“Have a nice swim?” Ethan asked, his patent Italian leather shoes half sunk in sand.
“Did you wait here all day?” she asked, unable to believe their timing. She pulled herself out of the water, fully aware of her nakedness. With as much confidence as she could muster, she marched toward her clothes and found them dry where she left them. But there was also a towel that wasn’t hers.
“I brought it,” Liam explained. He was keeping his eyes averted respectfully. His demon boyfriend was not.
“Did you run into trouble?” Ethan asked. His eyes lingered on her legs.
“Not really,” she said, toweling her body. She was afraid to mention that she’d explored the castle. But she didn’t seriously believe she could keep it a secret from Ethan. Here goes nothing, she thought. “They perked up when I transformed into a human and went into the castle.”
Ethan’s eyebrows twitched. “Did you? And did you find anything interesting?”
She told him about the reliefs. “Is that where you got your story?”
“No,” he said. “It’s true that once Vendetta destroyed the queen she took the castle for herself and it was her stronghold for hundreds of years. I’m sure she decorated its walls however she saw fit, as queens are wont to do.”
“Is it possible?” Reese asked, unable to control herself. “That I wasn’t dropped here by some shifter who couldn’t take care of me? That I was in fact first a shark?”
Ethan smiled as if he knew a secret. “What did your aunt tell you?”
“She found me on a beach when I was three or so. I didn’t talk. I couldn’t tell them my name or anything like that. She suspected that some supernatural dropped me off, knowing this was the best place for me.”
“It’s possible,” Ethan said companionably. “Both that you had a mother who could not care for you or that you were born in the sea. Does it matter to you?”
Reese stared out over the horizon uncomprehendingly, as if she might find the answer there. “It doesn’t change anything, does it?”
“How were the sirens?” Ethan asked, trying to recapture her attention.
She told them what she saw, doing her best to explain the black lesions.
Frowning, Ethan lifted his hand as if he meant to touch her. “May I?”
She nodded, suspecting she was agreeing to some sort of mind meld.
As his fingertips brushed her temple, the sensation of cold water running over her scalp overtook her. She shivered.
“I see,” he said, letting his hand fall back to his side. His frown had deepened. All of his flirtation had disappeared.
The breeze pulled at his shirt, revealing a bare chest beneath.
“Could an illness make them more aggressive?” Liam asked, turning the umbrella in his grip.
“If they were worried about population die off, yes,” he said. “Especially if several had already died.”
“I didn’t see any corpses,” she said and immediately felt stupid. He must know that having shared her memory.
“They eat their dead,” Ethan said. Now he was looking out over the ocean, a dreamy look on his face. “Which would spread a disease rather than contain it.”
His trance seemed to break and he turned toward her with a bright smile. “Thank you for your help. This information is very useful. If you don’t mind, I have another task.”
Reese shifted, wondering just what he might ask for.
He shook his head, his seriousness lingering. “Nothing lascivious, I assure you. I’m sending Liam to investigate a situation in town and he could use a hand. Or you could go interview the children who were at the beach the night the sirens attacked. Which would you prefer?”
“I’ll help Liam,” she said.
Reese was instructed to meet Liam at Two Doves Cemetery. Reese navigated her rumbling red pickup through the Castle Cove streets, considering the task ahead. The idea of traipsing around a cemetery with a vampire after dark was not all that appealing.
It wasn’t that she was afraid of the vampire, of the dark, or all those dead people under the ground. She only hoped there would be no labor involved. She was tired. And when tired, gravedigging wasn’t even in her top fifty choices for how she’d like to spend an evening.
When she pulled into the cemetery parking lot, she found Liam leaning against the trunk of his BMW, his ankles crossed and hands in his pockets. Reese thought he looked a little like Zac Efron with his hair swooped up and back and that burgundy silk scarf wrapped around his neck.
She parked beside him and climbed out. “You late for your Esquire photoshoot or something?”
She hoped his outfit meant that no digging would be involved—or he expected her to do it.
He spared her a wry half-smile. “This shouldn’t take too long. Hopefully.”
He began crossing the parking lot to the wood-chipped footpath ahead.
She fell into step beside him. “What are we doing here?”
“Someone reported grave vandalism.”
Reese frowned. “Isn’t that something the police should handle?”
Liam snorted, continuing his long, easy stride even as the path steepened. “It is. Until they call Ethan.”
“So what does that make you?” she asked. “The deputy?”
His smile deepened. “I see why Kristine likes you so much.”
“Thanks. I think.”
As the path ended, the vampire’s eyes swept the cemetery. “Over here.”
She followed him in silence. Twilight purpled around them, the shadows thickening beneath the trees that bordered the cemetery. They seemed to elongate like fingers stretching toward them.
Don’t, she warned. You’ll whip yourself into hysterics with thoughts like that.
But then she saw the ghosts, rising like mist from the graves. She stiffened, her stride faltering.
Liam turned back, frowning at her. “What?”
“Are you seeing this?” Reese pointed at the mist materializing in front of the grave two rows over.
Liam followed her finger. “The ghosts? They’re fine. They won’t bother us. I don’t think they can even see us.”
