“Finally! Now you want to know.” Elsbeth raised her hands up in mock exasperation. “Maybe I don’t feel like telling you.” She rested her gloved fists on her waist. “Just kidding. Actually, I’m dying to tell you. It was more difficult than I thought to keep this secret. I was in San Francisco following your early cases in the news when I wondered. What would happen when a paranormal used Glytr?”
“You didn’t.” My throat was dry and it wasn’t just the burning.
“Of course I did. You theorized that humans used Glytr because it made them feel powerful like paranormals. I discovered paranormals under the influence of Glytr aren’t physically impacted the same way naturally but that’s not the whole story.”
Maybe it was the pain in my body but now I could see everything Elsbeth laid out.
“Paranormals become suggestible,” I murmured.
“Even better. They become submissive. They not only will do what you tell them, but they want to please you.” Elsbeth clasped her hands together in front of her and then her face twisted. “However, I discovered a setback. In my early test cases, flashes of their pre-Glytr selves broke through their current behavior, causing them to fight themselves to death. Come to think of it, dosing might be the issue.The sample study was more or less successful. Now is the time to take this concept full-scale.”
Warning bells blared in my brain. This was beyond anything I could imagine she’d dream up.
I stared at Elsbeth. “I took an oath to do no harm. It’s not about losing my medical license. I’d be staked.”
“One, your relationship with Fang is a stake-worthy offense yet you seem to be indulging in that. Two, the licensing issue is shortsighted. I’m offering you a chance to make history. You want to win a Vobel award? They’d probably rename the whole contest after you if things go my way.”
The silver burned my wrists so badly tears rolled down my cheeks. I hated that I could not wipe them away. “You think Hades or the Fae are going to let you corner the market on mind-controlled paranormals? Isn’t there some human expression about breaking eggs and success?” Elsbeth asked. “I’ll deal with Hades and the Fae if it comes to that. More likely they will be coming to me for help. This is my idea, and no one is going to take it away or hold me back. Have you any idea what this would mean?”
“That you don’t need to make your own creations? Anyone could do that by treating a paranormal with Glytr? Assuming, of course, that they don’t go insane first.” Fang balled his fists, a sure sign of his frustration. She’d kill me before he even got close.
“It changes the whole power structure of our society around. We don’t need to live in fear of the Fae or tread lightly around Hades because we’d have our own security.” Elsbeth leaned closer to my tear streaked face.
“No, you want your own army.” I gasped. “This won’t end well.”
“Hanging around humans and shifters is slowing you down. Of course I want my own power. Hades has done nothing useful in too long. And the Fae…I’m not a fan.”
“You can’t make me help you.”
“Probably not.” Elsbeth shrugged. “But I can make you very sorry that you didn’t. I know you lament your loss of dreams, but you know what takes its place? Regret. You can spend eternity wishing you’d done something to help your helpless human before I broke him. What about your sheriff? He looks strong. He may survive. Can you imagine what I could accomplish with him in my employ?”
Fang growled.
“What you need, Silverthorne, is motivation. And as much as you profess your love for this shifter, I need to up my game with you. Is that you, Idris?” Elsbeth called.
I turned my head in time to see Idris slither in the cave entrance.
20
“Stick and stones, Silverthorne,” he said. “I used to respect you.” His lips twisted with his words. “We could have had the medical community, both human and paranormal, at our feet. But you threw it all away. For what? A shifter and a human? You’re a disgrace.”
“Ready to step right up and take the credit for someone else’s work again, I see. Why am I not surprised? You better use my death wisely because without me you’ll never have a creative thought again. You’ll be stale and stagnant, wracking your dull brain for nothing. Don’t be surprised when you’re lapped repeatedly by the likes of witch doctors.” I sniffed the air. Though my skin burned, my mouth watered.
Idris wasn’t alone.
Ben was strapped to his back.
“Touch him and I’ll cut your head off!” I thrashed against my bonds. They cut deeper into my skin.
