“Who was it?” Tristan asked frowning, having a good idea already. “The old guy?”
Desmond nodded.
“Damnit,” he sighed, looking to Ash. “And we still don’t know who this guy is?”
“We do.”
Tristan frowned while he waited on Desmond to give it up.
The vampire huffed, running a hand over his head again. He couldn’t seem to keep himself from touching his newly bald head. “Aye.”
“And?” Ash snapped impatiently.
“Pythia.”
“So he is.”
“Well,” Tristan mumbled, looking grim as fuck, “he did say he was my old man and I am half pythia… Fuck, is he really my father?”
Ash frowned at him a moment before saying, “Regardless if he is your DNA donor, if it turns out he is working with Jason, well, I think we have bigger problems than just Mother at the moment.”
Desmond was chewing on his lip, looking grim. Whatever the man was thinking, Tristan couldn’t hear, but he felt the vampire’s anxiety and yeah, a little bit of fear.
“So,” Tristan asked, “what happened with Silas?”
“Right. We found the Professor. The elf was fooking livid about Chrysanthe being dead and wanted his relic staff back from Old Man Professor.”
“It really was an a’los Tristan saw…,” Ash mused, more to herself than the others. “Goddess, do you know how difficult it would be to steal that from an elf? A royal elf? Who in yomi is this Professor?”
Tristan had no idea exactly what an a’los to an elf was but Desmond seemed to and shrugged.
“He could have killed us. Hate to admit it but he was stronger than Silas and I together, fucking pythia spells…”
“Is Silas is still alive?” Tristan asked.
“Suppose so. After Professor hit us with a spell bomb to forget and sleep, I came too again on the jet on the way home. Were just me and the piolets. If the Professor dinnea off me then, why off the elf? To get that stupid stick back? Bloody stupid.”
“I get the impression Silas knows more than we realize,” Ash said sounding rightfully dejected. “I could not get ahold of him or anyone who has seen him in the past few months. Most anyone saw of him was months before our meeting in Greece.”
“No word on this Hohenheim dude either?” Tristan piped up. Not that it was dire anymore, but Elinore wasn’t right and needed help.
She shook her head. “You are right, the situation is no longer dire. Desmond is…” She looked at the vampire, eyeing him up and down. “Fine, enough.”
The man sneered and flipped her off, ending with a little grin and a wink.
“Elinore is… alive, but I hope to still find something to heal her more thoroughly.” She sighed. “I spoke with Mei-Fen in Hong Kong, she has had no contact with the man in years. Last she saw him, he was off to mentor Chrysanthe. She did give me some very good suggestions on spells to try, however.”
Tristan grunted. “And Chrysanthe’s dead.”
“Yes.”
“Do we assume Hohenheim is too, then? Silas?”
Ash made a face that said she wasn’t sure what to think.
“Well, we can’t ask Netty since aside from Lilith he’s allergic to pythia—not that I’ve been able to talk to him long enough to a have real conversation. He called while I was in the grocery store but, well, I had to cut it short.”
“Elinore?”
Tristan glanced at Desmond. The vampire’s body language was trying to take himself out of the conversation without actually getting up and leaving. A wave of regret from the vampire nearly choked Tristan.
“She’s… Jesus, she’s really not quite right in the head. She made a big scene and I had to hang up on Netty. Anyway, there’s one thing he did say of importance. Well, a few, but there was no elaboration on any of it. He said—”
Ash stepped up to him and putting a hand on his arm. “What is it?”
He let out a long sigh that ended in a groan, raking his fingers roughly through his too-long hair. “He said we assumed wrong. It’s not a single shinwa and heikō from each race that’s pregnant with…” He fluttered his hand. “Divine whatever.”
Realization dawned on Ash’s face and Desmond paled.
“He’s found dozens so far. Dozens, Ash.”
She hissed under her breath a few Greek words, ending in a huff.
“Oy, wee lass heavy on the nasties tonight.”
She gave him a pointed look, a warning. “The more vessels available, the higher the rate of Mother finding the one she needs—wants. Her perfect coming.”
