Worth Your While

by Connie Suttle

  We waited.

  Nothing happened.

  "They're either playing video games or they're the most inattentive demons I've ever heard of," I drawled.

  "Then I'll make noise," Will said. Moments later, you'd have thought a banshee screamed in the back yard, the shriek was so loud.

  Still nothing.

  "What the hell?" Will muttered. "Go to the front door. I'll check the back."

  "You want me to knock and tell them their backyard is on fire?'

  "It's as good as anything else I can think of. Here." He waved a hand again and cleaned my clothing.

  "Right. Because I need to look good when I'm jumped by a demon."

  "Tell me you don't have your own ways to deal with dirt and with demons."

  "Fine. I do. I just wanted you to see how hard I worked to make that hole."

  "Duly noted. Go to the front door. Now."

  Twenty seconds later, I was at the front door, ringing the doorbell. When there was no answer, I rang again and knocked. Still there was no answer.

  "They're not going to answer," Will opened the front door and stepped aside to let me in. "They're dead."

  I followed him into the kitchen, where ice had shattered across the tile floor. Most of it had melted already and had mixed with the water from the water demon.

  "Who do you suppose did this?" My eyes met Will's.

  "Two ice demons could have," Will said.

  "Do you suppose?" I didn't finish my question.

  "I think they're back in the states, if that's what you were about to say."

  "Then we need to look for the evidence we came here for."

  "Check the closets. They had to hang clothes somewhere. I'll check the bedrooms and under the sofa."

  The closet in the back bedroom yielded the best results, because two of the shirts smelled like gasoline. Had they worn those shirts to destroy Cassie's aunt's house?

  "I have something," I yelled to Will.

  "Good. I have hair, I think."

  Thirty minutes later, with the clothes and other items stuffed in a small grocery tote, Will and I sat in a restaurant to have lunch.

  "How long will it take to get a lock on those two?"

  "It depends."

  "On what?" I asked as our server set plates of food in front of us.

  "On whether they're hidden by Shakkor Agdah or not."

  My hands stilled; the fork dangled from my fingers for several seconds. "You think that's why they're back, don't you?"

  "Why else would the come back? Why else would they kill friends who'd hidden them from those on their trail? It makes no sense."

  "Tying up loose ends?"

  "Among other things. Shakkor Agdah wants those responsible for the big blowup. That's me, you, Cliff, the Chancellor, and, if they find out Cassie's still alive, they'll really be hunting for her. That means pulling in every slave they have and setting them on our trail."

  "We never found out who was in charge of Shakkor Agdah last time. We're just as much in the dark this time, too. Any suggestions?" I stabbed the barbecued brisket on my plate as if it were an enemy.

  "And killing off a politician in Georgia by giving him their disease is a good way of pulling us back in, isn't it?"

  "Except they don't know we're scattered, but that may not hold true for long."

  "Scattered may mean easier to kill. Putting us all together may be the same. What's the answer, Will?"

  "We are stronger together." He tore a roll in half and buttered it.

  "How do we accomplish that, then?"

  "Stay on the trail of the ice demons. That could ultimately result in a reunion of sorts, especially if we let the others know. It would be better if we haul in Morton and Dalton when we meet."

  "And promise never to sacrifice someone we love again?"

  "Yes. Definitely that."

  "Good, because I can't go through that again."

  "I admit, I don't have the stomach for it myself."

  "Add that to the fact that Cassie will see you coming from a mile away next time."

  "There won't be a next time. I've made that promise. I'll sacrifice myself before I'll do that to her again. There's something else you should know, too."

  "What's that?"

  "The second wizard who's awake and stepping into the fray. He knows everything that happened, including the part you and I played in it."

  "What's his name? You think we can hold the line with two in this fight?"

  "I have no idea, and he calls himself Yosuke."

  "Sounds Asian."

  "He looks Asian, too."

  "I know you can change your features to suit yourself, or to fit in," I shifted on my chair.