Ben was unconscious with his hands and feet bound. I could hear his heart beating slower than usual. He’d been drugged. Idris dropped the harness he’d carried Ben up the cliffside with. Ben dropped to the stone floor, and his head struck the ground.
Elsbeth giggled.
Fang roared, surging toward Idris.
Elsbeth called, “Stop! Or I’ll kill her now.”
“Don’t listen to her, Fang. Kill them both.” I snarled.
“Now, now, now. Let’s all take a few deep breaths. Fang, that means you. Idris, wake the human up. Silverthorne, that’s right—you can’t do anything.” Elsbeth resettled herself in a crouch next to me. She wrinkled her nose. “Phew. You stink.”
“Who are you willing to give up?” She pointed the stake toward Ben’s head. “You can’t have him and the shifter.”
“Why not?” What did it matter to her?
Her eyes narrowed. “Because I said so. And I’m your maker.”
Choosing between Ben and Fang was impossible. Fang was my soul mate. I never loved anyone like him nor would I again. But Ben was an innocent. I’d brought him here to a world where he didn’t belong for my own benefit. Ben being here was on me. He wasn’t only a food source to me. Our relationship was complicated, but I wasn’t going to abandon him to Elsbeth.
Outside the rain still pelted against the rock. I could hear splashes of water against the lip of the cliff.
I was helpless. It was a new feeling and I hated it.
Elsbeth slapped her knees, ruffling the flounce of her hem. “I have been too indulgent with you for too long, Silverthorne. That was my fault. It’s never a good idea to have favorites among your children. Inevitably they disappoint you. Now, you are going to make Ben here a vampire or I’ll kill him.”
My mind had been trying to decide a way to free Ben and save Fang. Fang would have a better chance against two vamps over Ben. Still that was two very strong vamps. And Fang wasn’t at the top of his game yet.
“No,” I said.
“If you don’t Idris here will make him a vamp.”
“He wouldn’t dare.”
“You’re not in a position to dictate terms.” Elsbeth pretended to consult a wristwatch. “It’s just about time for his third dose of Glytr. I really have no idea what to expect. It was a pleasant surprise he survived the first two doses but how long will his luck hold? I’ve never found humans to be especially fortunate in their puny lives. Did I forget to mention Idris dosed him? I’m getting so forgetful. Must be menopause.” Her tiny patent-leather clad foot kicked me in the head.
Fuck.
Ben had been dosed with Glytr.
I’d not seen Glytr in a live subject. I didn’t want that test case to be Ben.
A few more tears slid down my cheeks before I spoke again. “You win. I can’t give him the Bite hogtied like this.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Elsbeth said before continuing in a loud stage whisper. “But honestly I’m not sure he’s in the best of shape to begin with. I’m going to unbind you, but if either you or Fang try anything pathetically heroic, Idris will snap the human’s neck. I’m sure that would offend you and the sheriff’s tender sensibilities.”
Elsbeth donned a second pair of thick gloves to remove my silver chains.
“Get up,” she said.
I couldn’t move. It was as if the bonds restrained me. “I can’t feel my body.�
��
She prodded my leg with her stake. I couldn’t feel it even while watching her do it. She pinched my arm. Nothing.
Then my cheek. That, I felt but I steeled myself to not respond.
Elsbeth shook her head, her curls bobbing. “That silver is nasty stuff. I’ll give you a minute but don’t try anything tricky.” She shook the stake at me. “Or he gets it.” She mimed drawing the stake across her own throat.
Our party here roughly formed a triangle. Elsbeth and I were on the right of the cave, Fang was in the center back where he’d emerged after shifting and Idris and Ben were at the mouth of the cave.
I stared up at the ceiling, a sight I’d seen countless times. Being sentimental was going to be the death of me. Of course, Elsbeth figured out where I was. Even though a vampire’s crypt was sacrosanct, nothing got in her way.
“Silverthorne? Earth to Silverthorne,” Elsbeth sang.
