by Kelly Meding
BEFORE
Chapter Ten
Wednesday, July 2
The East Side
The handshake agreement establishing a three-way police force among humans, vampires, and Therians became an official arrangement the day after Boot Camp’s destruction and subsequent evacuation. Every Handler, Hunter, and trainee was given a choice to join or leave. In the end, we all said yes to joining, and we began assimilating on Wednesday.
“Seriously? This is your headquarters?”
I blurt it out as Wyatt drives into the parking lot of the defunct Capital City Mall, through what has to be a magical barrier of some sort because it tickles the back of my mind in the place I’ve come to associate with my tether to the Break. Kismet and Milo are in the backseat of the nondescript sedan that’s so unlike what I’m used to seeing Wyatt drive. I don’t know what I expected when he said the Watchtower was on the East Side near the Black River, but this isn’t it.
It isn’t so much the fact that, the last time I was here, I was attacked by well-organized Halfies and saw two Hunters murdered. It isn’t even the fact that this mall, abandoned fifteen years ago when a new one opened across town, protects a Sanctuary. I can even kind of look past the knowledge that Chalice Frost, the woman whose body I now inhabit, was born here on this very hot spot.
No, the thing that makes my palms sweat is what happened in the Sanctuary when Isleen brought me here the first time. She used a vampire meditation technique to help me remember the days leading up to my death—tortured mercilessly at the hands of the goblin Queen, taken apart bit by bit. It all came back at once in a crushing rush of emotion and pain. Alex had been there to hold me, let me cry it out. My last moments with him before he was infected by the vampire parasite are entwined with this place, as are the last moments of my old life.
Living and working here feels like a cruel joke.
Wyatt drives through the weedy parking lot, aiming for the interior of the U-shaped mall’s curve. Any remains of the helicopter that exploded here months ago is gone, cleaned up as though it never happened. Just as Isleen had, Wyatt drives straight through the illusion of a wall.
Inside is a host of other vehicles—cars, sport utilities, pickup trucks, and vans—all parked in the lot once occupied by several hollowed-out restaurants (if memory serves). Walls are knocked down, carpet is ripped up, and lines are painted on the bare cement floors. I must be gaping at the impressive utilization of space because Wyatt grins at me as he parks.
“So far I’m impressed,” Kismet says with a hint of awe in her voice. “How do you keep folks from seeing you drive through a wall?”
“The entire perimeter is protected by a barrier spell,” Wyatt replies. “Makes it impossible for someone outside it to look straight at the mall, and it kind of urges them to stay away. Think of it like a magical repellent.”
“Human bug spray,” I say.
He nods.
“And if they somehow cross the barrier?” Kismet asks.
“Then security deals with them,” he replies.
I can imagine what that means. Overall the location is perfect. It’s in the middle of an older part of town that is mostly abandoned, so traffic is light enough to not cause us many problems. We’re also in the middle of a sea of pavement and construction, and I have no doubt the foundation has been reinforced with tar—precautions against bridge trolls, who are part of the earth and known to form in unfinished cement. They also answer to the Fey, and I hate the idea that Smedge, a troll I once considered a friend, is now my enemy.
We tumble out of the car and follow Wyatt on a tour of our new home.
The original tiled corridor is still intact, leading us to an intersection and an old fountain lit by a skylight. The fountain holds a variety of plants and herbs, all new and alive. The entire mall is freshly scrubbed and carries the scents of food, new paint, and cut wood, as well as the distant sounds of construction and voices. The long corridor is clear of kiosks and benches. To the right and all the way down is the old food court. To the left, halfway down and tucked into a service corridor, is the Sanctuary.
“The food court’s been modified,” Wyatt says, jacking his thumb over his shoulder even as he leads us in the opposite direction. “We combined some of the kitchens, walled off the others, and now have a working cafeteria. The windows are all blacked out, but Kyle’s a good artist and he’s been painting some murals in his spare time.”