He resumed his walk. As she watched the phantoms rise from their graves and then float in whichever direction suited them—Reese counted eight—she saw he was right. They were neither coming this way nor showing signs that they knew they were here.
Relief softened the rock in her stomach—until she turned and saw Liam had gotten away from her. She took off at a run to catch up. It was hard to keep her balance over the uneven ground. Some graves seemed to be rising, others sinking. The scent of fresh earth pressed in on her.
She almost yipped with joy when she found him, crouching down in front of a crooked stone.
“Come here,” he commanded pointing at the ground. “This is what I needed you for.”
“What?” But as soon as the word was out of her mouth, Reese saw what he was pointing at. There was a hole where the grave should be. Someone had crudely exhumed the body. The dirt was gone, piled behind the tombstone itself. It wasn’t crooked, she realized. It was half buried. In the grave was the unopened casket.
“What do you need me to do exactly?” Reese asked, relieved that the vandal had done the labor himself—or herself. But also terrified that he was going to ask her to climb into the grave.
“Can you feel any magic?” he asked. “I need to know if magic was used here.”
“Why are you asking me?”
“I can’t feel it,” he said. “An undead vampire could. But living vampires can’t. I can’t.”
Reese sniffed the air. “No. I don’t feel anything.”
Liam sighed. “Damn. I was hoping you wouldn’t say that.”
A cold hand clamped onto Reese’s shoulder and she shrieked.
“Hell’s Bells,” Violet hissed. The leather clad demon took a step back. “Shut up, would you?”
Liam stood, brushing dirt from his knees. “You scared her.”
“You
think, bloodsucker? And she busted both my ear drums.” Violet stuck a finger in her ear and twisted it. “Remind me never to take you to a haunted house. Or a scary movie for that matter.”
“What are you doing here?” Reese demanded. She had one hand over her chest as if trying to hold her heart in.
Violet crossed her arms. “I was going to ask if it was true that you were dumb enough to help Ethan investigate what’s going on in this town, but now that I see his cabana boy in tow, I have my answer.”
“Hello, Violet,” Liam said. He didn’t look at her. He continued frowning at the open grave. “You couldn’t tell me why this grave is unearthed, could you?”
“Sure,” Violet said with a smirk. “I could. But why would I?”
“Because if we don’t figure this out, Ethan is going to drink your girlfriend here dry and use her magic to put Vendetta in some kind of stasis cocoon to protect her.”
“What?” Reese turned toward Liam, trying to tell if the vampire was joking. She didn’t think he was.
Violet’s smirk disappeared. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“Fuck,” Violet said and then to Reese as if this was all her fault. “This is why you stay away from them. Did you even realize they were setting you up to be dinner? Hell, he’s probably going to drain you the second you report back!”
“To be fair, that was only Ethan’s Plan B. I’m against it. I think it will make Kristine sad.”
Reese pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes. “Could you not talk about me like I’m already dead.” Then to Liam. “He was really going to—whatever the hell you just said?”
Liam shrugged, moonlight dancing on his shoulders. “It wouldn’t have killed you. But it would’ve turned you into a shark, permanently. You wouldn’t be able to return to shore anymore.” Then to Violet, “So what do you know?”
Violet groaned. “You play dirty, bloodsucker. I’ll remember that.”
Liam nodded as if he understood.
“Hope dug up this guy because the corpse had some ancient coin that Ydril wanted. She gave Ydril the coin as payment in order to find out where the Witching Blade was.”
“Who the hell is Hope?” Reese asked.
“A chaos demon. Used to be pretty close to Ethan and Vendetta. I hear she’s one of the original chevalier.”
“Is that all?” Liam asked.
“No. She also wanted to know where Ethan was keeping Vendetta. She seems to be under the impression that he’s keeping her in stasis against her will.”
“And since this grave is clearly excavated, the transaction has already happened.”
“You’re so smart,” Violet said, clapping her hands. “You must be his favorite good boy.”
Liam’s head snapped up.
The look in his eyes made both Reese and Violet step back.
“Hey man, I was just kidding. Take a—”
“Shut up,” Liam said. He craned his head as if listening to something. He met Reese’s gaze. “We have to go. Now.”
“Why?” Reese’s heart had finally started to quiet in her chest only to now rev up again.
Liam was already running through the graves, cutting the shortest path to his car. “Hope’s at the house.”
“I’m coming too,” Violet said, following them down the sloping hill.
“You don’t have to,” Reese said, secretly touched.
“That’s what I thought until I just found out how much trouble you’re in. I’m riding with you.”
They climbed into the pickup and followed Liam’s BMW out of the parking lot. As she shifted gears, Reese had a chance to realize she’d picked up dirt on her knees. And her hair was starting to stick to the back of her neck.
“Any chance I can get you to give me your soul?” Violet asked, swaying in the passenger seat as they drove west out of town.
“What? Why?” Reese asked.
“Ethan can’t touch your magic if your soul is promised to someone else. Think of it as giving it to me for safe keeping,” Violet gave her a grin worthy of a devil.
Reese shifted gears, laughing. “I was considering it until you smiled like that.”
