by J. K. Beck
“I don’t change my appearance, just my nature.”
Luke waved the comment away. “You’re known more by reputation than by looks. Obviously we couldn’t use you for every assignment, but you could fill a very large need.” He smiled. “I’m going to have to tell Doyle that you’re not responsible for killing the rogues—and I’m going to have to tell him the truth about the desiccations. He’ll assume I knew all along, of course, which should make for an uncomfortable conversation. It’ll be worth putting up with his flak, though, if you come onboard.”
The possibility of being useful was undeniably tempting, but it couldn’t work. “I can’t, Luke. I take the form and features of whatever life force I’ve drawn in, but I can’t control the daemon when I’m in another form. Hell, I can barely control it as a vampire.”
“I thought Alexis helped with that.”
“What are you saying?”
Luke smiled. “I’m saying I have an idea. And I think you’ll like it.”
Five paces by six paces was the size of Alexis’s world. At least she didn’t have to share it. The tiny space was all hers. For now. Undoubtedly once she was tried and convicted, she’d be shipped off to a minimum-security prison and stuck with a roommate who snored. Or worse.
Shit. She wanted out of there, but the bail hearing wasn’t until the following afternoon. In the meantime, she’d used her one phone call to talk to Leena, who sounded absolutely determined to get her free. She’d taken it upon herself to find Alexis the best attorney her substantial bank account could hire. Unfortunately, Leena didn’t seem to have any magical solutions for the uncomfortable quarters. Alexis was just going to have to wait it out.
She paced the five, then turned and paced the six. On the return trip, the door opened and a huge man walked in. He had a scar across his right cheek, and although it took her a second, Alexis finally recognized him as one of the men from the Penny Martinez crime scene. If she recalled correctly, he’d acted like he was in charge.
“Let me guess. Now I’m in trouble with Homeland Security, too. Or is it Division Six?”
“The latter,” the man said. “And you’re not in trouble.”
She glanced around the cell. “Great. Let me out.”
“All right,” he said.
“Really?”
“At the very least we should discuss the possibility.”
He gestured to the tiny cot. “Can we sit?”
“Um, sure.”
She perched on one end, and he sat on the other. “I’m Lucius Dragos, by the way.”
“Serge’s friend?”
“The same.”
“Oh.” She shifted, trying to find her center. He seemed like a perfectly nice guy and he was Serge’s best friend, but to Alexis he was a powerful vampire, potentially dangerous, and apparently at the top of a preternatural infrastructure. The whole situation was a bit like sitting down to chat with your boyfriend’s relative, who just happened to be the president of the United States. Awkward, no matter how much you wished it wouldn’t be. “So why exactly are you here?”
“I understand you’ve been hunting rogues.”
She flinched; he might as well have tossed ice water all over her.
“Don’t worry. The PEC doesn’t have any jurisdiction over humans who kill rogue vampires. But we do have jurisdiction over rogues. We catch them. And we punish them.”
She nodded, wondering what this had to do with her.
“Would you be interested in helping us do that?”
“Helping you? Are you offering me a job?” This was the oddest conversation.
“Actually, yes.”
“Oh.” She tried to wrap her mind around this shift in reality. “So, what exactly would this job entail?”
“Doing what you’re trained to do. Investigating. We don’t have many humans on staff, but sometimes a human perspective can be helpful on a case. And it will help that you’re already trained as an investigator. Essentially you would be doing exactly what you’ve been doing, but it would be sanctioned.” He glanced around the cell. “Which would help you avoid future insults like this.”
“I’d still be hunting rogues?”
“Among other things, yes.”
The idea was mind-boggling. It was a chance to return—more or less—to her life as an FBI agent and still pursue the path she’d set out on after Tori’s death.
“I’m pleased to see that you’re seriously considering the idea,” Luke said. He was studying her face. “There is one other bit of information you should have before you answer. I’ve asked Serge to come work for the PEC.”
“Really? That’s great.”
“You think so?”
“I do. There’s a lot he feels guilty about—I’m sure you know. That’s a way to work through it. To feel like he’s being productive. Hell, to actually be productive.”
“I agree completely. Unfortunately, Serge hasn’t yet agreed. In fact, he’s made it clear that he’ll refuse unless his condition is met.”
She almost hesitated to ask. “What condition?”
“He’ll only do it with you as his partner.”
Her pulse increased, thrumming so loud in her own ears that she was sure Luke must have heard it, too. “Why?” she asked, working to keep her voice nonchalant.
“Don’t you know?”
“Because I calm him. I keep the daemon from coming out.”
“Yes,” Luke said. “But it’s more than that.”
She searched his eyes and was surprised at what she saw. Serge had told his friend about the truth, and she was so relieved that he’d finally shared the burden that she couldn’t hide her smile. “I’m glad he told you.”
“So am I,” Luke said. “Without you, he’s not willing to take on other forms. But that wasn’t entirely what I meant. You would be an asset to the team, yes. But he also simply wants you by his side.”
Her heart twisted. “He told you that?”
“No.”
“Then—”
“I know Serge almost as well as I know myself.”