A were-dog who paints. What are the odds?
It’s probably good that I keep the thought to myself because the muralist in question pops out of a storefront and waves.
“Astrid was just asking if you were here yet,” he says, his voice echoing down the corridor.
“Just got here,” Wyatt replies. “Does she need something?”
“I don’t think so, but I’ll let her know you’ve arrived.” He disappears as quickly as he came, back into the storefront.
Wyatt leads us straight for it.
Both stores on either side have been blacked out. The center was probably a trendy clothing store at one time, with a blacked-out glass exterior and an entrance the size of a pair of double doors. We follow Wyatt inside. All three stores have been combined into one huge space. To our left, partitioned by a row of folding screens, is a long conference table and chairs. At least a dozen people—Therian and vampire—move around, doing their work and ignoring us.
“Welcome to Operations,” Wyatt says. “The name’s pretty self-explanatory.”
It is. I can’t help being impressed by what they’ve pulled together in less than a month, and this is only one room.
Kyle appears with Astrid in tow. She gives each of us—me, Kismet, Milo—a careful once-over that’s assessing without being violating. To Wyatt she asks, “Where’s Mr. Baylor?”
“Coming in with Leah,” he replies. “They’ll be along in about an hour.”
She frowns. I don’t think she’s happy with the decision to make Adrian Baylor the human representative in the leadership trifecta, but it’s a compromise that secured the loyalty of the rest of the Handlers and their Hunters. Kismet didn’t want it, and several folks, led by Sharpe, objected to placing Wyatt in charge, given his record of recent behavior. Wyatt seemed annoyed at first but quickly adapted to the idea. Baylor is a good leader, and he knows better than to try to control Wyatt.
“The construction materials you requested will arrive shortly,” Astrid says.
“For the maze?” Wyatt asks, a spark of excitement in his voice.
“Yes.”
“Maze?” Kismet says.
He turns to her, smiling. “Remember how you helped us design the obstacle course we used at Boot Camp? You gave us all those ideas from your Army training.”
“Yeah?”
“We’re going to do the same thing in the old Sears building, at the west end of the mall.” The delight in his voice is amusing and something I haven’t heard in a long time. “Actually, I was hoping you’d take a look at the plans and give me your input.”
Kismet’s eyebrows arch. “Sure, okay.”
He strides to a computer several desks away, then waves her over. She hesitates, then goes, tossing a look over her shoulder that clearly says she didn’t think he meant right now. Astrid wanders off. I glance at Milo, and his expression mirrors what my own must be. Now what?
We’re some of the first humans to be brought inside the Watchtower—I’m not crazy about the name, but it works—and I’m not a hundred percent comfortable wandering around on my own. Yet.
A shadow shifts behind me, and I spin. Marcus stands close by, hands tucked casually in the pockets of his well-fitted jeans. His black hair, usually tied back, is loose and hangs well below his shoulders. He smiles, glinting eyes shifting back and forth between us before settling on Milo. “Would you two be interested in a guided tour?” he asks.
“Yeah, I guess,” Milo replies. He’s even more tense than I am.
“Definitely,” I amend. Marcus an
d Astrid have a history with Tybalt—whose inclusion in this little unit was part of Kismet’s terms of agreement—and I’m insanely curious about it. Tybalt told me once that he chose his name because of its Shakespeare association. Prince of Cats. Knowing that both Marcus and Astrid are Felia is a fascinating clue into the life of a Hunter with whom I’ve become friends, despite our violent history.
In the main corridor, a quartet of black-clad vampires strides past us, practically marching in step, heading toward the east end of the mall. One gives Marcus a cursory nod; the rest ignore us.
“That was slightly awkward,” Milo says.
“As it will continue to be for a while longer,” Marcus replies. “Our three peoples aren’t natural allies.”
“Good point.”