He glanced at Desmond, unsure if the man even knew the full breadth of current events in his fucked up world. “I’m not going to kill dozens of pregnant women. I can’t even kill a single man who’s trying to kill me… Ash?”
She shook her head, looking to Desmond as if he might magically have an answer. The big vampire stared at her for a long time before finally giving a huff and getting off his stool. Without a word he marched out of the room, leaving Tristan and Ash alone.
“Wish I could just walk away…”
Ash moved in close to wrap her arms around his waist. “Even if you could, you wouldn’t. It’s not you.”
“Fuck me for being so damn noble then.”
Ash chuckled, resting against his chest. “I’m just as lost as you, my love. We need to find Innokentiy. And I need to speak with my niece. I’ll demand she tell me who this Professor is and what threat Jason poses. Maybe she can even tell me more about Father. Maybe the way to stop Mother is to help Father.”
Hmm, interesting thought. That hadn’t even occurred to him. Maybe Father could help them. Somehow, he didn’t think that was even close to being the case.
“Uh, there’s more, relevant more… Netty said there’s been fights breaking out all over Europe between vampires who wish to keep their secret and those who want to tell the world.”
Ash hissed under her breath, undoubtedly cursing in Greek again. Desmond was probably right, Ash had a potty mouth tonight. And for good fucking reason.
“And, um, well, it’s got to be relevant, but Netty said that pythia are going missing too.”
Ash swallowed hard. “I see. Does he think it is Jason’s doing?”
“Dunno. Had to hang up to help out looney toons.”
Ash slumped. “I don’t even know who is the enemy anymore. Jason is pulling from the left, The Professor on the right and everything in the middle is a mess. And then there’s Mother to top it all off into a masterful mess. Never mind Father is missing in action, allowing this to happen.”
Tristan reached out to take her hand and pull her close. “You mean clusterfuck, yeah.”
A hand touched his cheek and he flinched, realizing he’d been staring off into space.
“How are you? she asked softly. “Any bad side effects? Daylight?”
“Tired. Confused. Frustrated. The sun does seem to make me a bit itchy and food’s not the same. I guess nothing will ever be the same again.”
“Yes.” She nodded. “All understandable. I wish I could say it gets easier, but…” She shrugged with one shoulder. “It takes longer for some.”
He nodded and then cringed when Elinore let out a hair-raising squeal, barreling into the room. He was just turning to face the direction of the noise when Elinore careened right into him, knocking the wind from him and forcing him back a step to balance them. She clung to him, her face hidden.
“Ellie, honey, what’s wrong?”
She was sobbing so hard he couldn’t understand her but Ash apparently did and translated. “She says that she doesn’t want the faeries to go. They are her bestest friends.”
Tristan raised an eyebrow at her.
Ash grinned, holding her hands out. “Her words.”
The others came into the kitchen and stopped a short distance away, giving the upset girl some space. Lance gave Tristan an apologetic shrug, while Simon and the other boy with him—obviously another sibling—bo
th looked utterly exhausted. The elf woman looked uncomfortable as she sidled real close to Lance.
“Hey,” Tristan said gently as he smoothed Ellie’s hair. “Hey, honey?”
She lifted her head and he couldn’t help but frown at how wrecked she looked. She was healed from her wounds but she had a busy afternoon and the tired showed all over her face. The tears and snot and crazy cat lady hair didn’t help.
Tristan said, “Simon and—”
“Sacha,” Ash, Lance and the elf woman all said in unison.
“Sacha don’t live here and they need to go home to sleep.” He glanced at the clock. It was early into the night for a vampire but getting late for a young, growing human girl that nearly died twice in the past two days. “It’s late, sweetheart. And you need to get some sleep too. I know you’re tired.”
Pouting, she nodded. “But, but… but I want Simon and Sacha to stay.” The last word was long and drawn and as whiney as Ellie could make it. Tristan couldn’t keep himself from smiling and kissed her on the top of her head.
Lance offered, “If it’s okay with you, I know Sacha wouldn’t mind staying.”