  "That is correct, but at times, we choose to resemble what we admire in humans, too. If you met Yosuke, you'd swear he was an ancient philosopher."

  "Where is he, and why isn't he here helping us?"

  "He has made himself a member of the groundskeeping staff at the house the others have chosen to rent in Atlanta."

  "Why are they renting a house there?"

  "Because they believe they are targets where they are, which is likely correct, and also because Cassie is in need of a, ah, therapist, I think you call them. The werewolf is recommending a friend who lives in Atlanta to provide that service."

  "I know about the therapist. It worries me."

  "As it does me. We need her strong—it was her strength that carried us through last time."

  "Well, I've never come back from the dead. I suppose it would cause huge problems, which could take years of therapy," I breathed, suddenly becoming more alarmed than I already was.

  "Calm yourself, General. We have plans to prepare, and frantic participants make terrible decisions."

  Birmingham, Alabama

  Gina

  "We just got to the hospital. Cliff and Cassie have already gone up to the isolation ward to talk with the security guard." Trust Rob to pick the worst time to call; I had to walk into the ladies' room to answer my phone.

  "I have news, and it isn't good." Rob ignored everything I'd just said.

  "What news is that?"

  "Dalton and Morton are back in the U.S., and they killed the ice demon and water demon they holed up with in New Orleans."

  "How long ago?"

  "Early this morning, according to Will. We think they may be heading back to Alabama, at the ah, urgings of Shakkor Agdah. We'll make an attempt to follow them, but wanted you to know that they're probably looking for revenge—for all those who died when Cassie—well, when she almost died with them."

  "This isn't good, and now it's looking more and more like a trap," I said. "They know we'll investigate the deaths from the disease they spread, so we're likely walking right into their waiting arms. I have to tell Cliff about this."

  "Good. Tell him what we know so far and that we're tracking Morton and Dalton. If we find them, we'll do what we can to make a capture, but I can't guarantee anything if it comes down to a fight."

  "I understand that. Look, I have to go. The sooner Cliff knows about this, the better I'll feel."

  "Then go. I'll call if there's anything new on this end."

  "Thanks, Rob."

  "Any time."

  Cassie

  "He doesn't look sick to me," Cliff said as he and I walked up to the window where the speaker was located. On the door, a biohazard sign warned anyone away who wasn't authorized to enter the room. Inside the room, we could see Nate Millburn sitting in a chair watching television. So far, he hadn't noticed our arrival.

  "He doesn't look sick to me, either," I sighed. "I think he's probably telling the truth."

  "I want to know where the Lieutenant Governor went before this happened, and who he saw, talked to, touched, whatever," Cliff waved an arm. "We could have more cases of the disease out there and we haven't found them, yet."

  "I know."

  "We have a problem," Gina rushed toward us with Kent right behind her.

 
"What problem? Have they found more victims?" Cliff asked, his body stiffening, as if he were ready for a fight.

  "Not from the disease. It looks like Dalton and Morton King are back in the country, and they killed an ice demon and a water demon in New Orleans early this morning. My ah, source says that they may be heading toward Alabama, at the request of Shakkor Agdah."

  "Source?" Cliff frowned, and his eyes narrowed as he studied Gina. I was curious, too, but it appeared that Cliff had suspicions where I had none.

  "Well, uh," Gina suddenly sounded uncomfortable.

  "Don't—I think I know," Cliff stopped her with a gesture. "We'll talk about this later. Anything else to report?"

  "That the attack on the Lieutenant Governor, and the Kings coming this way could mean they're laying a trap for us, to take revenge."

  "Fuck," Cliff muttered.

  "I guess it's a good time to leave Alabama, then," Trey walked in with another vampire behind him.

  "Not before we talk to that one in there," Cliff pointed toward the only occupant of the isolation ward.

  "Have you heard from the Chancellor?" Trey asked as he and the other vamp scrutinized Nate Millburn.

  "On the way," Cliff replied. "Should be here anytime. We've had news that the Kings are back in the states and headed this way, most likely."

