Teddy was liberally coated with blood. He had also lost one of his eyes and his arm was ripped at the seam, a bit of stuffing hanging out.
I turned to look at Claire’s face again – at all the blood.
“You ate one of them?” I asked her, frowning in disapproval.
She shook her head no, but lifted the teddy bear to wipe across her muzzle as if to tamper with the evidence. She glanced down at it afterwards, letting out an indelicate snort. Then she lumbered over to Brokeback vampire. His prognosis now included a shattered face, and he was probably a high-risk for infection from all the slimy trash painting his body. Well, he was a vampire, so maybe no on the infection. He appeared to be unconscious or heavily dazed, because he didn’t react as Claire lovingly tucked the bloody teddy bear under his arms, folded them, and then grunted, somehow sounding amused.
I jerked my chin for Faebio to go stand beside… Count Brokeback Trashula.
“On your knees, Faebio,” I purred.
His face darkened at the nickname I had given him. The butterflies around his throat abruptly ceased flapping their wings, and his defiance coincidentally evaporated as he sensed their grips tightening on his flesh.
He couldn’t get on his knees fast enough. Right beside Count Brokeback Trashula.
I studied the street, tapping my lips thoughtfully as I pulled out my phone. Then I shook my head. “No. This just won’t do.”
Faebio’s face paled in terror. “I’ll do whatever you want. Please, don’t kill me. I was only with them for the protection they offered! The only safety these days, is in numbers!” he looked about ready to cry, and a distant part of me frowned in disappointment at his lack of dignity. He was Fae, and he was so scared of being alone that he joined a local gang? The streets weren’t that bad.
But I didn’t really care, all things considered. He’d been robbing the poor and innocent. He was scum. “Lie down. You’re the big spoon.” He blinked in confusion, not understanding. I sighed, then pointed a finger at Count Brokeback Trashula, explaining. “Little spoon.” Then I pointed my finger back at Faebio. “Big spoon,” I said. With utter shame on his face, he did it, clutching the vampire like they were long lost lovers. I circled them, glancing at the street thoughtfully for a few breaths.
“That was all of us,” he pleaded, assuming I was checking for threats. “Please, you proved your point. Don’t give us to them,” he begged.
My lips tightened, but I didn’t really care about whatever rival gang he was so scared of. I found the perfect spot and smiled reassuringly. I crouched down, finally meeting his eyes. “Say Thank you, Callie, and then give your friend a smooch on the cheek.” And I lifted my phone, ready for the money shot.
Suddenly understanding that I wasn’t going to kill him, he let out a sigh of relief and obeyed. I snapped a few pictures. Claire let out another chuffing laugh. I climbed back to my feet, scrolling through the images. The streetlamp gave off the perfect ambiance – the chaos of the fight and the beauty of love. Like a rose growing from a crack in the sidewalk. One of the pictures had a perfect angle for one of the butter-flays, showing the ever-beautiful Faebio kissing Count Brokeback Trashula on the cheek.
The bloody teddy bear clutched in the vampire’s arms really brought it all together.
Chapter 3
I showed it to Claire, who actually doubled over. Then I showed it to Faebio. “This goes public if I ever see you in my city again. Even if it’s at the beauty salon getting a blow out, getting a fresh manicure at the mall, performing community service at the homeless shelter, or helping a little old lady cross the street.” He nodded adamantly. I knew he was embarrassed, horrified, and distantly angry, but his gratitude vastly outweighed those other emotions. He must have really pissed off this other gang to prefer my treatment to handing him over to them, but I hadn’t heard about any other gangs in town since I got back from St. Louis.
“You’ll also find a way to pay for damages to this car,” I said, indicating the probably totaled vehicle. “And reimburse whatever you stole from the others. How you do that is up to you. But you have forty-eight hours. Or else my butter-flays will get you.” I blew him a farewell kiss and motioned for Claire to follow me.
I took off my backpack and passed it over to Claire, guiding her towards a nearby alley that might provide a modicum of privacy, even though she likely didn’t care. Shifters were very comfortable in their skins – no matter how they had felt when merely human. Like some switch was flipped turning them into a nudist the moment they became a shifter.
