Worth Your While

by Connie Suttle

  "Cliff, I hope there's a safe place for you to run on the full moon," I turned toward him. Only then did I realize I was hugging myself, as if attempting to keep my soul inside me, rather than winging its way into the atmosphere.

  "We change locations every time, now," he said, his voice low. "We don't need more surprises. I've already made arrangements for after the move to Atlanta."

  "Yeah. I get that. I think I've had my fill of death—mine and others," I admitted.

  "Study the past if you would define the future," Cliff quoted. "That's not mine—Confucius said it."

  "Will is the only one I know who can tell me about the past fire demons, and I really don't want to talk to him again. Ever."

  "That is for sure a fucked-up way of dealing with an enemy—deliberately sacrificing your friends every time, rather than looking for a new way to defeat them." Cliff's words ended with a growl.

  "The sprite kingdoms may have the information, too, but I don't want to ask them, either."

  "See my previous complaint," Cliff said.

  "Yeah."

  "Well, I'm off to bed. I have a few things to do before the Chancellor gets here tomorrow. Good-night, Cassie. It's good to have you back."

  Cliff

  I stopped by my office to get my phone before heading to bed. I had a missed text. With mixed feelings, I opened it, because it was from Rob.

  I know you never wanted to hear from me again, but I thought you should know that the wizard and I are now hunting Morton and Dalton King. If you have current information, I'd be glad to have it—Rob.

  Before I could stop myself, I replied.

  South of the border, last I heard. If you find either of those bastards, we need questions answered.

  Understood, his reply came swiftly. Will keep you advised. How is Cassie?

  It took me a while to respond. Lost, I finally tapped out. Trying to get her help.

  I'm sorry. Have no way to make this right.

  "You're damn right about that," I growled at the screen before shutting the phone off.

  Parke

  Destiny and I are coming with you. Have already made reservations on same flight. The text from my mother as I was getting ready for bed shocked the hell out of me.

  "Dammit," I cursed before dialing her number. If she wanted to text instead of coming in person, then I'd one-up her and call.

  "She needs people around her that she knows and loves," Mom snapped at me rather than saying hello. "Destiny is her sister and is currently out of school. We can stay for a week or two, then come home if we have to."

  "Like she doesn't know and love me?" I asked. I caught sight of my face in a cheval mirror in my bedroom; my eyes were going dark. Working to calm my temper so my rock demon wouldn't tear the house down, I added, "Mom, it could be dangerous for you and Destiny. I think you're safer here."

  "I disagree. I doubt we're safe anywhere, nowadays."

  "Fine. Did you make reservations for Jerry, too?" I named the rock demon who guarded the house at night.

  "I did."

  "Then fine. Go if you want to."

  "I will."

  "I said fine."

  "Fine."

  "Mom, the full moon is in three days," I reminded her.

  "I know that. I suspect we'll be going wherever it is you and Cassie go."

  With great effort, I kept my fist from crushing the phone in my hand. "All right. We'll discuss this tomorrow."

  "Good." Mom ended the call, and not a second too soon.

  "Damn," I rumbled before texting Cliff. He'd need to know that three more were coming with me.

  Cassie

  I just got a text from Parke, Cliff texted me. Your sister and mother-in-law are coming with him. Seems they really want to see you.

  Tears came; I stifled a sob at the thought of seeing Destiny. Yes, I knew it was dangerous for her to be anywhere near me, but I so wanted to see her.

  Thank you, I replied to Cliff's text, through blurred vision. I'll be so glad to see them both.

  I thought so. Get some sleep; they'll be here soon enough.

  Sleep would be welcome, but I doubted it would come soon, if at all. Maybe the dull roar of a television turned low would help. Lifting the remote from the nightstand, I flipped it on. A late-night talk show host was making political jokes during his stand-up section of the program. I tuned it out—mostly it was the same sort of thing as was always done.