  "That's not good news," the new vamp spoke for the first time. "Grim Norton," he introduced himself. "I'm with the NSA. Trey and I've worked together before."

  I couldn't decide whether to ask him about his name or just snicker. As it turned out, I did neither, because Parke chose that moment to walk out of the elevator and come toward us at a near-run.

  "Parke, I," he hit me like a storm, and his mouth was on mine before I could say anything else. I thought his arms would crush me before I could go to prelim.

  "Oh, lord." Cliff's words were the only ones I heard as Parke showed me how much he'd missed me.

  Chapter 4

  Cliff

  "Trey and Grim had to place compulsion on three nurses and one doctor after that little display," I lifted my cup of coffee and drank. When the hug-and-kiss-fest was over, we'd finally gotten around to questioning Nate Millburn, who'd told us the Lieutenant Governor had played a few rounds of golf the same day he'd left for the scheduled three-day vacation. Currently, we were in the process of getting security footage from the golf resort involved.

  "Now," I locked eyes with Gina. "How many times have you spoken to Rob?"

  "Twice," she admitted. "He found me in the pharmacy when I went to get a few things for Cassie the other night. Then he called me shortly before I came looking for you—to tell you what he and Will found out about Dalton and Morton."

  "He and Will are tracking the Kings." I'd known that already, but thought they were on their way to Mexico or places farther south. I considered the killings for a moment. "Why did they kill their friends—Dalton and Morton, that is?"

  "I don't really know," Gina shook her head.

  "Why did the sprite and the wizard decide to go after Dalton and Morton in the first place?" Trey asked.

  "I think they want to make amends," Gina blushed under his scrutiny. "Rob really feels the separation. I don't know what Will feels. I haven't spoken to him and don't intend to."

  "Does Rob understand that's a steep hill to climb?" I asked.

  "He knows you, Cliff—probably better than anybody. He understands that."

  "What about the water demon and ice demon the Kings killed?" Trey asked. "Were they involved with Shakkor Agdah in any way?"

  He and Grim were only pretending to have coffee in the diner we'd chosen close to the hospital. Parke had taken Cassie with him; they were heading to Atlanta while the rest of us sat here and discussed the events of the day.

  "I think those two only helped the Kings when they got to New Orleans earlier in the year; I have no idea why they'd kill them now," I shrugged. "It makes no sense."

  "Unless they refused to help them again, perhaps?" Grim lifted an eyebrow. That was more expression than most people got from a vamp, so it intrigued me.

  "That could be it, I suppose," I agreed. "Help, money, looking at them cross-eyed—the Kings aren't picky about their reasons for killing."

  "Hard to understand why they're not friends with everybody," Grim noted.

  Had a vamp just cracked a joke? I must have blinked several times before I snorted a laugh.

  "You'll get used to it," Trey deadpanned.

  Cassie

  "Do they have Mellow Mushroom pizza in Atlanta?" Destiny asked me. She, Kate and I sat in the back of the van Parke had rented, while Jon, Parke's assistant, and Pete and Jerry, the two rock demon guards, sat in the middle row. Daniel drove; Parke rode shotgun.

  Destiny hadn't let go of my hand since I'd gotten in the van. She and Kate asked questions at first, most of them the kind I couldn't answer. I couldn't recall anything except dying and then waking up in a crypt, and both those things still troubled me.

  "I think they have more than one," I squeezed her fingers before pulling my hand away and putting an arm around her for a hug.

  "Good. I haven't had any in so long."

  "We'll put 'em on speed dial," I told her.

  "We're twenty minutes away from the house," Parke repeated the navigation system's announcement. "Does anyone need anything from a convenience store before we get there?"

  "Do we have stuff in the fridge?" Destiny snuggled closer against me.

  "I think Cliff said someone would stock essentials. Milk, coffee, bread—that kind of thing."

  "Good. I want a glass of milk and then I want to sleep for two days."

  "We'll get you fixed up," I said. "Nineteen minutes and counting."