Proving my point, Claire was suddenly naked as a jaybird before we hit the alley, chuckling as she reached into the pack for the pair of sweats and hoodie I had stored inside. We pretty much carried spare clothes everywhere, now, since she was a shifter and her changings forced her clothes to rip beyond salvation. She tugged the replacements on, still laughing as her head popped through the neck of the hoodie. “Faebio!” she muttered.
We left the alley after a glance back at our fallen foes – who were still on the ground, probably waiting until they were confident we were gone.
“Bye, Teddy…” Claire murmured sadly as we left the alley, sounding entirely sincere.
I felt myself smiling satisfactorily. “Let’s go shower up. You can crash at my place.”
“This is way more fun than bar hopping,” Claire said, skipping down the sidewalk on bare feet, aiming for every single puddle. “And at least my walk of shame isn’t during the morning commute!” she chuckled, tucking her arm into my elbow. I inspected her outfit and the blood on her face. Then sighed, nodding. “No happy ending, though…”
“It was happy ending enough for me. More pleasurable than most of the guys I’ve tussled with lately,” she added, sounding annoyed.
I grunted. I didn’t want to talk about her sex life. I was in my own purgatory of a dry spell. “You did text Beckett earlier, right? To let him know we were going on a walk tonight?” She nodded, smiling at my codename for our occasional girls’ night out. Beckett Killian was a local detective, and it was easier to give him a little warning ahead of time so that his cops didn’t walk up on a scene they couldn’t explain to internal affairs later. “Good. Send him an update. His secure cellphone.” Whether it did any good or not, it made me feel more responsible. Working with the only police officer in Kansas City that I was certain knew about supernatural events and beings. And didn’t blindly hate us for it.
Claire rolled her eyes at my micro-managing, but nodded. Or maybe her eye roll was due to the fact that I didn’t just text Beckett myself. Claire seemed confident that there were tangled sheets between the detective and me, but nothing could have been further from the truth. Maybe I had considered it at one point. But that was before… well, I had different prey now. But I didn’t want to even think about that right now. Let alone talk about it with Claire – who could extract details faster than a lifelong-vegan-turned-vampire could break his diet regimen.
Simply put, Beckett was better left in the friend zone. I hadn’t spoken with him in months, anyway, only just now beginning to reach back out to him via Claire, who had remained in contact with him in my extended absence.
“Just do it, Claire. I’m tired. No lip,” I warned her.
“Sure thing, Sister—” The sound of slapping feet made us both stop and spin around, ready for round two. But it wasn’t a rematch.
A woman darted out of an alley behind us, running straight for Faebio who was still lying where we had left him, stiffly cuddling his buddy. Count Brokeback Trashula was only just now struggling to get up. Faebio looked suddenly conflicted. Seeing the woman suddenly running straight at him seemed to put him in a very awkward position. Did he dare move out of her way and possibly risk my wrath?
She saved him the trouble, launching over the two just as the vampire was finally propping himself up on shaking elbows. The woman’s foot clipped Count Trashula in the jaw, snapping his head sideways. She stumbled a bit, not having anticipated him tryin
g to get up in the middle of her jump, but she caught her balance and resumed her flat-out sprint, brown hair fanning out behind her.
Whether conscious or not – Count Trashula squeezed the teddy bear and let out a pained whimper, as if hoping Teddy would keep him safe from further pain.
Any other time, I would have burst out laughing. But then I heard pounding feet from the same alley which the woman had just fled. Three figures burst from the shadows, eyes flicking over us with a quick threat assessment, but then one of them spotted the woman they were obviously pursuing fifty yards down the street, and still hauling ass. They turned to chase her down like a pack of wolves.
The first man accidentally stomped down on Count Trashula’s hand before hurtling over him. The vampire gasped, head rising up instinctively, and was in the perfect position to get clipped in the nose by the second pursuer’s boot, sending him skidding into another trashcan.
