gone I’m going to call Orpheus and fill him in. I think it might be a good idea to have a couple Pythian Guards here to back you up.”
“Not yet,” Adam said. When she opened her mouth to argue, he held up a hand. “Until we have a chance to sort out this human angle, we don’t need the complication. Plus if the building is being watched, someone’s bound to notice them arriving.”
“I agree,” I said. “Right now the situation is too volatile to involve any other lives.”
Rhea sighed and thought about it for a moment. “All right, but I’m still going to check in and tell him I’m staying for the time being.”
Adam paused. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, either.”
“Why not?”
I jumped in to add my two cents. “Because everyone has a target on their head now. Adam and Brooks have already been injured.”
Adam stepped forward. “If something happened to you—” His voice cracked. I shifted and swallowed against the unexpected emotion that tightened my throat.
Rhea grabbed Adam’s hand and shot me an affectionate but determined smile. “I’m well aware of the risks. And I might be old, but I’m stubborn. No one’s taking me down without a fight.”
Next to me, Adam smiled proudly at his aunt. “It’s true. She’s kicked my ass more than once.”
If Adam could put aside his concerns for Rhea’s safety, then so could I. Besides, I liked having the old bat around.
“Okay,” I said. “But from now on no one is alone—not here and definitely not on the streets.”
Adam and Rhea nodded, but before either could say anything a femme fatale appeared at the door. Obviously getting into the spirit of the impending interrogation, Brooks had opted for black leather pants, six-inch-high platform boots, and a hot pink bustier under a leather bolero. “It’s time to show that butcher this kitty’s got claws.”
Adam whistled low. I smiled approvingly at her choice of attire. “Lookin’ fierce, Brooks. You ready?”
“Brooks is dead, honey. From now on I’m Pussy Willow.”
22
Instead of taking Zen’s voodoomobile again, Adam opted for just flashing us to the neighborhood near Alodius’s shop. Pussy Willow—who insisted we use that name as well as feminine pronouns for her from now on—seemed so eager for our mission that she didn’t balk at the unconventional mode of travel. As for me, the magical transportation limited my exposure to the bright morning sun, so I was all for it.
Therefore, a couple of minutes after walking out of Zen’s shop, we stood on the front stoop of Cajun Sausage Fest. Luckily, the hour was so early that no tourists or locals saw our arrival. Unluckily, it also meant Alodius’s shop was closed.
In deference to Halloween’s arrival—shit, how had it already gotten to be Saturday?—he’d pasted cardboard decorations of cackling witches with striped socks and vampires with big, fangy smiles in the darkened windows. “Cute,” I said, leaning to the window for a peek inside. “I can’t tell if he’s in there. What are the chances he’s in the back?”
Adam peered up to the second floor of the building. “I say we give him a call and find out.” He pulled his knapsack around and dug in it, finally coming up with the magnet Alodius had given me the other night. I’d totally forgotten about passing it to the mancy then. Luckily, Adam never seemed to throw anything away from his trusty portable magic kit.
“Thanks.” I smiled at him and took the phone he offered. Alodius answered on the third ring.
“Yell-oh?”
“Hey Alodius, it’s Sabina. I hate to call so early, but—” I cut off dramatically, hoping he’d take the bait.
After a pause, he bit. “Is everything okay, cher?”
I put a little wobble in my voice. “No. I need some blood really bad. Is there any way you could meet me at the store? I’m already here. Normally I wouldn’t ask, but it’s an emergency.”
“Now, now, darlin’, don’t you worry your pretty self. Alodius lives right upstairs. Be down in jiff.”
“Really? Thank you so much.”
“However—”
“Yes?”
“Seeing how it’s after business hours, we’re going to have to charge a tad extry.”
I pursed my lips. I’d like to show him a “tad extry” myself, the opportunistic ass. “That’s fine. Please hurry.”