  Until the image shifted to a local Birmingham news station. "We have just received confirmation that the Lieutenant Governor and his family, who were on vacation at their cabin on Lewis Smith Lake, are now dead. The bodies were discovered earlier today by a bodyguard returning from a scheduled weekend vacation. The area has been sealed and quarantined, with only investigators in HAZMAT suits allowed in or out. An unconfirmed source says it may be the same disease that affected so many others during the massive prison breaks in March."

  I was out the bedroom door and shouting Cliff's name in seconds.

  Chapter 3

  Cassie

  "We need to ask questions, that's why," Cliff struggled to keep his voice civil as he spoke with someone on the phone. "Let me speak with the Governor."

  I'd found him in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in one hand, his phone in the other. He looked as if he'd gotten as much sleep as I did, which wasn't much.

  Silently, I went to the fridge to grab the carton of eggs and a package of bacon. Cliff would be hungry, whether I was or not.

  When the Governor of Alabama came on the line, Cliff put the call on speaker.

  "Cliff, you think you can help us with this?" the Governor asked.

  "I may be able to, yes."

  "What do you need from me?"

  "I need to ask the guard questions. I assume he's in quarantine right now?"

  "He is, but you can talk to him through a speaker. He's at a hospital in Birmingham."

  "Good. I have a couple others who'll be with me when I go; one or two from the FBI and maybe someone from Homeland Security."

  "How soon can you get there? We need answers fast," the Governor sighed. "We're in the process of rounding up anybody who had any contact with the family two or three days before. The emergency lines are swamped with calls, and this time of year, that lake area is packed with tourists. For now, we're advising everyone to stay indoors, but we may have to evacuate the entire area."

  "Has the guard shown any signs of the disease?"

  "Not yet. He says he didn't touch anything, but we have to be sure."

  "Understood. I'll let you know when I head that way."

  "Call my private number—I'll have it sent to you," the Governor said. "If this is a new outbreak, we're in for a rough time. A couple of friends tell me you were in on getting this shut down the last time."

  "I was, but the enemy may have upped their game in this round. I'll keep you advised."

  "Thank you, Cliff."

  "You're welcome, Governor." Cliff ended the call with a sigh.

  "Eggs and bacon will be ready in a minute," I told him, as Gina slouched into the kitchen, covering a yawn.

  "I love you," Gina hugged me while I attempted to pour a cup of coffee for her.

  "I love you, too. Sit down, I'm cooking today."

  "Are you packed up?" Cliff turned to Gina as I plated food.

  "Yeah. Took me half the night, but I'm ready to go."

  "We're ah, moving today, right after the Chancellor arrives," Cliff informed me. "He called late last night and said it didn't make sense to unpack for a single day. Besides, we need to be on the road to Birmingham soon; he's flying there to meet us, so he can help question the guard."

  "I'm pretty much ready, too, I guess," I said, setting plates in front of Gina and Cliff, before taking a chair and sitting with my cup of coffee in hand.

  "You're not hungry?" Gina frowned at me.

  "Not right now. I'll eat later."

  "Don't let this upset you," Cliff pointed his fork at me. "Beside
s, you need all the strength you can muster. Eating helps."

  "I don't know how to deal with Parke," I blurted.

  "Talk to him, that's all you have to do. If you're not comfortable with anything else, then tell him that." Cliff wiped up a bit of over-easy egg with his toast before stuffing it in his mouth.

  "You're no longer Princess of Alabama—you can set aside the annulment," Gina said.

  "I'm not sure I want to."

  Cliff's head jerked up and he blinked at me. "It can be sorted," he said after a few seconds, before going back to his food.

  "Maybe that's something to discuss with the doctor," Gina sighed. "A third party, with no outside interest."

  "Yeah." I turned my coffee cup on the table, toying with it while trepidation grew. I did and didn't want to see Parke. I was looking forward to seeing Destiny and Parke's mother, though. What did that mean?