Faebio, sensing the cloud of misfortune surrounding his buddy, had wisely scooted away to squeeze his back against the broken vehicle, consequences of my anger be damned. He looked absolutely petrified as he stared at the three men racing past him. The three new strangers paid them no mind, sprinting after the woman.
I shared a look with Claire. Then she exploded into her bear form, ruining her spare set of sweats, and we gave chase.
If I had ever seen a woman in need of protecting, it was this one right now.
The trio rounded a corner, disappearing from view as we poured on the speed. When we got to Count Trashula, he let out a shriek, clutching his hands and – incidentally, the teddy bear – to his chest. Faebio was whispering something to himself, but all I caught was them… as he visibly shook with fear.
I ignored him, eager to reach the woman in time to help her. We rounded the corner, Claire using a lamppost to slow her momentum, but only managing to tear it loose from the concrete with a squeal of bent metal. The man in the back of the group glanced behind him at the sound, sneering hatefully before slipping into an alley ahead of us. I heard him shout out a warning to his pals, his voice echoing off the alley walls. I ducked into the alley, ready for a sword to decapitate me or something, but found no enemy. I pressed on deeper into the gloomy, putrid alley until I came to a brick wall.
I skidded to a stop, jerking my head to either side, trying to find out where they had all gone. There was no exit. Not even a fire-escape. I quickly checked the doors leading inside some of the buildings, but they were all locked tight. And there had been no other intersections for them to take.
Claire was sniffing a small pile of broken glass near a wall. Then she snorted, backing up a few steps as she shook her massive head. I approached warily, taking in the earthy scent that only barely masked the scent of nearby trash dumpsters. Blue vapor rose up from the glass shards. I shared a long look with Claire.
“Where the hell did they all go?” I said.
Claire glanced up at the walls towering over us, shook her shoulders as if annoyed, and then shifted back into her naked human form, having destroyed the second outfit for no real benefit.
There was no way they’d had time to climb their way out. Unless the three men had scaled a fifty-foot wall in record speed… they had just disappeared. I scooped up a few larger pieces of the glass and noticed an inky blue substance staining the surface. I wrapped them up in a slip of fabric from Claire’s sweat suit lying on the alley floor and shoved the bundle in my pocket.
With a tired sigh, I gave up. We only had one change of clothes for Claire and I didn’t want to risk calling a taxi with my friend naked and covered in blood. I opened a Gateway on the spot – a ring of fire illuminating the dark alley. Through the center of the fire was a hazy view of my apartment. Wizards knew how to travel in style.
I was ready for bed. Claire hopped after me through the Gateway in silence, letting out a tired sigh as I let it close behind us. I let my backpack drop to the floor, wondering what to feel about this bizarre night.
Did I chalk it up as a win?
Or had that woman died? Or been abducted? I’d have Claire check with Beckett. Then again, I didn’t have much to go on. I had only seen her face for a fraction of a second. She had been young and pretty with thick brown hair, but nothing that would make her stand out in a crowd.
At least I had a funny picture for a memento. Maybe I would frame it.
Chapter 4
I stood in my living room, lost in thought.
“Well, that was… strange. Think she’s okay?” Claire asked.
I snapped out of my reverie, shrugging tiredly. “I didn’t sense any magic, so they didn’t make a Gateway or anything… Locked doors, no ladders.” I sighed. “Hope she’s alright.”
“I didn’t pick up anything either,” Claire frowned, tapping her nose as she indicated her heightened shifter sense of smell. “Other than that glass. It smells terrible,” she said, eyeing my pocket.
I frowned, taking it out. “It just smells… earthy to me,” I said, setting it on the counter.
Claire grimaced. “If by earthy you mean a rotten corpse after a week in a hot trunk…”
I scrunched up my face at her ridiculous exaggeration. Or… maybe it was just a shifter thing. Had we picked up different scents? “Were they all human? Faebio looked scared when they ran by, almost like he recognized them. Maybe a rival gang?” I suggested. But my eyes drifted to the bundle of glass. That scent thing didn’t seem normal at all.
