The Order of Chaos

by Rhonda L. Print

  Chaos threw an arm around her shoulder. She looked at him blankly and then her eyes flashed with awareness. She was back inside her own head.

  “She is my bloodslave, Leah; she feels what I tell her to. No questions, no defiance…”

  “No will of her own,” I finished for him.

  “My Love,” Ian interrupted. “My Love, would you like a drink?” Ian placed his hand at the base of my back and guided me toward the sofa.

  “Please do not taunt him, My Love. We do not know his intentions,” Ian warned in my mind.

  “He took her mind.”

  “Yes. He can take control of her mind at will. I suspect he is showing you a measure of his strength,” Ian replied.

  I made a disgusted noise.

  “Not impressed, My Love?”

  “Not hardly.”

  “A drink, Leah?” Ian prompted, ending our mental conversation.

  “Merlot, please.” I took a breath to regain my composure. Chaos was testing me; I wouldn’t play his game.

  Chaos clicked his fingers. “Ivelisse.” She stood and walked to the bar. “Merlot for both me and Leah,” he ordered, never taking his eyes off me.

  Ian held up his hand. “Enough, Chaos. You have proved your point. Shall we continue these petty games or get down to business?”

  Chaos sat heavily on the sofa and propped his feet on the coffee table. “Always so serious, Ian.” He took an exasperated breath. “Fine then. What am I being accused of now?” His square features took on the appearance of bored contempt.

  “In the human or supernatural world?” I asked.

  “Murder, in both,” Ian answered.

  Chaos’ eyebrows shot up. “By other members of the Marquis?” I was sure his voice took on a momentary tone of fear.

  “And the humans,” Ian added.

  Chaos waved his hand as if erasing the air. “She was a vampire, not a human. I hadn’t intended to send her along with the invitation but she was bleeding humans in Utah and leaving them to die.” He shook his head. “All that wasted blood. A pity.”

  I’d heard about a string of murders in Salt Lake City. All men, which is unusual enough to draw media attention, but the bodies were found stabbed, not bitten.

  “She sliced their throats to hide the bite marks,” Chaos said as he turned to me. “It is not yet a crime to enforce vampire law is it?” Chaos asked, knowing damn well that the answer was no. “I thought perhaps her appearance would lend weight to my invitation. You see,” he looked to Ian, “Ian was not interested in sharing you. He kept your identity and your location secret.” His voice took a more ominous tone. “Even from his Immortal Deity.”

  “She is not my bloodslave; therefore you have no right to request an audience with her.” Ian handed me a wineglass and sat beside me.

  “Ah, but she is your pet.”

  I’d had enough of being compared to a favored puppy. “Pet?”

  “Of course,” Chaos laughed, “you didn’t think he really loved you did you?” He barked another laugh. “Oh you poor dear, Ian is not capable of such emotion. Where is the benefit of loving something that will only die in a mere blink of your own lifetime?”

  “That is not true,” Ian growled at Chaos. “You have no idea what I am capable of.” To me he whispered, “He is playing games, My Love. Do not let him win.”

  Like picking open a scab on a wound, Chaos had hit upon one of my most strident fears. The same reason I agreed to give it another try with Joaquín. I would grow old.

  I would die.

  Ian would not.

  I took a shaky breath and pushed aside my fears. Focus on the crime, the job. That was the one constant in my life. Someone had to clean up the messes left behind by the worst of the humans and supernaturals. It seemed there was no one perfect race, we all had flaws.

  “If I thought I could have charged you for her death, I would have already shot you.” I smiled sweetly, baring teeth. “I am an agent for SINS and I don’t need to arrest you, I can simply kill you.”

  Ivelisse, who had remained silent during all of this, gasped.

  Chaos patted her hand comfortingly. “Do not worry, pet. She will not harm us.”

  “The Marquis has ordered an investigation. It seems someone is creating new vampires and leaving them untrained.”

  “Ian,” Chaos grew serious and sat forward, putting his feet back on the floor, “you know that is not my style. To what end would I wish to do such a thing?”

  Ian sighed deeply and nodded. “So you deny any involvement in this?”