Violet shrugged. “At least you’re smart. But seriously, you need to be on your guard here. Liam, no matter how friendly he is with your buddy Kristine, he’s loyal to Ethan. He will live and die for him. You got that? He would throw you under the bus to save his beau.”
“And what about you, Violet? Whose side are you on?”
Violet grinned from the passenger side of the truck. “Tonight? I’m yours.”
Grayson
Sunday morning passed quickly with Nutella pancakes and cups of coffee. But then his parents went to the Farmer’s market in Cliffside, which met on Sunday from May through October. Unlike the market that met in Old Town on Saturdays, Sunday’s market focused on street food and live music. There were more dogs and a playground. It wasn’t a bad way to spend a Sunday. On any other day, Grayson would’ve been thrilled to go too.
But he was tired. He’d kept trying to go to sleep and yet kept finding himself waking up, wanting to read The Dark Mother and Her Children. He reached for the book the way he usually reached for his phone.
He told his parents he wasn’t feeling well, hoping they’d let him stay home. He saw the conflict on their faces as they tried to decide whether or not to force him along or to give him space.
They left without him.
No sooner did his father’s sedan back out of the driveway, nearly hitting the orange tabby, Pumpkin, did Grayson bound up the stairs.
Grayson seized the book and read it again. Before he knew what he was doing, he’d closed the book and began to pack a bag as he would for any day-long hike.
Water. Three protein bars and his knives. He took a length of rope for good measure and a mostly used roll of duct tape. One could never be sure when they might need duct tape.
He looked into his bag and felt there wasn’t much else he could bring.
On second thought, he pulled an onyx pendant from his bedside table. It had been Ms. Monroe who’d given it to him for his sixteenth birthday. She’d said that onyx protected a person from magic. He hoped that would guard him against any magical creatures in the Western Woods.
He clasped the necklace around his neck, feeling its weight settle against his chest.
As he sat on the bench by the front door, pulling on his shoes, he texted Abby. Heading out for a hike.
Where? she asked him.
He considered lying. Then he thought of her in his bed, and lying felt like a dirty trick.
Western Woods.
Haha. When he didn’t respond quick enough she added, WTF??? Are you serious???
I think there’s a way to bring Landon back.
The text bubble rose and disappeared for several minutes. Grayson managed to write Reese a note—Something came up. We’ll have to reschedule—and tape it to the front door. He was already in his car before Abby’s response finally came through.
As what? Zombie? Vampire?
Not sure.
Demon?
I honestly don’t know, he replied.
You want to bring someone back from the dead and you don’t know as what? Awesome idea.
If I died wouldn’t you want to bring me back? he asked.
That’s different.
Why should it be different? he asked. He’s our bff.
She didn’t seem to have an answer for that.
Finally, I’m coming with you.
No.
Why?
It’s too dangerous.
If it’s too dangerous for me, it’s too dangerous for you, she replied.
He wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
What are you trying to prove? she asked.
That question stung. Somehow it had cut beneath the surface of the urgency. It burned. Worse, it slowed him down. It made him think.
What was he trying to prove?
That he was
a good friend to Landon? That Abby really would’ve wanted him if Landon were still alive? That Grayson wasn’t a consolation prize?
No. He didn’t believe any of that. If he was being honest with himself, he’d known since September. The way she’d looked at him spoke volumes for the connection between them.
If he needed to prove anything, it was that he wasn’t happy his friend was dead. He needed to prove that Landon’s death hadn’t been like a gift from above.
That was closer to the truth.
Bringing Landon back would prove that he wasn’t glad to have Landon removed from the picture. He wasn’t glad that he had the chance to steal the girl he always wanted for himself.
Grayson shifted uncomfortably in the driver’s seat. He wrung the steering wheel.
Take me with you, Abby texted again. Gray, please. You can’t go in there by yourself.
I’ll be there in five minutes, he wrote and reversed the car out of the driveway. It was almost eleven in the morning. If they got into the woods by noon, they’d have about nine hours before sunset. That meant they needed to cover at least two miles an hour. Doable.
His phone remained silent for the entire drive. Maybe Abby was saving her energy for a counterargument in person. Maybe she was forming a plan to detain him at her house so he couldn’t go into the woods at all.
Grayson drove the perimeter of Hyde Park, driving past the large, imposing mansions that faced the park. He’d always wondered who lived there. Abigail said it was the wealthy undead vampires of Castle Cove. That each grand house was owned by one of the clans.
Apparently, there were two kinds of vampires in Castle Cove—and as far as Grayson knew—the world. There were living vampires and undead vampires. The living vampires were those who had not died as a result of their attack and transformation. Their hearts never stopped. Therefore, the virus living inside them had more of a symbiotic relationship with its host. It gave them strength and eternal youth. They detested, but were not allergic to, sunlight. They were simply creatures of the night. Their bodies emitted pheromones that attracted and disoriented their prey. They were warm and had a pulse. Mostly they were apex predators rather than supernatural creatures.
The undead were a different story. Unlike their living brethren who seemed to rely on their physical attributes to attract prey, the undead relied on magic. The undead had died during their transformations and it was at that moment of death that a demon entered their body and took up residence.
Night Tide Page 42