It took Tristan a moment to realize the man had spoken in Japanese and Tristan understood it clearly, naturally. Still momentarily stunned, Ash stepped forward.
“Yes, I think that is a good idea, for both of them.” Turning to Ellie, she said, “Elinore, would you like Sacha to stay the night?”
Ellie’s eyes widened, sparkling with glee. “Yes! Yes, yes!”
“Sacha?”
The fae looked up slowly at hearing his name. When he didn’t respond right away, Simon muttered something to him and elbowed him. Slightly off balance, Sacha stumbled and then shrugged. He was squirrely and Tristan could see how he and Ellie would get along great.
“Okay,” he said softly, his voice heavily accented. Japanese was his native language, it seemed.
Ash smiled and turned back to Elinore. “It’s settled then. But understand, it will just be one night.”
Tristan could almost feel the “for now” in her tone.
“Yes, okay! Come on Sash!”
“Sash?” Tristan muttered under his breath as Elinore grabbed the wrist of the young fae. When they were gone up the stairs he said, “Jesus, how many of that family does Yuki have?”
Lance sighed and put his arm around Simon’s shoudlers. For once, the kid had nothing to say. In fact, he looked like he was about to pass out right there. “Simon and Sacha are the last of their line.”
Tristan went to Simon and held out his hand. “My condolences.”
“Th—thank you.” Simon took his hand back, looking to Lance for guidance.
The, yet unidentified, elf woman glanced at her watch when it chirped. “Sorry, babe, but we really need to go.” Her accent was light, but it definitely had an Irish flavor.
“Hm? Oh, yeah, okay.” Lance started to turn away but stopped short and back to Tristan again. “Oh, oh no. I’m so rude. Tristan, this is Jennifer.”
He smiled and held out his hand to shake. Jennifer smiled and Tristan gave her a quick over, really seeing her this time. Having met Silas in Greece took most of the shine out of meeting an elf, but she was beautiful. Her skin was pale and lightly freckled brown on her shoulders, arms and bridge of her nose. Her feather hair was a crisp lime green color that was a little bit darker at the tips and made her hazel eyes stand out. And she had an inch on Tristan’s six-three.
“My wife,” Lanced added.
Tristan started. Elves and fae married? That was as taboo as vampire and Uruwashi. “O—oh! Yeah, hi. Nice to meet you.”
She grinned. “Likewise. Lance?”
“Of course. Call if you need anything, we’ll stop by again in a few days. Say bye to Wren for me.”
“Yep, later.”
“Oh.” Lance stopped short as the others continued towards the front door. “Should I introduce—” He nodded at Tristan but was talking to Ash. “—to Sevi?”
“Who’s Sevi?” he asked.
Ash shifted uncomfortably on her feet. “No. Give her some time. I imagine there will be some…” Ash cleared her throat and quirked a little smile she couldn’t hide. “Aggravation at their meeting at this point.”
Lance laughed, waving as he followed the others out.
Tristan huffed. “Why do I feel like I’m being picked on here?” He reached out to capture her wrist and pulled her to him. He kissed her on the forehead before muttering, “I know it’s early but I think we should go to bed.”
She pulled away stiffly and he frowned.
“Did I say something wrong?”
She shook her head. “Yukihime was here tonight. She arrived and left before Lance’s group. She… she took Nastasia.”
“Oh.” He frowned to himself a moment, lost in thought. Yeah, now that he payed attention, he didn’t feel the pissed off vampire anymore. “What is she going to do with her?”
Ash shook her head. “I don’t know. But right now, I can’t think about it.”
Tristan knew all too well what ignoring his problems brought him: more problems. “I’m sorry you had to choose between us.”
She flinched looking up at him. “What? No. It was never that.”
“It sort of was, Ash.”
“No.” Ash was shaking her head adamantly. “No. If Malik had not set her against—If she had not chosen to hate me, we could have been a family. She chose her life.” Ash smiled at him. “And I’ve chosen mine.”