I didn’t blink or breathe.
She peered closer and closer until her face hovered over mine. Her breath stank. “Are you in there?” she asked.
I head-butted her as hard as I could.
She cried and fell back, losing her grip on the stake.
As head butts go it was pretty hard but hard not enough to knock her out. That would’ve been too easy.
Fang lunged for me, grabbing my arm and pulling me back against him. I tried to break free of him, eager to reach Ben.
Elsbeth sat up, pressing a gloved hand to her nose. Blood poured from her lips and down her chin, dripping onto her dress.
Good.
I hoped I broke her fucking nose.
She laughed, holding her gloved hand to her face.
“Good one, Silverthorne. I almost wish I had more creations like you. You certainly do make life interesting.” She picked up her stake, crossing over to where Idris and Ben waited. Idris followed our dust up but he hadn’t killed Ben.
“Idris, let him go,” I said. “We can work something out.”
Ben’s head lolled against Idris where he was propped up next to him.
Elsbeth reached the mouth of the cave, trailing blood. She pinched her nose but it didn’t do much good.
Fang still held me tightly. Below my neck it felt like pins and needles prickling. I couldn’t have stood up without support.
“Silverthorne,” Elsbeth said within striking distance of Ben. “Should we call this a draw for now?”
“Leave him alone. I’ll do whatever you want.” With that much blood, her nose had to be broken.
“The terms have changed.” She nodded to Idris. “Bring him.”
“No!” I tried breaking away from Fang, but my limbs wouldn’t obey.
Idris stood up, pulling Ben to a stand. My human’s head bobbed. He swayed. Idris held him up by the back of his coat. He opened his eyes, saw me and he tried to smile. Half his mouth was numb. Drool ran down this lip.
“Silverthorne,” Ben slurred. “Don’t forget Fizzles.”
Elsbeth slipped back out of the cave.
Idris forced Ben down on his knees before sliding under the mouth of the cave entrance, pulling Ben through behind him.
They were taking him away.
“No!” I clawed at Fang but he held me fast.
When the trio disappeared, Fang pulled me closer to the empty mouth of the cave.
“Stay down,” Fang ducked my head as he slid us under the overhang and out onto the ledge.
It was still raining. Below, the river roared with swirling red water carrying debris. Elsbeth and Idris were making fast progress in their descent. Ben’s tied hands were looped over Idris’ neck.
But then the vamp lost his footing. His wet fingers scraped at the slippery rock. He lost his grip while Elsbeth continued her descent.
Idris and Ben fell right in front of her, landing with a splash into the swirling waters below.
21
I woke up that evening in the morgue with a sense of dread rather than my usual relief that I was back from the dead.
Instead I closed my eyes, squeezing them tightly shut. I didn’t need to turn my head to know that Ben was lying on the slab next to me. We’d retrieved his dead body downstream last night.
No sign of Idris.
Elsbeth escaped. That I was sure of.
This wasn’t how I thought it would end. Not that I’d really ever envisioned how things would come to a close between Ben and me. Our relationship was complicated. I’d fooled myself into thinking it was just work.
Ben was my hope. I couldn’t have Fang so I’d unconsciously chosen a human male that physically reminded me of him. But Ben was more than a Fang stand-in. Ben was the link that reminded me what it was like to care and nurture. I’d opened that door with Fang for the first time after centuries of closing it off. With Ben, I’d tried to make it tidy. Employer-employee.
But he, Mr. Figgles and I made a family. A weird one I’ll admit that. I was more like an aunt to him than an employer.
I couldn’t have Fang. The Vampire Review Board saw to that, so I’d fashioned a relationship that copied those elements in a less consuming manner.
I didn’t need a soul to know that Fang was my soul mate. He completed me. Loving him made me a better vampire.
I couldn’t be with Fang and now Ben was dead.
I’d caused Ben’s death. I’d sacrificed him so that others could live.
