I waved Gloria over, as Izumi and the three she-wolves took a seat at the next table over. They avoided looking at me and the Alpha. I let a little dragon magic burn on my skin to let William know that even though I looked relaxed, I was ready for anything. Gloria arrived to take our orders.
“Eighty-year-old bourbon and six glasses,” I said. “The guys at the bar are on their own.” I only order bourbon when I’m trying not to rip someone’s head off.
She looked at the patrons of the bar, her stare commanding their attention the way only a very old vampire can manage. The bouncer turned off the jukebox. There was a mass exodus for the door. By the time Gloria returned with my order, only Gray and the male wolves remained to watch the coming show. Gray turned on his bar seat to face my table. He clutched a bowl of pretzels, munching avidly.
Gloria put a glass in front of me, William, and Izumi, and left the other three glasses at the other table. Gloria filed the glasses all around with the reddish brown bourbon.
Angie looked at her. “No ice?”
I shuddered at such sacrilege.
William only sighed.
The wolves back at the bar split their attention between my and Izumi’ table, and Gray, who ignored them with an ease they ought to find irritating. I saw one of them take a few steps his way, sniffing the air delicately for Gray’s scent. Gloria watched as well, showing no sign of interfering in what might happen.
William and I didn’t say a word for a long while.
I was trying to picture the red-headed wolf naked with open lips wrapped around my engorged—
“She’d eat you alive,” William said.
With that, I won the standoff. I looked at William, and grinned. “Yeah, but talking about biting off more than you can chew.” I picked up my drink and took a sip. The scotch tasted like smoky oak, and had a hell of a kick. I set my glace down, ready to talk. “I think we should reintroduce ourselves. I am Caine Deathwalker of the Atlantean Clan, wielder of dragon magic, Lord of the Territory. You have taken a house in my domain without giving notice or offering respect.” To make a point, I flared one of the small runes along my spine. I paid a price in gut wrenching nausea and temporary cramps in my left hand. Magic must always be paid for.
All mystic talismans and devices in the room revealed themselves to me alone, glowing the soft green of baby puke. Those like Izumi who directly wielded magical energies glowed as well, silver in her case, and crimson for Gloria since she used blood magic. William and his wolves glowed the same color as their eyes—sulfur yellow, the color of pack magic. Since the tattoos I wore on my skin were a mixture of ink and dragon blood, my own glow was a shifting rain, unable to make up its mind.
One of the cool side effects of this rune was that it made my pupils thin and long, like a dragon’s. Across the table from me, William inhaled sharply, a sudden tension making him rigid. Everyone in the bar stilled at the feel of my magic except Gray, and the redhead.
I put my magic away, feeling my skin cool, and the muscles of my left hand relax.
The Alpha broke the silence. “I am William Copper, werewolf and Alpha of my pack.”
We picked up our glasses, saluted one another, and threw back the drinks. I poured us refills. Izumi and the she-wolves had yet to take a sip.
I cradled my glass in both hands, keeping my voice soft and mild, “Tell me Alpha, couldn’t you tell you were in claimed territory?”
William shrugged. “I felt the boundary magic when I got here, but knew not many would fight with a wolf pack over territory. I didn’t catch the uniqueness of your magic at the time. I assumed you were fey.”
“No, definitely not fey. This must be the first time you’ve came across dragon magic?”
“Yes, it is. I didn’t even know there were dragons on this continent.”
“I’m no dragon, either,” I said.
Angie had turned to straddle her chair, resting her arms on its back. She studied me with intense eyes. “You don’t smell exactly human either, Mr. Caine, so what are you?”
William didn’t object to her intrusion in the conversation, waiting for me to answer.
It was my turn to shrug. “Your guess is as good as mine, and unlike the fey you’ve known I’m quite willing to fight.”
William’s wolf-yellow eyes burned brighter, an indication of strong emotion.
My runes tingled in response. Every muscle in my body begged to be used to kill the wolves. My demon-blessed weapons all but wept to be used.
The wolves at the bar growled, crouching aggressively, hands thickening into claw-tipped paws. They were ready to attack but waited on their Alpha’s orders.
Eyes ice blue, Izumi stood at her table and pulled her chair out from behind her so she could back away from everyone.
The she-wolves bristled, wolf-yellow eyes locked on the pulse in my throat.
As William and I stayed seated, as pack magic filled the room like an invisible mist, thick and consuming.
With my tats active, I smelled something like burning roses.
Gray didn’t skip a beat on his drinking, throwing back a freshly filled mug he’ helped himself to. Gloria had her back to the pool tables. She watched with cool interest for the other shoe to drop.
William said, “You’re outnumbered, Mr. Caine, and matched by our own magic. Still, if I can help it, I’d rather not fight Miss Izumi. We’ve become friends, sharing hospitality.”
Hmmmm, I wondered just what she had shared with him. I shook off the thought, needing to focus. “William, I think you’ve got the wrong idea. She’s not here to fight for me. She’s my ride. As for the rest…”
The runes that ran from my left wrist, over my back, to the other wrist burned as if someone had poured liter fluid over me and set me on fire. I absorbed the pain, becoming one with it so it wouldn’t break the force of my will. The runes along my collar line came to life as well, markings combining my most potent spells. I kept those runes from completing their spell, but let their power flow out of me, battering back the pack magic.