“We don’t have much at the west end yet,” he says, pointing without leading. “Two stores are being used as a gymnasium, as well as a room for physical combat training. We have a good amount of equipment already set up and are expecting more. In time, the department store will be redesigned as an obstacle course, but for now it’s simply under construction.”
“Segregated gym?” I ask.
His nostrils flare. “No, all are welcome to use it.”
“Awesome.”
“The Sanctuary is also this way, as you probably know, Miss Stone.”
“Good lord, please call me Evy or Stone. Not Miss.” It makes me feel like a schoolteacher.
“The vampires keep a guard on the Sanctuary at all times. Not that I suspect you’d have any reason to access it, but I’m informing you nonetheless.”
“Appreciated.”
“Most of the activity happens on the east end right now.” He leads us in that direction. The first entrance on the opposite side of Operations has a fancy keypad next to a heavy, reinforced door. “This is weapons storage. Only a handful of people have the lock code, although I expect you’ll both be given it at some point.”
Nice to have his vote of confidence.
As we walk, I notice that some of the store windows are papered over. A few are open and in various stages of construction. Marcus doesn’t comment on what they’ll eventually be used for, and I don’t ask. Some tour guide. We near the end of the corridor, where it turns ninety degrees to the right. Straight ahead is the food court, and even from here I can see the rows of tables and booths, neatly ordered and clean, and half a dozen people seated.
“This is the Rec Room,” Marcus says, pointing to the left. “Right now it’s two rooms, one of which has a television for playing games and the other for movies. We’re working on a library for those who prefer quieter methods of relaxation.”
“Cool,” Milo says, peeking inside.
“Here on the right are the vampire quarters.”
I quirk an eyebrow at this.
“Before you ask, they asked for the separate quarters,” Marcus says. “Vampires require very little sleep compared to our two peoples, and they prefer much cooler climates when they rest.”
“Sounds reasonable,” I say.
The vampire quarters seemed to take up two stores, one entrance facing our corridor, the other down the east wing. Marcus goes this way. The remaining stores on both sides are sealed over with a single entrance on either side of the corridor. He points at the side neighboring the food court.
“Quarters for everyone else,” he says. “They’re divided into walled units that currently house two sets of bunk beds each, and curtains acting as doorways. There isn’t much in the way of privacy. It’s very dormitory-style.”
Milo catches my eye and we’re probably thinking the same thing—Boot Camp. The setup for trainees there was very similar to this, living on top of each other knowing you’d probably have to kill your roommate in order to graduate alive. It’s also very similar to Juvie, and that makes my insides squirm.
“We’re working on more private quarters for those of us with higher ranks, but it’s not a priority at the moment,” he continues. “There are still quite a few empty rooms, though, so pick one and enjoy it while it lasts.
“Showers and toilets are across the hall there.” He tilts his head toward the storefront on the other side, this one carefully covered over to create privacy. “It’s been the largest project so far, what with installing all that plumbing and putting down sealed cement. But don’t worry, it’s not a group shower.”
My sense of relief at this news is palpable. “Thank God for that.”
Marcus grins. “I can’t imagine you have anything to be ashamed of.”
“No, just a missing finger and too many visible ribs,” I deadpan. My appetite is mostly back, but even on my high-protein, carb-heavy diet, the weight isn’t packing back on as quickly as I’d prefer. It’s been only five days since my return to the city, but I still feel too damned frail, and I hate it.
The department store capping this end of the wing is blocked off, the door sealed. “What’s going in there?” Milo asks.
“So far, nothing,” Marcus says. “However, if our efforts succeed and expansion is necessary, we hope it will become residences of a more permanent and comfortable sort.”
Interesting. And if he doesn’t consider all the alterations to the mall to be permanent, I’d hate to see his definition of the word “temporary.” “Just so we don’t step on any toes,” I say, “are there any restrictions on where we can go? Besides the Sanctuary?”
Marcus shakes his head no. “Although I would knock before entering the vampires’ quarters.”