I refused to turn him into a vampire. I was a vampire, and that was my lot. But I wasn’t willing to give him the curse of eternal life because it was lonely. Not a passing sense of being alone. It was a commitment to being outside the joys of normal society forever.
I didn’t have the choice to become a vampire. Elsbeth made that choice for me but I wasn’t inflicting this on someone else even someone I loved. Hopefully Ben was in a better place now, though I sure as hell didn’t feel any better.
I’d go back to LA with Mr. Figgles. I’d contact Ben’s family for the funeral. I would return to my work. In time I’d hire a new assistant that both Mr. Figgles and I could tolerate, but I could never replace Ben and I wouldn’t even try. Maybe a middle-aged female for a change if Mr. Figgles approved. Just trying to mentally will myself through this made me feel sick inside.
If I worked hard I still had time to complete my application for tenure. Work waited for me in LA. My life, such as it was, would continue.
I’d been squeezing my eyes shut, preparing myself to see Ben lying on the slab beside me.
Maybe I should find a new home for Mr. Figgles and walk out into the sunshine.
I opened my eyes, staring at the empty racks above me. I turned my head.
I blinked twice, making sure I was fully awake.
The slab was empty.
Ben was gone.
I turned to my other side. More empty slabs. I was alone in the refrigeration unit.
How could Ben be gone? He was dead. Fang wouldn’t have taken him without waiting for me.
I threw off my blankets, kicking the door open so hard that my slab jetted out of the refrigeration unit. It almost ejected me with a shudder, but I hopped off first.
I pulled all the doors of the refrigeration unit open.
Silly really. Inside the unit all the slabs were stacked one on top of each other and side to side like shelves. The individual doors were like filing cabinets and mostly for propriety. When retrieving one corpse you didn’t give a grieving family or expose the other occupants to the refrigerated air.
They were all empty. But I already knew that.
I ran to the office. No messages on the desk.
If Fang had to move Ben, he’d have left me a message.
With shaking fingers, I dialed Fang’s number at the sheriff’s office.
“He’s gone! Where have you taken him?” I snarled.
“Hattie, what’s the matter? Fang asked.
“Ben’s gone.”
“From the morgue?”
“Yes,” I said dully. All my rage had rushed out when I heard Fang�
�s voice. I was left empty.
“Stay there. I’ll be right over.” Fang hung up.
I sat down in the desk chair hard. Someone had come in and taken him during the day. I didn’t even notice.
The agony from losing him welled up to fill my emptiness. It felt awful. I preferred numb to this.
Fang thundered down the outside steps. I wasn’t able to move. I sat there shocked.
The sheriff stuck his head in my office door. “I’m here. Let me check.”
I didn’t bother responding. Sure, go ahead and check. I’m capable of noticing when a body is missing.
But I didn’t have the energy.
Out in the morgue, Fang slammed through the same procedures I’d completed.
I sat behind my desk, watching him from the office window. He had so much passion. He liked Ben even though he didn’t want to.
He was on the phone now. Probably calling Dr. Wendy in case she knew what happened to Ben.
“Wendy didn’t move him.” Fang was back. He crossed into the office.
I was glad he was here. And I was sorry that I needed him around to feel better. It was like that craving for him never went away.
I stood up. Something white dropped to the floor from my chair. Guessing it was a forgotten Kleenex, I scooped it up.
I held it in the palm of my hand.
“Where’d you find that?” Fang growled, coming to stand beside me.
“It was sitting on the chair seat, I missed it when I came in.” My voice was whisper soft.
Heat rippled through my body like being struck by lightning. Purpose twined with rage welled up inside me.
I crumpled the child’s size white glove in my hand.
Elsbeth had taken Ben.
And I was going to get him back.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I hope you enjoyed meeting Silverthorne, Fang and the rest of the gang in The Undead Detective Bites. I’m loving writing this series which hits all my buttons for supernatural suspense mixed with romance and plenty of murder. So much murder. Can you tell I love it so?
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The Undead Detective Bites Page 19
