Only the Devout

by Amanda M. Lee

  “The vampire protected Zoe — even though she never really needed anyone’s protection — when Aric’s loyalties were divided,” she continued. “There might’ve been a brief flirtation between Zoe and our vampire, but it couldn’t have come to fruition. It was always Aric for her, and she was definitely always it for him.”

  Her tone was stirring. “You love them.”

  “We’re joined forever. I definitely love them.”

  “I look forward to meeting them in a few weeks.” I patted her arm and slid out of the cart. “For now, I’m going to see if I can find answers.”

  “Good luck.”

  “Thanks. I think I might need it.”

  I TOOK UP POSITION ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF the parking lot and watched for what felt like a long time. I could feel Titus’s eyes on me, but I didn’t give him the satisfaction of acknowledging his presence. I focused on the three new girls and waited.

  I got my chance about twenty minutes later, when one of the girls separated from the pack and moved to the shade to cool down. That’s when I approached her.

  “Hey.”

  She looked up, her eyes instantly narrowing in suspicion. “Hey. Can I help you?”

  “I work in the aquarium.” I gestured at the building for emphasis. “You haven’t been with the group before today. Did you come from another state?”

  “Why does that matter?” The young woman drank her water and watched me with unveiled suspicion. “Look. If you’re an undercover cop, I haven’t done anything. That warrant was crap and I can prove it. I know I didn’t show up for court, but that’s because I couldn’t catch a ride.”

  My forehead wrinkled as I absorbed the information. “You’re local,” I said after a moment.

  “Um ... duh.” She made a face and sipped more water. “I’m not doing anything wrong. I saw the permits. Er, well, Tim told us about the permits. We’re well within our rights to be here.”

  “Tim?”

  “The dude in charge.” Frustration rolled off her. “I can’t remember his name.”

  “Titus.”

  “If you say so. That’s a pretty stupid name.”

  I couldn’t agree more. That was hardly cause for concern today, though. “How did Titus find you?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  I played a hunch and dug in my pocket, coming back with a twenty and holding it out to her. “How did he find you?”

  She eyed the money, licked her lips and glanced over her shoulder. Her fingers quickly snatched the bill and shoved it in her pocket. “He came to the park looking for volunteers.” She kept her voice low. “He didn’t care if we were clean. He only cared that we were blond and thin. He said he would give us clothes and a hundred bucks a day. That’s a lot more than we’re making in those hotel rooms.”

  It took me a moment to put together what she was saying. “You’re a prostitute.”

  She shot me a dirty look. “I’m a working gal. That’s how I like to refer to myself.”

  “Of course.” I nodded. “I didn’t mean to offend you. In fact, that’s the last thing I want. It’s just ... he makes it sound as if you’re true believers.”

  “That’s part of the gig.” She was matter-of-fact. “We pretend we believe there’s some door under the ground here and he gives us our money. That’s the deal.”

  “Did he say why he needed blondes?”

  “No, but I didn’t ask. Money is money — and he paid half up front. For a hundred bucks, I can walk in a circle all day, even when it’s freaking hot like it is now.”

  “Uh-huh.” I rubbed my chin and shifted my eyes to where Titus sat with two women. They were older, probably in their thirties. They appeared to hang on his every word. True believers. That much was obvious. “You read people,” I said to the girl. It was a statement, not a question. “Tell me what you think of these people.”

  She stared back at me hard.

  I grabbed another twenty from my pocket and wordlessly handed it over.

  She snatched it, her lips curving as she marveled at her good fortune. “You really want dirt on these people.”

  “I really do.”

  “Well, here’s how it is. Molly, Macy, and I were down in the park by Hart Plaza when this guy came to us. I’m Missy. We’re the three Ms and we have this little game we like to play. It keeps us safe when turning tricks.

  “So, anyway, we take this guy into the hotel room,” she continued. “We ask him what he wants — there’s not a lot of variation in this business — and he says he wants us to come down here. He says we have to pretend we believe there’s a weird door under the ground where all the dead people are hanging out. If we do, we get a hundred bucks each. It’s easy money and fewer tricks to turn.”

  I nodded in understanding. “I don’t blame you. I hold you no ill will.”

  “I wouldn’t care if you did. I’m just laying the groundwork.” She looked at the circling marchers. “We were told that we’re supposed to agree with whatever the other people say — like if they say they can hear whispers from the door, we’re supposed to be all ‘I hear them, too’ and pretend it’s an actual thing.”

  The news was hardly surprising. “I get it. Continue.”

  “We think that these people are putting on an act. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Except most of them aren’t. Most of these morons really believe there’s a door under the dirt and it’s going to lead them to their loved ones.”

  “Who doesn’t believe?” I pressed. “Who is acting?”

  “The Titus guy. I swear I thought his name was Tim. A few of the other guys, too. The ones closest to him. They’re acting their asses off and Titus wants them to.”

  “I can’t say I’m surprised.” I pursed my lips as I pinned her with a pointed look. “Thank you for the information. You need to listen to me now.”

  Missy looked taken aback. “I can’t quit this job.”