  “I do.” Chaos leaned back, crossing his ankle over his knee, twirling his wineglass in his hand. “Actually, part of the reason I am here is to help you. Virginia was not working alone.”

  Ian pursed his lips thoughtfully. “Who was she working with?” Ian’s voice was calm and if I hadn’t known him, I wouldn’t have realized there was any tension behind the question.

  “Perhaps we should discuss this in private.” Chaos leaned in closer, his eyes intent on Ian.

  “If you’ll excuse us.” Ian stood.

  Chaos set his wineglass on the table and stood. Ian had already told me it would be better if he spoke with Chaos in private. It was strictly a vampire matter and my presence could compromise the discussion. Chaos might not speak freely in front of a human. We’d argued about it for hours. I finally gave in when he pointed out that he would not be allowed in an interrogation room while I was working.

  Damn. He was right.

  * * * *

  Chaos left, escorted by his bodyguard, Ian and Falcon. I flashed Ian a look that let him know he’d pay for this later. He arched an eyebrow in apology and kept walking.

  I was left in the room to play hostess to Ivelisse, who at least now looked like she was living in the present. Her eyes were clear and she stood awkwardly near the doorway, looking abandoned.

  I wasn’t left alone with her. I had Shia standing strategically by the door, close enough if I needed her, but blended into the surroundings. In other words, she was in typical bodyguard formation. Ian wouldn’t leave me unguarded for fear of my safety. Apparently, Chaos didn’t seem to think the same precaution was necessary for Ivelisse.

  Either that or he just didn’t care.

  I crossed the room to Shia and poured myself another glass of wine at the bar, shooing away Shia’s attempt to make it for me. I turned and offered a drink to Ivelisse. She merely stood there for a full minute, looking at me as if I’d sprouted two heads.

  I sucked at small talk. I swallowed hard a few times, racking my brain for some inane thing to talk about, when Ivelisse suddenly crossed the room and landed a solid blow across my cheek, catching me off guard and knocking my ass to the floor. My dress ripped in a line all the way up the side seam as wine sprayed across the room.

  I rebounded quickly, waving off Shia.

  “Now you know,” she stood before me, hands on her hips, prissy smirk on her face, “Chaos is mine and I don’t share.”

  I smiled politely and smoothed my hands down my dress, grabbing my gun from the thigh holster as I kicked my foot out and sent the bitch flying across the room. I pounced on top of her before the she could stand and shoved my gun under her chin.

  “And now you know,” I mocked, “I don’t give a rat’s ass. But if you ever touch me again, I’ll put a bullet through your face and ruin that expensive nose job.”

  Chaos’s bodyguard came in the room and made a play for my back. I threw back an elbow just in time to hear a resounding crack, letting the momentum bring me back to my feet, yet keeping my gun aimed at Ivelisse.

  The bodyguard rebounded quickly, wheeled and grabbed Shia’s arm, twisting sharply until I heard the crack of bone. He pulled her in front of him, blocking my shot.

  I grabbed the front of Ivelisse’s dress and held her at arm’s length while I repositioned my gun on the guard. I would not use Ivelisse as a human shield but I didn’t want her to interfere either.

  “I didn’t start th
is fight, but I will end it,” I warned.

  “You have to shoot her to get to me, human. Drop your gun and I’ll let your friend go.” The smile he flashed was all sinister.

  He was right, I had a very narrow margin to aim at, and he wasn’t much bigger than Shia.

  I squeezed the trigger, clipping his shoulder first. His eyes grew wide with shock. Shia instinctively dropped to the ground and I fired again, this time hitting him in the thigh and nicking the femoral artery. Blood squirted out of him at an alarming rate.

  Ivelisse had backed herself into the wall, the back of her hand raised over her mouth.

  Ian and Chaos raced into the room. Ivelisse cowered in the corner while the bodyguard stood holding his hands to his wounds while blood streamed through them. The look on Ian’s face was almost worth the trouble.

  Almost.

  Chaos applauded with a smile that made my stomach turn.

  Ian strode toward Chaos and grabbed him by the throat but Chaos still kept smiling.