She felt the tears rise and cursed herself. This was a negotiation, not relationship counseling. “Did he tell you? About my sister?”
“Yes, and I’m sorry.”
“I don’t know if I can do it. Work with him. See him every day.” But that wasn’t true. What she was afraid of was that she could, and that she’d hate herself for it, because she owed Tori more than that.
But what did she owe all of the other men and women, dead because of rogue vampires? How many could she hunt down with Serge by her side? Most of all, without Serge, how long would it take them to find the one rogue who was the kingpin, urging all the others to kill. She didn’t believe that Serge would simply let the leader continue to rally his troops—no, he’d take care of the leader himself, and then disappear back into the dark.
The thought filled her with an overwhelming sense of loss, and she knew then that even if she couldn’t have him, she also couldn’t bear the thought of completely losing him. And she damn sure couldn’t let him take down the ringleader without her.
She looked at Luke, her mind made up. “I’m not saying I forgive him, but I’ll do it. At least for now.”
“I’m glad you agreed,” Serge said. “The thought of you in a cell ripped me up inside.”
“It wasn’t my idea of a good time, either.” They were standing next to each other, and Alexis reached out automatically to take his hand. She caught herself and shoved her hands in the pockets of her jeans. Not going there.
The truth was, she was glad to be free. Glad to be partnered with Serge and to have a purpose again. A real job. But from the first moment she’d seen him after she’d followed Luke into his Malibu house, Alexis had realized just how hard this was going to be. She needed to keep her distance—needed to protect her heart and keep Tori, her family, at the forefront. Yet the attraction was still there. That longing. That need. And it was all she could do not to tell Serge to ignore
everything she’d said and to pull him into her arms.
They stood only inches apart, and yet the space between them seemed as wide as a chasm, filled with unspoken words and a thousand regrets. It weighed down the air until Alexis couldn’t stand it anymore. “I’m so glad you’ve told Luke and Sara, and that you’re using the beast to fight rogues instead of letting it control you.”
“I couldn’t do it without you. I need you at my side if I’m going to control it.”
“I know, and I’m glad I can do it. Glad that I can help you like that. And I appreciate more than I can say that you worked this out. Got me this job, I mean, so that I can work out in the open instead of from my dark little cave.” She grinned. “Leena’s going to freak when I tell her. Hell, she’ll probably want to sign up, too.” She drew in a breath. “But what I really want to say is that I’m sorry. I’m sorry that it can’t be more. That I can’t give you more than just partnership. I know it’s not enough, but—”
“You’re everything to me,” Serge said. “But I would never demand more than you can give. Want, yes. But I understand. And under the circumstances, I think you’re giving me more than I deserve.”
She shook her head. “We’ve already talked about that, and no. You deserve everything good in the world, I’m just not the one who can give it to you.”
They stood in silence for a moment; then he shifted. “I’m going to go take CeeCee up on that rematch on the Xbox. When you feel like coming in, I think Luke and Sara want to talk about how we’re going to approach our first assignment.” His fingers brushed her shoulder in a gesture of good-bye. The contact was simple, yet shocking at the same time. It sent a buzz of electricity coursing through her, warming her. Her body seemed to beg for more, but that was a demand she wasn’t willing to succumb to. Instead, she tightened her grip on the deck railing and looked out over the ocean, its roiling waves mimicking her own jumbled emotions.
After a few moments, she walked back inside, expecting to find Serge with CeeCee. But the living room was empty, and she found the girl in the kitchen with Sara.
“Hey,” Sara said, flashing the same welcoming smile that she’d greeted Alexis with when she’d arrived. “Luke and Serge went into his office. CeeCee and I are working on dinner. She’s taking a break from zombies. Grab a stool, and help yourself to some wine.”
“Thanks.” Alexis poured herself a glass and settled in at the counter to watch. “It’s a good thing I saw the Xbox. Otherwise considering the world I’ve stumbled into, I might’ve thought you meant literal zombies.”
CeeCee snorted and rolled her eyes.
“It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it?” Sara asked as she worked some pastry dough in a bowl. “I was right where you are not that long ago. Knowing this whole world exists takes some getting used to.”
She turned to the sink to wash her hands, and Alexis couldn’t help but notice that the sink fronted a huge window with a view of the ocean. There were no curtains or blinds that Alexis could see.
“What about the sun?” Alexis asked.
“I’m still new enough that it doesn’t bother me,” Sara said. “But we have electronic shutters on those windows that haven’t been replaced yet.”
“Replaced?”
“Serge invented a type of glass that keeps the sun out. Makes living in a house feel almost normal.”
“Serge did?” She’d seen his inventor’s heart in action, but still she clung to this new detail. A pearl that rounded out the picture of the man who’d come to mean so much to her … even if he wasn’t a man she could have.
“He’s really pretty cool,” CeeCee said loyally, and Alexis was happy to see that she seemed to have forgotten any anger she might have had with Serge for leaving her with Sara and Luke.
“From what I understand, we have you to thank for CeeCee,” Sara said.
“I think Serge had more to do with it than I did.”