The room darkened even more. A male wolf collapsed, wheezing like his ribs had been crushed, driven into his lungs. I was almost positive that hadn’t really happened. I hadn’t wanted it to. The brunette she-wolf followed him to the floor in full collapse. The other wolf soldiers dropped to their knees, trying looking anywhere but at me. Sweat dampened their shirts, dripping from their faces.
Gloria’s eyes shone blood red.
Izumi retreated a few more steps, radiating an icy cold I could feel across the room.
Gray put his drink down while a golden sword formed on his belt. I thought I saw the suggestion of wings at his back, wings made of charcoal shadows.
In my hand, the drink in my glass started to boil.
When a light curl of smoke eased up my throat and past my grin, the Alpha lunged to his feet. I wondered if he thought I was about to breath fire. I shut down the runes, letting him feel my power recede.
“I am not a poser. I can kill most of you easily without magic, using just the training I was raised with.” I held William’s gaze. “Only you might last a while, a short while.” I broke eye contact, glancing over to Gloria, raising a hand to signal her. “Hey, can I have a new glass. I hate boiled alcohol.”
Looking surprised, William stared at the steaming glass I held.
Izumi’s heels clicked on the floor as she returned to my side. She spoke to the room at large, “Don’t worry, guys, if Caine wanted blood, he’d have completed that spell and slaughtered everyone in the room.”
That news somehow failed to relax anyone.
Izumi pressed on, “So pick yourselves up off the floor and have a drink.” She glowered at me. “And Caine, stop being your normal self and just talk to William.”
She didn’t understand; that was only possible now that I’d demonstrated absolute dominance.
Gloria hadn’t wasted time. Her eyes were their normal emerald as she arrived with a fresh, empty glass she placed in front
of me. She went on to help the she-wolves back to their chairs and pushed their table to mine, and dragging a third table over to form a long line. I looked at her, wondering what she was doing.
She said, “Okay now, everyone sit and talk, and don’t worry, the drink are on Caine.”
I scowled. Just like a woman to turn a perfectly good psychological beat-down into a peace conference. If the bitches in my life weren’t so damn hot, I’d have killed them both. I looked at Izumi, then Gloria, envisioning them naked, and put all my magic away.
SEVEN
“What!?! They had it coming.”
—Caine Deathwalker
Time for a gesture of trust—as if I trusted anyone. I grabbed both my guns and put them of the table with the handles facing William, an old custom Old Man once showed me. This demonstrated I wasn’t looking to kill anyone … for now.
“Fine, there,” I said.
Izumi and the wolf in the navy suit revived the male wolves, guiding them to the table and to chairs. William looked at Izumi and Gloria, a little confused with what was going on. His eyes were now light brown, deceptively human. Angie took a seat to William’s right, the brunette in the next seat down. The wolf in the navy suit took the first chair to William’s left. Other male wolves fell in past the navy suit in order of dominance. One wolf had to come on my side of the table. Izumi sat between him and me. The wolf seemed happy as a scampering pup to sit next to her. I guess he had a thing for ice princesses—the real kind.
William said, “If we are not to fight, then what?”
“I need someone with a better nose than mine for a job I’m on,” I explained, “and the way I see it, you’re in my territory and still alive, so you owe me.”
William’s voice finally warmed with anger, “You think I’d let one of my wolves wear your collar just because we’re here uninvited?”
“Think of that wolf as a liaison, while I make up my mind on what I should do about all of this,” I poured a refill in my cup and drank it down at once. I wanted them to know I was better at everything than they were.
His wolves relaxed as the ones who’d passed out began to stir awake. Izumi was also flirting with them, a pleasant distraction. I could see they liked her company. She’d been right; these wolves were better than most.
The bourbon went fast. I called for more, “Hey, Gloria, can you bring us a bottle of Faire tears?”
“What’s that?” Angie asked.
“Faire tears, it clears your mind when you get hit by too much magic, expensive as hell on a Saturday night,” I said.
“There’s no way you can get me so drunk,” William said, “I’ll give you one of my wolves.”
That was true. Alphas are super protective of their packs. Every wolf is family. It would take more than just me saying I wouldn’t kill the wolf in my care. It would take a binding oath.
“Fine, I’ll give you my word as a member of the Atlantean demon clan, no harm will come from me or mine to any wolf that’s with me.”
I might be demon in heart only, but my word’s as good as any accursed hell spawn’s. No demon in our clan has ever broken his word. Words form contracts. Contracts bring power and gold. Breaking one’s word has only one punishment—death. There is an Accord to the universe that constrains demons, fey, angels, and most other inhuman things from breaking their word. Those stupid enough to do so tend to die in awful ways—those that can die. Those that can’t often wish they could.
William knew this. He finally looked convinced. “Okay, but before we get to this liaison business, allow me to introduce my pack, those that are here.”
He pointed at the redhead, “This is Angie, our attorney. She’s very good. Next to her is Kate she’s an artist who’s had numerous gallery shows, receiving much critical acclaim.”