  “I don’t want you to quit.” She was my inside person. There was no way I wanted her to quit. “I do want you off this island before dark, though.” I was adamant. “You’re safer back on your own turf for the evening, no matter what they say.”

  “But they said we could camp with them. It’s a long walk back.”

  “It’s still better than staying the night.” I refused to back down. “A girl died out here the other night. A street girl. Her name was Caitlin and she was running with a guy called Knight. She was murdered in this parking lot. I don’t want that to happen to you.”

  “Caitlin?” Missy swallowed hard and I knew she was familiar with the name. “I didn’t realize anything happened to her.” She glanced around and then nodded. “I’ll make sure we’re off the island before dark, even if I have to lie to make it happen.”

  “I can arrange a ride if necessary.”

  She hesitated. “I’d better not. Titus might not like it.”

  She was probably right. “Just be careful. I have no proof it was them but ... .”

  “They’re nuts,” she finished. “Of course it’s them.”

  She finished her water, offered a small mock salute, and returned to the circle of cultists. She didn’t immediately start whispering with her friends. I had no doubt she would convey my warning to them. I hoped they would escape unscathed.

  When I glanced under the trees to monitor Titus’s whereabouts, I was annoyed to find he’d disappeared. I craned my neck to look for him and almost jumped out of my skin when I glanced to the east and found him watching me from only a few feet away. How he’d managed to sneak up on me was a mystery.

  “You should make a noise when you walk,” I suggested, flashing a smile I didn’t feel. “Maybe wear a bell like a cat or something.”

  His expression was flat. There was no warmth in his eyes and he didn’t bother to fake a smile. “I saw you talking to Missy. I hope you had a nice conversation.”

  He was fishing. I knew what I wanted to say, but I couldn’t risk it. I had to protect Missy and her friends. �
��I was curious about where they came from.” I opted to tell a bastardized version of the truth. “I thought maybe they were from another state.”

  “And what did she say?”

  “They’re local.” I figured keeping the story as close to the truth as possible was best. “They heard about your group and wanted to participate. They’re desperate to talk to missing loved ones.

  “I have to hand it to you, you’re a master at convincing people that this stupid door thing really exists,” I continued, inserting as much disdain as I could into my tone. I wanted him focused on me, not Missy. “I mean, those girls probably didn’t care about anything but hair and makeup until you came along. Now they’re all about the next big step for mankind. It’s ridiculous.”

  Titus’s face glowed with pleasure. “Is that how she put it? The ‘next big step for mankind.’ It has a certain ring to it.”

  “Yes, a disingenuous ring.” I eyed him with overt dislike. “I know you’re not here for a door.”

  “You’re wrong. That’s exactly why I’m here.”

  “No, you’re here for another reason. I want you to know that I’m going to figure out the reason.”

  “You’re a suspicious soul,” he said breezily. “You might try to relax and embrace something other than derision. You’ll be a happier person.”

  I didn’t bother to hide my glare as I took a deliberate step from him. I didn’t trust him to be that close to me. “I meant what I said. I’m going to figure out what you’re up to.”

  He waited until I was almost at the front door of the aquarium to speak again. “Detroit is an interesting place. The city itself is poor and those who live inside the limits are financially struggling. But just outside there are rich neighborhoods where nobody is hurting for anything. It’s amazing.”

  My jaw clenched. The Grimlocks lived in such a neighborhood. He was sending a message.

  “They’re great neighborhoods,” I agreed, forcing myself to continue walking. “What’s really interesting about them is the people who live there are survivors, just like the people in the city.”

  “It’s a cutthroat world,” he drawled.

  My heart skipped a beat. “It certainly is.” I yanked open the door. “Don’t forget what I said. I’m going to take you down.”

  “Then it should be an interesting few days.”

  Twenty-One

  I was restless once back inside, irritating Oliver. He demanded I leave again — which would’ve hurt my feelings if I didn’t fully understand that I was being an utter pain — and I did just that. I’d been working out a plan in my head and to carry it out, I needed more information.

  I needed Luna.

  It wasn’t hard to find her once I reached Knight’s territory. A glance inside his laundromat front told me he was inside, and it was the real guy, not a glamour this time. I could tell by how pale and drawn he was. Knight was a man in mourning — and possibly mired in plotting revenge.

  I didn’t want to ask about Luna’s whereabouts — the last thing I needed was an entourage guarding me under the guise of protecting her — so I used my magic. I hit on a power source not long after arriving and followed it to a park I’d never seen. What I found broke my heart.

  It was a tent city of sorts. I was surprised the city allowed it. Of course, it wasn’t located in an area tourists were likely to visit. Perhaps the city officials figured it was better to herd the homeless and destitute here rather than trying to roust them out of other areas. In New Orleans, the homeless were simply part of the environment. Other cities went out of their way to hide them. Whether Detroit was one of them, I couldn’t say.

  I sensed her before I saw her. Luna stood in the middle of a group of people, all of whom seemed excited to see her. She was handing out supplies, including cases of water and non-perishable food items. She had a huge pile of survival items for those assembled, and from the way she was greeted — people calling out her name and offering grateful hugs — it was easy to guess this wasn’t the first time.