“Duly noted.”
“Are the training areas open?” Milo asks.
“Certainly,” Marcus replies.
Without prompting, he pivots gracefully. I watch him as he walks, noting that every step is both graceful and powerful—the very definition of a large, predatory cat. I don’t know which cat, specifically, but I know he’s not a house kitty. Jaguar, maybe, given the black hair.
In my ever-expanding knowledge of the Clans and how to identify them, so far only the Felia and Cania have hair that reflects their animal coat. Which is probably not a bad thing. You can’t exactly tell a stranger that your child has shockingly white hair because they can shift into a polar bear. Not that the multihued bear hair is easy to explain.
The mall’s main corridor is about the length of two football fields, with each wing less than fifty yards long. Not huge by mall standards (maybe a third the size of the new mall), but pretty damned big by headquarters standards. We lucked out getting it—considering the amount of space and the ease of protecting it from enemies—but walking from one end to the other on a regular basis is going to get exhausting.
And I’m already out of shape. I regulate my breathing so I’m not panting by the time we reach the gym. It’s impressive, with its array of equipment for cardio, strength training, and general exercise. An entrance to a second room has been cut out of the wall, and beyond it are blue mats. It’s a good setup.
Two men I don’t recognize, both with pale green eyes and the same multihued brown hair as Leah, are spotting each other on the free weights. They greet Marcus by name.
“Jackson, Shelby,” Marcus replies, although I have no idea which is which. Just a sneaking suspicion they’re both Ursia. He introduces us.
The man who was spotting takes a step closer, staring at me intently. “Stone,” he repeats.
I tense, shifting both feet into a fighting stance. It’s instinct, and he notices. Stops heading toward me.
He smiles. “Jackson de Loew. I’m Leah’s mate. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“It is?” I blurt.
“Your reputation among the Clans is colorful, but what you did for Phineas el Chimal is … well, legendary, for lack of a better word.”
“Phin was my friend.” I fall back on a familiar refrain. Praise for doing my job isn’t something I take well, and, thankfully, Jackson seems to get the hint.
“All the same, I’m glad to be working with you.” He returns to his friend Shelby, who hasn’t stopped s
taring but also hasn’t directly acknowledged me or Milo. Guess I haven’t impressed everyone.
Milo clears his throat. “The gym’s great. With everything that’s been going on, I haven’t had a good workout in ages.”
“You don’t consider Sunday to be a good workout?” I ask, caught between amusement and surprise.
He gives me a baleful look. “I was thinking more along the lines of improving mobility and fighting skills, and less battling for my life.”
“Good point. The barbells don’t usually fight back.”
“That removes some of the fun, don’t you think?” Marcus asks. One corner of his mouth quirks up, and I swear there’s an amused glint in his eyes. “You spar?”
He isn’t asking me, and it takes Milo a moment to realize it. “Boxing? No, not really.”
I manage to keep surprise off my face. He knows how to fight as well as I do, but I don’t contradict him. Not in front of a cat and two bears.
“Wrestling?” Marcus asks.
“Some.”
Some? Learning basic holds, pins, and throws was part of Boot Camp training. We all took the course. I remember all the moves and can re-create them all in my mind, but even if I wasn’t in such poor shape, I’d hesitate to try wrestling in this new body before it’s properly trained. Especially not wrestling against a were-cat who outweighs me by a good fifty pounds.
“Great.” Marcus strips out of his T-shirt without ceremony, showing off a ripped torso and tanned skin. I know my jaw dropped. “Let’s go, then.” He strides toward the far end of the room and the archway into the matted area. He pauses there and looks back, grinning right at Milo. “Do you have somewhere to be?”
“Uh, no?” Milo says.
I lift a shoulder in a half shrug, offering him no help. His own attempt at reverse psychology didn’t get him out of it. He responds by sticking his tongue out at me, then following Marcus. I laugh. Sometimes I forget how young we both still are.