  "Trey and two other vamps flew to Atlanta last night," Cliff said. "They'll be waiting to hear from us. I've left a message for Trey to meet us in Birmingham to talk to the guard, so it may be late before we get to the house. Fortunately, the owners are leaving a cook and a housekeeper, plus the groundskeepers on for us, so that shouldn't be a concern. I told them we had someone to help the cook and enough staff, otherwise."

  "At least it's only a two-hour drive or so between Birmingham and Atlanta," Gina pointed out. "Still, with the vamps coming that way after nightfall, it could turn into a really long night."

  "I expect it will." Cliff sipped his coffee.

  Parke

  At least there were enough seats in first class for Mom and Destiny's last-minute reservations. As it turned out, this was Destiny's first plane trip and she was unusually wide-eyed and mostly silent while she took everything in.

  It was ungodly early, too, so I was thankful the first-class flight attendants were already pouring coffee while the plane was loading. Mom and Destiny were given orange juice at their request; they could sleep on the trip to Birmingham.

  I had work to do, as did Jon, and Daniel, out of habit, would be awake and guarding us. Peter and Jerry, the rock demon guards, were in business class right behind first class. They'd be awake and watchful, too, throughout the flight.

  Cliff's text regarding the quarantined guard in a Birmingham hospital came during the drive to the airport; we'd arranged to meet him at the hospital to ask the guard questions.

  He'd also arranged to have Trey come for the questioning as quickly as he could get there after sundown. I would know if the guard was lying, but I couldn't force him to tell the truth as Trey could.

  So far, there were no signs of the disease in the man, so I was cautiously optimistic about his truthfulness. All the other guards were dead from the disease.

  Either way, I'd know the truth when I saw him. I was a truth demon, after all. I merely needed Trey to place compulsion to ensure we got the truth from the man, and for the official record.

  Behind the curtain in the first-class galley, our flight attendants were busy getting things ready to serve us breakfast once we were in the air and at a proper elevation. I waited for the announcement telling us the plane was loaded and we'd be on our way soon.

  I wanted to see Cassie. I wanted to put my hands on her and reassure myself that she was real—that I hadn't spoken to a ghost. I had her purse, wallet, cell phone and the broken pyramid in my briefcase, which was shoved into the overhead bin. She'd asked for those things.

  At least I hadn't deactivated her phone; I'd added her to my plan after we married, and I'd never changed that. She'd have to charge it up to use it; I hadn't bothered.

  "Destiny, is your phone turned off, baby?" I heard Mom ask.

  "It's on airplane mode," Destiny replied.

  Kids. Destiny knew as much or more about this stuff than any of us, even if it were her first flight.

  A flight attendant made the announcement that the door was closing and we'd be taking off, soon. I leaned back in my seat and sipped coffee, hoping we'd have an easy time in the air and a good tail wind to send us to Alabama.

  Cassie

  "It's an hour drive to Birmingham, and maybe twenty minutes more to get to Saint Christopher's Hospital," Cliff said as I dropped my single bag in the foyer, alongside his three and Gina's four—one of hers was filled with medical supplies.

  Two of Cliff's werewolves were scheduled to meet Parke at the airport; he was bringing Jon and Daniel, plus two rock demons who'd serve as guards, and his mother, Kate, and Destiny.

  Would we have enough room for all of them?

  "Stop worrying," Cliff said.

  "How did you know?"

  "I recognize the look."

  "Fine. I'll stop worrying."

  "Kent's here," Gina checked her phone when it buzzed. "He can help with the bags."

  Cliff decided to take his shiny, new black Escalade for this trip; it would hold us and all our luggage, too.

  Kent walked in the door as Cliff lifted his briefcase and largest bag. I pulled up my small duffle and borrowed purse, which had little in it except lotion, lip balm, a comb and a small mirror. Parke was bringing my wallet, phone and the pyramid.

  "You okay?" Kent studied me for a moment.

  "Yeah. As okay as I can be," I told him. If he wanted to know more, Gina could fill him in on the trip to Birmingham. Weariness had draped itself over me like a heavy blanket, attempting to stifle any desire to do anything other than what was absolutely necessary. That included talking about how I felt.