I clicked off the phone and turned to Adam and Pussy Willow. “You guys stand around the corner. Follow me in two minutes later.”
Adam nodded. “Got it. Be careful.” Then he took Pussy’s arm and the two jogged past the next store to wait out of sight.
I reached back to touch my gun, more to reassure myself than out of any real fear I’d forgotten it. The light came on then in the store, signaling Alodius’s arrival. He must have used a back staircase from his living quarters. I attempted to look defeated as he waved and came to unlock the door.
“Sabina? Darlin’, you look like death warmed over. Come on in and tell Old Alodius what’s wrong.”
I hesitated. Despite his welcoming smile and concerned demeanor, it’d be a mistake to underestimate Alodius. Gods only knew what nasty surprises he could have waiting in the shop. Casting a quick glance to my right, I didn’t see Adam or Pussy Willow, but I felt their presence and knew they’d have my back if the crazy Cajun tried anything. Besides, he might be a traitor, but he was still a human, and the day I couldn’t hold my own against a mortal was the day I took up sunbathing as a hobby.
I swallowed and lowered my head meekly—at least I assumed that was the vibe I was giving off. I didn’t have a lot of experience with meekness. “Oh, Alodius, it was horrible.”
I brushed past him. Inside, I moved the counter and leaned against it forlornly. This position was chosen strategically so he had his back to the front door. It also meant my back wasn’t exposed in case any of his robed buddies were hiding in the storeroom. “I don’t know where to begin.”
“Start at the beginning, cher.” Impatience crept into his tone now.
“My friend Brooks was… he was murdered last night.”
“What?” Alodius shouted.
I paused. “Did you know him? He worked for Madam Zenobia.”
Alodius’s face had turned an interesting shade of red. He sputtered for a moment. I couldn’t tell if he’d realized he’d given something away or if it was genuine shock. “He came here a time or two for Madam Z. Are you sure he’s dead?”
I nodded sadly. “But that’s not all. Whoever killed him also destroyed Zen’s shop.”
This seemed to shock him less than hearing about Brooks’s pretend death. “That’s a shame.” He paused.
“But back to the fae. You’re absolutely positive he died?”
“I’m afraid so.” I shook my head, keeping my eyes on the Cajun. “Who would do such a terrible thing, Alodius?”
Alodius punched a fist into his palm. “Those sons-a-bitches!”
I moved in closer. “Which sons of bitches?”
He choked and kicked his feet. “What? I just meant whoever’s responsible should pay.” He looked away with wild eyes.
I got in his face. Grabbed his collars. “Who?”
His mouth worked like a hungry carp’s. “I—they were just going to scare y’all a little.”
I tightened my fists on his ring-around-the-collar and lifted. His doughy body struggled against the reverse of gravity. Exposing my fangs, I hissed, “Names. Now!”
The bell over the door announced the arrival of Adam and Pussy Willow. “He better have confessed to something, Red,” Adam said by way of greeting. “Because we agreed no violence until we had proof.”
I dropped Alodius. His ass hit linoleum with a crack. Probably broke his tailbone, judging from the moans of pain. “We were getting to that. Alodius was just about to tell me everything he knows.” I nudged him with my boot. “Right?”
Alodius cringed and looked up at the six-foot-tall diva in heels towering over him. “Brooks!” His voice cracked. “You’re alive!” Then he paused and swiveled his gaze to me. “Wait a second. What the hell’s going on here? Why did you say he died?”
Pussy Willow crossed her arms and glared down at the man. “Brooks did die, darlin’. I’m his better, bitchier half.”
Alodius shook himself, clearly lost. “What the sam hell’s going on?”
Adam knelt down and looked into the human’s eyes. “Here’s a clue. Next time you want to hide your involvement in attempted murder, make sure to take off the tacky tie pin that links you to the crime.” Adam flicked the pin in question with his fingernail.
The man blanched but raised his chin. “You’re grasping at straws. A tie pin don’t prove nothin’.”