  “Hey.”

  She glanced up at the sound of my voice, frowning when she saw me. “How did you ... ?” She trailed off, glancing around. She knew better than to ask a magic question in mixed company.

  I knew what she wanted to ask. I’d purposely clouded my approach so she wouldn’t be able to sense me. It wasn’t that I thought she would run as much as I wanted to test her abilities. She was definitely strong, but untrained. “I’m a woman of many gifts.”

  She held my gaze for a long beat. “I guess so,” she said finally, wiping her hands on the seat of her jeans. “Jerome, can you finish handing out this stuff?” she asked the man standing to her left.

  He eagerly nodded, as if the simple act of being involved was enough to last him the entire day.

  “Everyone be polite,” Luna ordered those who crowded closer. “I won’t be far. I’m just going to talk to my friend here.”

  Several sets of eyes turned to me and I felt suspicion bubbling up. Those who frequented the park seemed to accept my presence, though, and I assumed it was because Luna accepted it.

  “Let’s move to the shade.” She gestured for me to follow her to a bench under a tree.

  I settled next to her. I had a lot of questions, but I was uncertain how to ask. “What you’re doing here is ... amazing,” I said, finding my voice. “How do you manage it?”

  “What do you mean?” I didn’t miss the wary edge in her tone. “These people need help. I provide help.”

  “I get that part of it. That’s the amazing part. I’m curious about how you manage to fund this endeavor. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you live on the street, too, right?”

  “You’re wrong.”

  Her tone told me I’d made a grave misstep. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that as an insult.”

  “It’s not an insult.” Her eyes were clear. “There’s nothing wrong with being homeless. Well, there is something wrong. Nobody should be without a roof over her head. If you think these people are somehow deficient, you can leave right now. I don’t care what you did for Knight. I’ll put up with only so much.”

  Yes, I’d definitely stepped in it. Luna was defensive, and I couldn’t blame her. She had every right to be suspicious of me and my presence on her turf.

  “Let’s start again,” I suggested, keeping my tone even. “My name is Izzy.”

  “I know your name.”

  “I work on Belle Isle.”

  “I also know that.”

  “I lived on Belle Isle when I was a kid, until my parents were murdered. It’s a long story. The part that might be important to you is that I moved to New Orleans to live with my grandfather afterward. The homeless population there is extensive. My grandfather was part of outreach programs. I helped him.”

  She gave me an appraising look. “I’ve always wanted to visit New Orleans. It’s on my bucket list.”

  “You’re too young to have a bucket list.”

  “I’m very aware of my mortality.” She shifted so she was in a better position to stare me down. “What are you doing here?”

  “Maybe I’m just taking a walk in picturesque Detroit.”

  “My ass.”

  I smirked. “I was looking for you.”

  “I figured. How did you find me?”

  “Your magic. I can sense the magic of others. You’re no exception.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize.”

  “It’s an acquired skill. I think you can acquire it. You’re strong. In fact, you might be the strongest witch I’ve crossed paths with since returning to Detroit a few months ago. I met a few circus performers who could probably kick the crap out of both of us, but you’re something special.”

  “Circus performers?” She looked amused at the prospect. “I didn’t realize witches lived with the circus. Sounds fun. Maybe I should put that on my bucket list.”

  “Actually, I wouldn’t call them witches. They were ... something else.” I felt bad talking
out of turn — Poet and her merry band of misfits had been nothing but nice — but I needed a way to entice Luna. “They had a mage, a few shifters, a lamia — I’m not even sure what the main woman was, but she was definitely magical. I very much doubt she would call herself a witch.”

  Luna rubbed her jaw. “I heard about the circus people,” she said. “They were the talk of the town. They took two girls from the street and did something to them. I don’t trust the circus people.”

  “You mean Michelob and Cotton?” I opted not to play games. “They’re perfectly fine. The circus people essentially adopted them. They can’t take them on the road until they’re adults. They’ve been moved into a group home.”

  Luna’s eyes flashed. “How do you know that?”

  “I was there when the woman who runs the circus asked my boyfriend’s father to check on them,” I answered. “He’s been diligently performing that duty. They’re doing well. One of them — Michelob — was always sick because she had problems with her tonsils. They’ve been removed and her immune system is rebounding.”

  “But ... .” Luna’s brow furrowed.

  “You want to know why they haven’t slipped back out onto the street,” I surmised. I understood the mentality. It was rampant with street kids. I’d been friends with a fair number during my time in New Orleans. I grasped the difficulty they faced better than most. “I don’t think the group home will let them wander around.”

  “Then why haven’t they escaped?” Luna’s tone was accusatory.

  “They’re not being held captive. They’re looking forward to another life. They want to join Mystic Caravan when they’re old enough. To do that, they have to keep their noses clean.”

  “And you think those circus people will really come back for them?” She was disdainful. “Do you know how many times people have probably spouted similar nonsense to those girls? Why would they believe these people after knowing them for only a week?”