  "Let's go," Cliff sighed and stepped out the front door first.

  New Orleans

  Rob

  "You picked quite the place here," I told Will. I wasn't being complimentary. The crypt where he'd kept Cassie was so old it was sinking into the ground, and only a few flakes of white paint remained on it, making it look as if it were covered in lichen.

  The top of it came to a rounded point, with the name Grant-Allen near the apex. Will touched the side; I stepped back when smoke poured through a crack, inadvertently bumping into the Mays crypt beside it.

  "What are you doing?" I demanded, silently apologizing to the Mays family for running into their final resting place.

  Will wasn't done, though. The smoke became so thick, I couldn't see the McDonald name on the crypt opposite Grant-Allen. Wondering if coughing and waving smoke away would do any good at all, I settled for crossing arms over my chest and waiting for the wizard to finish whatever confounded spell he was casting.

  "I had to cleanse the crypt of any sign we were there," he blinked at me. "Now, everything has been returned to its proper place and there are no signs that it was ever occupied by anyone other than the Grant-Allens."

  "Where to now?" I asked, wondering if he had other business in a New Orleans cemetery besides this.

  "There's a house on the corner of Welker and Morgan to visit. I believe our quarry may have stayed there for a while. If they've gone to Mexico or farther south, getting any sort of evidence from them will help me with a location spell."

  "You mean hair or fingernails?"

  "Yes, if there's anything like that. Even clothing they've worn can be a huge help."

  "Sounds easy enough."

  "Except for the Ice and Water demons who live there permanently."

  "Well, why didn't you say that in the beginning?"

  "Are you annoyed?"

  "Hell, yes."

  "Ah. Good. With your help, we may be able to incapacitate both while we search their home."

  "Now I remember why I was never close friends with a wizard in the past."

  "Why is that?"

  "They're fucking crazy."

  Instead of being angry, or firing back with an insult, Will laughed. "Astute observation," he clapped me on the back. "Come on, we'll search the house and then go for lunch."

  "Now you're talking," I growled and followed him toward the cemetery gates.

  "This is it?" I stared in disbelief at the house on the corner of Welker and Morgan. It still b
ore water marks from the last hurricane that flooded the city, and that was years ago.

  "I never said it was a mansion, and probably looks worse on the inside. At least you won't be destroying a manicured lawn when you make a hole in the back yard."

  "I'm making a hole?" I tapped my chest in disbelief.

  "One deep enough to force them to work hard to climb out of it."

  "Do you know how close the water table is beneath the soil?"

  "You haven't checked this area in more than a century, have you?" Will frowned deeply at me. "You don't know that all those levees and the water pumping systems they've added are causing the land beneath the city to dry up more than it should, and has resulted in the city's gradual sinking? Every day, it's falling a little more below sea level. A good half or more is already there. I figure you have a hundred and fifty feet of ground—of one type or another, before you hit rock."

  "How long do you think it'll take them to climb out of there, if they go full demon?" I demanded.

  "At least half an hour if I replace the dirt over their heads."

  "Right. How do you propose we get them to fall in the hole to begin with?"

  "Dig the hole and leave the last few inches of topsoil intact."

  "Have you been watching too many action movies recently?"

  "I thought all movies had action. That's why they call them movies."

  "Look—never mind. Let's get this over with."

  "You look like hell," Will whispered.

  "You try digging a hundred-and-fifty-foot hole big enough to accommodate two demons in their larger forms," I hissed at the wizard. "How are you getting them out of the house?"

  Will and I had hidden behind an untrimmed hedge at the back of the yard, after I'd finished the hole. I hoped he had a spell to clean my clothing; I was covered in mud and stray rootlets.

  "I'll set a fire over the hole," Will said. "Right about now." Lifting his hands, he cast the spell, causing a grass fire to spring up directly over the hole.