Claire shrugged. “Human, I think. Not anything else that stood out, anyway. Oh, well. Can’t save everyone. You could always ask Roland. He’s been in town for a long time. Maybe he’s run across them before?” she said doubtfully.
I shook my head adamantly. “He’s in Italy still. Meeting with the vampire council.”
Claire grinned. “Bet that’s fun. They probably consider him a celebrity. The only vampire hunter turned vampire, right?”
I smiled weakly. “That’s the way he makes it sound. Unless he’s been lying to me on the phone… Either way, I highly doubt his reception is as glamorous as you imagine. Probably has a lot of enemies there, but his notoriety also grants him protection, and he has backup, just in case.” Nate’s vampire friend, Alucard, was keeping an eye on him. Being a Daywalker, Alucard also had celebrity status. I just hoped it was enough to keep them both safe.
Claire, sensing my growing silence, piped up with another terrible solution. “You could ask the other Shepherds… Maybe they’ll recognize the stuff on that glass.”
“No way. The Vatican is still pissed about my last visit to Rome. I don’t think they’ll be in a charitable mood. Or they would suggest a high price for the answers.”
Claire muttered something that should have earned her a smiting. I smiled in agreement. “Fabrizio likes you, right?” she asked. “Isn’t he in charge now?”
I nodded, smiling to myself. Fabrizio was one of the only pleasant experiences I had from Rome. A larger-than-life Italian man who I had dubbed Meatball for purely offensive reasons. In return, he had dubbed me Girlie Penflower rather than calling me by my name, Callie Penrose. “Meatball still has bosses. The Conclave.”
“Oh, that’s right. Your mantra thing,” she chuckled, shaking her head.
“Motherfuckingmilkeyedshitweasels,” I replied proudly. “The Conclave is a bunch of jerkwads. I need to let them cool off before I approach them again.” I tugged off my jacket and threw it over a chair, but not before inspecting where those pixies had struck me. Not a mark on the leather coat. I’d been told it was made of Gruffalo hide, whatever that was. Something magical and lethal, no doubt, and it apparently had purple spots on its skin, judging by the markings on the back of the jacket.
I frowned, thinking about the pixies, and realizing that I was distantly hoping they’d gotten away safely. I doubted they’d had much say in the matter when Faebio had thrown them at me. Then again, I’d heard some war stories from Nate Temple about the vicious Fae, so who knew? Claire was watching me, pointedly not looking at my jac
ket, but she was shifting from foot to foot eagerly.
“I’ll take you to get something soon, don’t worry,” I said, rolling my eyes as I turned to the kitchen on autopilot.
“Yes!” Claire hooted behind me. “Darling and Dear, forever!”
I paused in front of the fridge, debating whether I was hungry, thirsty, or ready to just go to bed. Claire placed a hand on my shoulder, squeezing supportively.
“The first step is admitting you have a problem,” she whispered, flipping my braided hair extension with a finger. “And you should wash this rat tail. You’ve gotten blood on it.”
I lifted it up, cursing as I realized that she was right. I unclipped it from my hair, tossing it on the counter with a grumpy sigh. Hopefully, I could wash it out.
“I don’t even know why you wear it,” Claire continued. “I like your new hair. Edgy. Bitchy,” she said, smiling to herself.
“It helps everyone recognize me. My long hair has a reputation. Everyone talks about it.” I gave her a level look. “Like people will soon know about your war teddy.”
Claire clapped her hands excitedly. “Teddy’s the man,” she agreed.
“And I don’t have a problem,” I argued, circling back to her original comment.
“Just grab a juice box. Stop denying yourself.”
I finally nodded in resignation. It did sound good. Some girls loved cupcakes. I loved juice boxes. Like a toddler.
“I’m going to update Beckett and then jump into the shower,” Claire told me.
I nodded halfheartedly, smiling to myself as I shoved the straw into the juice box and took a sip. The liquid nirvana struck my tongue, and the world became a happier place. I made my way over to the couch, taking another calming sip before plopping down.
Angel's Roar: Feathers and Fire Book 4 Page 2