Sara laughed. “He definitely added a certain something to the equation. Do you like baked Brie?”
“I’m sorry?” Alexis blinked at the shift in topic. “The cheese,” Sara said. “Some people don’t like it.”
“No, I think it’s great.”
CeeCee took a long sip from the mug she’d been holding. “This is what I think is great lately.” She wrinkled her nose. “Who woulda thought blood would taste so good?”
“She can still enjoy food,” Sara said. “But in the early stages vampires crave a great deal of blood.”
“Don’t worry,” CeeCee added. “No humans were injured in the making of my dinner.”
“And I swear the Brie contains no hemoglobin,” Sara added, making Alexis laugh. “Oh, hell,” Sara said, scowling at the pastry she’d rolled out in front of her. “Are you any good in the kitchen?”
“Not at all,” Alexis confessed.
“That’s better than me. Want to help? We have to wrap this around the Brie, but I’m thinking it may be easier to chuck it all and order a pizza.”
“Hang on.” Alexis came around the counter, and between the two of them they finished wrapping the pastry around the cheese and got it in the oven.
“You’re an angel,” Sara said.
“I’m happy to help. I have to confess that this isn’t—”
“What you expected?”
“Not at all.”
“I hope it’s for the better.”
Alexis laughed. “Definitely.”
Sara’s phone rang and she grabbed it up with a frown. “The office. I hate to ask, but would you mind watching the oven?”
“Not a problem.” As Sara went off to take her call, Alexis took a seat on one of the bar stools next to CeeCee.
“Want some?” she asked, pushing the travel mug toward Alexis with a grin.
“You’re a laugh riot.”
“Sorry. Sara says I’m coping well. I’ll have to take her word for it.”
“I’m betting that’s a pretty big understatement.”
“Yeah, no kidding. So you used to work for the FBI? That’s pretty cool. Although I think the PEC is cooler, so you’re moving up in the world.”
“I think so, too.”
“Of course, the coolest thing about the PEC is that they’re super-secret.” CeeCee grinned. “And that’s always fun. I keep telling Luke and Sara that they should let me work there, too. Luke said he’d think about it, but I’m not sure if he really meant it or if he was blowing me off.”
Alexis laughed. Apparently teenage angst lingered even in vampires.
“Smells good,” Luke said as he and Serge entered the kitchen. Sara followed soon after, and they all settled around the table, just like normal folks hanging out with friends.
“So how are we going to approach this thing?” Luke asked. “Alexis says you know who’s organizing the rogues?”
“You know?” Sara said, frowning at Serge. “And you didn’t say something before?”
“He’s saying it now,” Alexis said, feeling compelled to stick up for him.
“No,” Serge said. “Sara’s right. I should have said something as soon as I suspected. And I’m still not one hundred percent sure. The truth is that I intended to investigate on my own.” He looked at Luke. “It’s Derrick.”
“I see,” Luke said. He turned to Sara. “Perhaps he should have come forward sooner. But with Derrick at the helm, I understand why he didn’t.”
“Someone from your past?” Sara asked Serge.
“From my darkest days, yes. I need to confront him,” he added, and Alexis understood what he meant. By confronting Derrick, he’d be confronting the monsters inside himself, too.
Alexis looked around the table at all of them. “No matter what should or shouldn’t have been done in the past, we’re doing the right thing now. We just need to work out the plan.”
“Simple,” Serge said. “I’ll make contact. Get in with him. Go out on hunts with his men. Of course, I’ll pull a few fast ones before any humans get hurt—and in the process we’ll take so
me of Derrick’s men out. That’s where you come in,” he added, nodding at Alexis.
She looked between Luke and Serge. “I thought you were going to use the beast? That you were going undercover in different forms?”
“Eventually,” Luke said. “Right now, these human deaths are our focus.”
“Fair enough,” she agreed. “But why not just kill him straightaway? If you can get in close to Derrick, just put your whammy on him and turn him into a mummy. End of problem.”
“We considered it,” Serge said. “But we need to find out who his lieutenants are, especially in other states, possibly other countries.”
“Of course,” Alexis said. “We need to shut the whole thing down.”
“Exactly.”
They talked a bit more about timing and planning and getting Alexis familiar with Division 6. When the oven timer rang, the conversation shifted from work to food and the beach and video games and other normal stuff. It was nice. It was normal. And it underscored Alexis’s belief that she’d made the right choice.
Serge offered to drive her home, since Luke had brought her from the holding cell, and while she said good-bye to Luke and Sara, he wandered into the living room to talk with CeeCee.
Alexis headed in their direction when she was ready to go, but she stopped when she heard their voices, not wanting to interrupt their conversation.
“I’m glad you’re settling in,” Serge told the girl.
“I totally am. And you don’t have to feel bad about bringing me here. I get what happened to you. And the truth is, you did save me.” She rose up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek, then flashed him a grin and bounced back to the kitchen, giving Alexis a wave as she passed.
“Didn’t I say you were a hero?” Alexis asked Serge, and this time she did squeeze his hand.
“When I’m around you, I feel like one. And CeeCee? Right now I feel pretty good about that, too.”