  She was asleep against me when Daniel pulled the van into the drive at the back of the massive house. A garage door lifted, revealing a man who waited for us to pull inside and park.

  "I can carry Destiny," Peter, one of the rock demons, offered. I nodded; he got out of his seat and pulled it forward so he could reach her.

  The man who'd opened the garage door for us was talking to Parke and Daniel when I stepped out of the van. He was Asian, I think. After studying him for a moment, I turned away and straightened my clothes; I felt unsettled and frumpy after the day's journey.

  Kate did the same after Jerry, the second rock demon guard, helped her out of the van. "I'll take you to the bedrooms they've set up," the Asian man said while leading Parke, Jon and Daniel in my direction. "I'm Yosuke," he introduced himself to me and held out his right hand. I shook with him, then took Parke's offered arm to walk into the house.

  We got Destiny settled in a bedroom first; Kate and I removed her shoes and socks before covering her up; she was sleeping the sleep of the young and exhausted. I couldn't recall when I'd slept like that last, or whether I'd ever done it.

  Kate took the bedroom across the hall; she only wanted to get in bed, she told us. The master bedroom came next, and that's where Parke delivered me before going with Daniel and Yosuke to collect bags from the van and Jon went looking for a room suitable for Parke's office.

  I imagined Parke and Daniel had questions for Yosuke, too, and I didn't want to interfere with that. Parke was a truth demon; he'd know if anyone were lying to him.

  I was too tired to be interested in anything they talked about; I just wanted to crawl into bed and hoped my case of the willies would go away. After learning that Dalton and Morton were back in the country and probably hunting for Cliff and Parke, the unsettled feeling wouldn't leave.

  "Here you go," Parke was back, carrying two large bags himself, with Daniel bringing a third into the massive suite. "Your purse, phone and the pyramid are in this one," he patted the one on his left after setting it down. "I think Mom put shampoo, brushes, combs and pajamas in there, too."

  "Thank you," I sighed. "Maybe having my own stuff will make me feel more like myself."

  "Stop worrying, sweetheart," Parke stepped forward and took my face between
his hands. "Right now, I feel like the luckiest person alive." He leaned in to give me a lingering kiss, then pulled away.

  "Daniel and I want to talk to Yosuke," he said. "Get in bed, baby. You look exhausted."

  "I will. I just want to sleep."

  "I know. I'll be back after a while. I'll try not to wake you."

  "All right."

  I watched as he and Daniel left the suite, closing the door softly behind them. Then, I reached for the bag containing my pajamas. Time to go to bed.

  Parke

  "The housekeepers stay in the apartments over the garages," Yosuke explained. "They've stocked the refrigerator and pantry with staples, but they'll shop for anything else required by you and your guests."

  "We'll have some night guards coming in; will that be a problem?" Daniel asked.

  "Not at all. There's a small guard house at the back of the property, if they want to take breaks. I also have the alarm codes for the house and the keypad outside the garages." He handed Daniel a folded slip of paper. "These can be changed whenever you want."

  My cell phone dinged with a text from Cliff. "They're here," I said.

  "I'll show you the codes now, when I open the garage door for them," Yosuke said, taking a direct route from the kitchen to a hallway and then to a mudroom just off the space for the first of five garages. We'd parked in the first bay; Cliff was getting the second one.

  Daniel and I watched as Yosuke tapped in the code, then hit the lift button for the second garage. We went through the door at the back of the bay; Cliff's headlights nearly blinded us as he drove into the space and parked his Escalade.

  "Nice car," Yosuke breathed.

  "Rain headed this way," Cliff said as he stepped out of the car. Other doors opened; Kent, Gina, Trey and Grim got out. "We'll get the bags," Grim offered with a wave. "The rest of you, go to bed. We've got this."

  "Night guards?" Yosuke turned toward me.

  "Yeah. Grim and Trey," I pointed out the proper ones. "Another van is coming with two more in thirty minutes or so. This is Gina, Kent, and this is Cliff," I introduced the others.