  “I warned you not to play games, Chaos.”

  “Relax, Ian, there is no permanent harm done.”

  “That hurt like hell!” Shia held her arm close to her stomach and rose from the floor.

  Ian’s grip became tighter and the smile fell from Chaos’ face.

  I started toward Shia but she fended me off. “I’ll be fine, I just need to Change.”

  “See?” Chaos’s voice came out strangled. “No permanent harm done.”

  “No more games, Chaos,” Ian warned, then released him.

  “Nice shot,” Shia put in.

  “My Love?” Ian asked.

  Through clenched teeth I told him I was going upstairs to change and walked toward the hall. I’d leave Shia to explain and him to clean up the mess, but we were going to have one hell of a fight if he knew about this before he left me in that room with Ivelisse.

  “What the fuck was that all about?” I asked of no one in particular while I stomped up the steps and into my room. I didn’t even bother trying to hold my dress together and if anyone got a look at the lacy thong I’d worn under it, well, I just didn’t give a damn.

  I slammed the bathroom door behind me for good measure, allowing my inner girl to help me relieve the tension. I placed my palms on the counter and rolled my shoulders.

  “My apologies, My Love.” Ian came into the room. “I did not know Chaos would do such a thing.”

  “Are you telling me he planned this?” I asked while releasing my hair from its bindings.

  “He tends to live up to his name.” He picked up a washcloth and blotted at the blood on my face.

  “What a dick!”

  “I could kill him if you’d like?” Ian replied with a touch of sarcasm that made me laugh.

  I winced against the sharp sting of the washcloth on my face. “This would be more fun if you cleaned that off the way you want to,” I teased.

  In a heartbeat, Ian tossed the cloth and licked the blood from my cheek, blazing a path to my mouth. We kissed deeply. “Are you hurt, My Love?” he asked against my lips.

  I shook my head and slid my tongue along his lips. He moaned and pulled me back into the kiss. I let my hands slide to the front of his pants but he stopped me. “We should attend to our guests.”

  “I’ll go right down and offer the ladies tea,” I said flippantly.

  “I must return to them.” Ian sighed. “I still do not know Chaos’s true intentions for being here and the guard will require blood; he lost quite a bit of it.” He arched one slender brow.

  “I aimed for the femoral.”

  “And you hit your target.”

  “I did warn him.” I stepped away and smiled.

  “I am sure it will not be taken so lightly next time.” Ian took a step closer to me. “However, I still do not know what Chaos wants from me. I must return to them. Join me?”

  I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Fine, but you owe me.”

  “A debt I will be happy to repay.” He nuzzled my neck.

  “I played their way once,” I said while I kicked off the shoes, “this time we play my way.”

  I turned so Ian could unzip my dress. He did so slowly, allowing the tip of one finger to graze up my spine before he dipped his head and kissed the back of my neck. “I don’t think I like where this is going.”

  I took a step away and turned, letting the dress pool to the floor. “Oh really?”

  “I don’t mean this,” Ian kissed me again, amusement mixed with lust.

  I walked to the closet and pulled on a T-shirt and jeans, Ian following my every move with cautious anticipation. I took a crossbow out of my duffel bag and strapped it across my back, adding a quiver filled with arrows.

  “What are your intentions, My Love?”

  “Just going to have a little fun,” I replied in a sing-song voice, slipping my feet back into the stilettos. I was well used to balancing myself in high shoes. In truth, I was a bit of a shoe horse. But hey, we all have our vices.

  Ian laughed. “I believe they have had quite enough entertainment for this evening. Truthfully, I don’t think they can handle much more of your hospitality.”

  That got a laugh from me as we walked back out of the room.

  Chaos and Ivelisse, looking a little worse for the wear, sat on one sofa while Ian and I sat opposite them. The walls were lined with bodyguards looking as awkward as wallflowers at a junior high school dance.