Grinning, he answered, “I can’t say it’s a bad choice, albeit a bit risky.”
“I suppose I’ve always been a risk taker,” she said before kissing him.
Tristan broke the kiss with a gasp, turning towards the front door. Ash joined him and behind them Wren was rushing down the stairs.
Tristan yanked open the front door and stepped out onto the front porch. “Fuck!” he yelled. “Come back here you fucking coward!”
“Tristan.”
He spun around to find Ash holding out a piece of paper, eyes wide in horror. On the other side of the threshold Wren was frowning at them.
Tristan snatched the letter up and read it aloud. “A little poem from me to you, Tristan. Give me my Master and I’ll give you your friend. Love your best pal, Pollux—What the fuck is this?”
Ash swallowed thickly. “An invitation.”
“To what?” he snapped.
She gave Wren a weary look and the vampire excused himself with a little bow.
“Read the rest,” she urged.
He huffed and turned the paper over to read the back.
“Trist and Gill—” He stopped when his voice quavered on Gillian’s name. Because, oh fuck, no. He swallowed hard and let out a steadying breath, started again.
“Tristan and Gill
Went down the hill
To play in the swamp.
Gill fell down
And almost drown
Pollux came to help her.
Up Trist spun
Home he did run
As fast as a blur.
Cried to Ash
Over his hurt ass
How will he ever save the past?”
The tremble in his hand worsened by the time he finished reading. There was no doubt in his mind that Pollux had Gillian. The question was where and was she even still alive?
“Think, Tristan. Where does me mean?”
“Why the fuck you asking me that? How the hell am I supposed to know?” The was huffing for breath now. He’d make himself pass out if he didn’t calm down. Because he believed this time, the vampire really did have his friend.
“Read it again,” Ash said calmly. “He wrote it specifically for you. Where did he take her?”
Tristan took a deep breath and forced himself to read it again, absorbing each word in the fucked up poem.
“Oh shit,” he whispered. “I know where they are. How much time before dawn?”
Ash frowned. “It’s only ten pm, Tristan.”
> “Plenty of time for me to show that motherfucker who he’s messing with—Let’s go.”
24: Superman’s Dead
WHY are you looking at me like that?” He cringed when his words came out harsher than he meant. None of this was Ash’s fault.
Her lips thinned into a white line. “Is all of that really necessary? You are on equal ground with the vampire now. Believe me, I love my guns and sword, but I think carrying all of that will frighten Gillian. You only need one each for someone like Pollux. You are so strong now.”
Maybe there was a few too many weapons, but Tristan did need them all. Four guns, one katana, one tantō and two boot knives. Didn’t seem like enough, actually. Knew he should have brought the sexy but cumbersome SPAS with him. It would have been satisfying as fuck to blow a big ass hole through the vampire with that shotgun.
Tristan shot Ash a dirty look. “G’s stronger than you think she is, she’ll be fine. Besides, we’re not equal thank you very much. You said it yourself, I need to learn how to use my seikonō n’ shit—I don’t even have the tiniest of grasps on my motonō… He’s older and knows how to be a Master. I don’t. I haven’t even had your blood yet. And I sure as shit don’t feel any more powerful. And, my fucking luck, he’ll have more spells on him.”
“You’re right.” She looked away. “Next time we’ll be better prepared with our own spells. They’re dangerous, but Mamoru was right to carry spell bombs.”
He glanced at her, couldn’t read her expression and looked back to the road where he was doing sixty-five in a thirty. They’d be there in another three minutes at this pace, maybe less.
“You think he’s killed her already.”
Ash shook her head. “No. Only fear such.”
He let out a long breath and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “Me too.”
“The boy is unstable and angry. He’s liable to do anything. His story is tragic, but all too common. He needs to be stopped.”
“Well, he’s going to know we didn’t bring Nastasia with us. He might kill Gillian right in front of me in spite.”
Ash sighed and put a hand on his thigh. “I will do my best to keep her safe. You focus on Pollux.”
“Right.”
Primal Burdens: (The Uruwashi Series #5) Page 27