I pretended to look impressed without taking my eyes off Angie’s breasts. I said, “Hello Angie, Kate.”
“Hello,” Angie said, “I’m up here by the way.”
“Sure you are,” I left my eyes where they wanted to be.
William was trying hard not to laugh, doing a poor job. He’d have done a better job if Angie were the female Alpha, and not a mere submissive. He continued introductions on his other side. “This is Andrew, my second in command. He has a PHD in genetics and a doctorate in internal medicine.”
Andrew said, “It’s a unique opportunity to meet a dragon mage, first time I have even heard of someone like you.”
“No one else is like me,” I said. “When God saw me, he had the mold maker drawn and quartered, shot, and stabbed three times.”
William sniffed at some Faire tears, sipped, and then drained his cup. He said, “The wolf clutching his side, trying to wake up, is Jake. He’s young, but handles himself well. He does construction, and occasionally works as a male dancer.” William pointed at the wolf beside Izumi. “The kid trying really hard to get into Izumi’s pants is Nick, our accountant and financial planner. He’s insightful, and god-awful intuitive.”
I nodded at him, murmuring, “We’ll have to talk sometime.”
This was going very well, maybe a little too well. Not ten minutes ago, we were about to kill each other. Nothing like booze for bonding.
I asked a question, “Who’s the best tracker in the pack?”
He jerked a thumb at Angie. “The wolf you’ve most pissed off. She has the best nose of us all.”
Great, this was going to be fun. I hated lawyers. The only good ones are those that have been beaten to death with a sack of dead rats, while getting Sodomised in public by a tranny. But lawyers do pay well. And then there were those tits…
“Okay, if she’s your best,” I said. “For being in my territory without asking, I’ll give you guys a pass, but I need to know why you’re here and why that particular house.”
The wolves grew still, suddenly on edge. William said, “Sarah liked the house and fell in love with it. She wrote me about living there, how wonderful everything was. Then her letters stopped coming. We’re here to find out why.”
I asked the obvious question. “And Sarah is?”
“My granddaughter. I raised her from childhood, after her parents were killed in that space-zombie thing back in the sixties. She’s half fey, so she wanted to be out west, where most of the fey have settled. She wanted to explore the non-wolf part of her heritage.”
It made sense. Both L.A. and San Francisco have large fey communities.
“She may not be pack,” Angie said, “but we helped raise her, and we love her, so if she’s in trouble, we’re going to fix it.”
Andrew said, “Damn straight.”
“Well, good luck with that,” I said. “Meanwhile, do we have a deal?”
William looked at Angie. She met his gaze. Some silent message passed between them I couldn’t catch. He looked back at me and nodded. “Sure.”
The pack stayed for a while longer, drinking, talking. Gloria took a seat next to me and made sure they knew they could come back anytime, explaining her bar welcomed anyone willing to behave. Though few vamps care for wolves, she was quite warm to them. Her hand went under the table and the next thing I knew, someone was playing with my joystick.
Izumi joined the wolf-girls, chatting about the shops in LA, which ones were owned by fey and other kinds of creatures of the night. I lost interest when they started to talk about shoes, and Gloria began licking my ear.
William abruptly stood. “We should go before it gets too late. Mr. Caine, I’ll leave Angie you with you. Don’t take any liberties that might displease me.”
I gave him my soul-of-discretion, misunderstood-innocence look.
For some reason he didn’t buy it.
The wolves got up, said goodbye, and left. Izumi, and Angie were still talking, so I pried myself loose from Gloria, and went to bug Gray. That sword he’d materialized interested me. Besides, I had to rip him a new one. Carrying my glass and a tumbler of Faire tears, I took a seat next to the half-angel. Gray’s mug had gone empty. He
held it out to me. I poured in the last of what I had, setting the empty tumbler on the bar.
I hit him with a cold stare. “Next time you make use of your angel abilities to make me happy and get along with everyone, I will rip your wings off and thumbtack them to my wall.” I smiled so he’d know I meant it. “So who put you up to it? Izumi? Gloria?”
Gray drained his mug dry and belched. “Nope, your Old Man asked me here, and by the way, these aren’t Faire tears.
Close, but no tinker-bells.”
“So what the hell have I been drinking?”
Gray smiled and leaned in close. “I’ll never tell.”
“Bastard.”
He patted me on the back, and fell in on himself, moving without moving, flushing himself down a wrinkle in time. I stared at his empty barstool a moment, then got up and went over to the girls, who were trading phone numbers. Weird; a vampire, a werewolf, and an ice demon, telling jokes, drinking, all hot enough to melt steel. I didn’t know if I ought to be scared out of my mind, or start fantasizing immediately.
I caught Izumi’s eye, “Hey, can you drop me and wolf-girl off somewhere?”
“Where?”
“Where a cold trail is getting colder.”
* * *
Outside the hotel, we parked behind my car. Angie and I got out and looked for signs of the former apocalypse. Nothin’. Old Man knew how to pull strings; the clean-up was perfect, reality now reflected total normalcy.
Red Moon Demon (Demon Lord) Page 5