  After apologies from an embarrassed Ivelisse and a smug Chaos, he had agreed to share the information he had on Virginia’s accomplice, who called himself Kross. He had captured a vampire accused of trafficking human blood and used mind control to cross international borders. In an effort to save his life, Kross led the Marquis to Virginia. She was technically the “middle man” of the operation. She was also known for her voracious appetite for human blood, hence the dead bodies in Utah. Unfortunately, Chaos killed her before he found out who was on the top rung of the blood-trafficking ring.

  He did, however, discover a city accountant who had gotten a little too close to the truth when he discovered a discrepancy of funds.

  “Larry Guarden,” I said solemnly.

  Chaos clicked his fingers. “That’s it,” he exclaimed. “How did you know?”

  I met his eyes. “I just … do.”

  Chaos blinked hard. “Excuse me?”

  “So we have a blood-dealing, murderous vampire.” I ignored his question. “I need to call Sam and Wilson.” I took my cell phone from my pocket.

  Ian placed his hand over it. “Do you think it wise to call at this time of night, My Love?”

  I looked at the time on my cell phone. It flashed triple twos, two twenty-two in the morning. Maybe it could wait a little longer.

  I nodded and let out a long sigh.

  “Perhaps you should rest now. It has been a long day.” Ian brushed a strand of hair from my eyes.

  The gesture raised Chaos’s eyebrows.

  “I need to blow off some steam first, Ian.” I rubbed the back of my neck.

  “What did you have in mind, My Love?”

  * * * *

  It wasn’t nearly what Ian had in mind, but Cougar and Falcon were happy to join me in a little target practice. Shia declined the offer, preferring her own claws to modern-day weapons, but went along for the show. The trash talk between the boys and me intrigued Chaos enough to tag along, Ivelisse shadowing him. She didn’t seem overjoyed about the prospect of a little target practice. Maybe she thought she’d be the target.

  C’mon, would I do that?

  ’Course not!

  Chapter Forty-One

  Ian led us to a clearing far enough away from the main house not to cause damage and set up the three-dimensional targets. Archery was a very old sport and one the vampires were well educated with, so a friendly wager or two was made and then the competition was on.

  I sighted the target, drew my bow and pulled the release. I heard the arrow slice through air until a resounding thwack s
topped its track. Dead center. I had been practicing with the crossbows since I started SINS training. It began as a way to blow off steam but with the wooden arrows, it could definitely have some practical use.

  I put the next arrow in the groin of the human-shaped target and heard every male near me hiss in a breath.

  “Nice aim,” Shia commented with a laugh.

  Ah. Nothing like destruction to ease the stress of a bitchy day.

  Cougar was up next. Cougar matched me arrow for arrow until Shia crept up behind him and grabbed his ass just before he released the next arrow. It swung wide, not even coming close to the target.

  Falcon insisted it was his turn, but Shia wasn’t willing to play grab ass with him. In the end, he walked away with the cash and bragging rights. I still preferred the feel of a gun in my hand though and maybe next time we’d have to play with bullets.

  I walked ahead of the others, the guys insisted on cleaning up by themselves. Shia and Cougar stayed just a few steps behind me, chatting amongst themselves.

  We didn’t get very far before heavy footsteps fell in behind us. I heard a few mumbled words, then Chaos walked up beside me.

  “That is a very impressive sport, Leah. Your skills could be very useful to someone in my position. The Marquis would be interested in having a human on staff.”

  “Sorry, not for sale.” I didn’t slow my pace. I thought about glancing behind me to see if Cougar and Shia were still nearby, but I didn’t want to give Chaos the impression I needed my bodyguards to interfere. I was a big girl and I could take care of myself, yet I still didn’t trust Chaos.

  “Your arrows are a bit, unusual. Wood with a silver tips?”

  “You’re very observant,” I replied, sarcasm on high.

  “You do not have a problem killing supernaturals? Even though you are Ian’s bloodsl—”

  I cut him off with a look. “I am not Ian’s bloodslave.” I spoke each word slowly.

  “Ah.” He said it like you would to pacify a young child.

  “What is between Ian and I is personal.”

  He looked at me blankly.

  “In other words, it’s none of your damn business,” I added.

  Chaos grabbed my arm to stop me. I let my gaze travel from his hand on my arm to his face, showing all the warning and malice within my eyes.