by Dannika Dark
“I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Here. Let’s trade. I’ll dig the hole, and you can bury all that negative energy.”
She took the stone and handed Niko the shovel. While he cut into the black earth, Gem ran her thumb along the smooth opal and decided she didn’t want it. In a strange way, it did feel cursed. It was a destroyer, and she’d seen it in action.
After he dug a deep hole, Gem knelt and dropped the stone in the damp earth where it would live for millions of years. Unless Viktor decided to sell the property and someone built houses or shopping centers over the spot. But even then, the bulldozer would simply move all the dirt aside. She took the shovel from Niko and filled in the hole as best she could.
She wiped her brow and swung her gaze to the eyesore a few yards away. “What about the tree?”
“What tree?”
She grinned sheepishly. “I set a tree on fire.”
He flattened the earth with his boot. “I wish I could have been awake to witness that awesome power.”
Light sparked at her fingertips from the compliment.
Niko’s hair had dried in the soft wind, and it looked like ribbons of ebony. “I always knew you were capable of great things with your gift.”
“I guess if I’m going to harness that much power, I might as well use it for something good. Now that I know how destructive it is, Viktor’s probably right that I shouldn’t play with fire like I do. I might get burned. Literally.” She handed him the shovel, and they headed back to the house.
“I bet the tree is impressive.”
She chuckled. “Impressively black.”
“I have no desire to fell a tree this afternoon. I think it should stay. If this property is ever sold, you’ll know where to find the stone.” He slowly ascended an incline. “Are you rested?”
“Yes. And you?”
“You needn’t worry about me. I drew in healing light from the sun this morning. My clothes are still loose, but my energy is restored.”
“Kira’s cooking should fatten you up in no time.”
“Perhaps I should raid Wyatt’s snack machine.”
She smiled. “If you do, grab me a package of donuts. Rumor has it he’s charging five dollars.”
“Obscene.”
Gem adored Niko’s dry sense of humor. Mostly everyone else’s was either crude or dark, and Wyatt’s was downright inappropriate. It was refreshing to get to know Niko on a different level, especially away from the team.
“Niko, can I ask you something personal?”
He switched the shovel to his other hand as they walked. “Yes, you can.”
Despite a twinge of guilt, she simply couldn’t contain her curiosity. “What do you regret the most about being blind? I know you can see energy on different levels, but is there anything you’d like to see if you could?”
Without breaking stride, he answered, “Butterflies.”
“Really? Not clouds or people’s faces? Or what about animals or the Grand Canyon?”
“Many things I can feel with my hands, or their energy is shaped in a way that allows me to see their form. But smaller creatures aren’t visible. A few reveal a small sparkle of light, but not enough for me to understand. Children chase them in meadows, painters add them to their landscapes, and people are awestruck by their colorful wings. No matter how many centuries go by or where I am, people are always quick to point one out. They’re delicate and small, and though I’ve held one in my hand, I have no sense of its shape or color. I crushed it by accident.” He turned his gaze skyward. “Of all things in this world, I think I would very much like to see a butterfly.”
Chapter 12
Earlier that morning, before Niko buried the stone with Gem, he’d pulled healing sunlight from a bright window so he could work out. Sunlight didn’t have the capability to restore his weight, but he felt remarkably energetic. A Mage’s body was self-regulating and would return to its original size from when they had their first spark. It was possible to manipulate one’s appearance, but it required regular conditioning.
Or extreme starvation.
After burying the gemstone, Niko and Gem returned to the house for lunch. Kira had prepared a hearty meal of baked chicken and fresh bread. She’d loaded the quinoa salad with beans, chopped vegetables, chickpeas, and what he thought was feta cheese. Gem sat across from Niko, and they ate every bite. Niko didn’t know how to communicate with Kira since others seemed to use hand gestures, so after his meal, he went into the kitchen and searched the fridge for leftovers before settling on a bowl of black-eyed peas and a glass of milk. He ate the peas cold and drank the milk over the sink. Niko was determined to restore his body weight, so he needed to consume more protein than usual.
Meanwhile, Gem had gone to spy on Switch. He didn’t like interruptions when he was tutoring Hunter, claiming it distracted the boy. But Gem was curious by nature and said she wanted to see what he was teaching. Niko assumed Gem’s interest had to do with her lack of formal education. She was self-taught. Gem had learned from books, whereas Niko had learned from experience.
Niko headed to an empty room near the courtyard. Dusty sheets covered the furniture. After finding a chair, he dragged it to a warm spot by the window and sat down. It relaxed him to listen to the sound of birds chirping through the pane. He took a moment to reflect on all that had happened and felt so much gratitude for the fates giving him a second chance.
About five minutes later, a call came in on Niko’s cell.
“Hello?”
“I have news,” Viktor said, his grave tone triggering alarm bells in Niko’s mind. “Kallisto went to the apartment. Christian subdued him, but when Claude arrived, there was a scuffle, and he escaped.”
Niko leaned forward. “Was anyone hurt? Do you need me?”
“Nyet. Kallisto sliced Claude with a katana and flashed away. Christian healed him.”
Niko could tell by Viktor’s tone that Claude must have resisted Christian’s offer. Most people wanted nothing to do with drinking a Vampire’s blood, but without Niko around, Claude might have bled to death if the blade had severed an artery or pierced his heart.
“How is Gem?” Viktor inquired.
“She’s awake, but her light is still weaker than normal. That’s something only time can heal.”
“The fates are generous to return you both to me.”
“Gem deserves a lot of credit. She’s hard on herself, but what she did took a lot of courage. I don’t think anyone else could have destroyed that book without killing themselves in the process. She has a very special gift. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Da. Gem is… how you say? One of a kind. And you are resting?”
Niko relaxed against the armrest and formed a tiny ball of light between his fingers. “Unlike Gem, rest isn’t what I need to recover. I’m eating twice my normal calories and building up my strength.”
“Good. I called to inform you of Kallisto’s escape. I do not think he will have reason to go to the mansion as he does not even know where you are, but you should be watchful. Lock the doors and windows, and keep the boy inside. I do not want anyone leaving the mansion or wandering the property.”
“We’ve already implemented those plans. Switch was in the courtyard, but I called him back in. Keystone is secure.”
There was a long pause before Viktor spoke again. “Do you have any idea what Kallisto might do?”
Niko squeezed his fist and snuffed out the ball of light. “I don’t know who Kallisto is anymore, but I would imagine after centuries of following Cyrus, he won’t know how to survive without a leader to make all the decisions. Revenge would be my first assumption.”
“Mine as well.”
“You’re safer in numbers. Corner him if you can, but be careful. He’s a skilled archer, and if he’s following the team, he’ll pick them off from afar, one by one.”
While Viktor mulled over their situation, Niko considered Kallisto’s strengths and weaknesses. He had a tem
per, but he was also a patient man. That made him a skilled hunter. Niko remembered a time when Kallisto had sat in a tree for three days, picking off travelers one at a time so he could steal their horses. It was better for Viktor to keep the team together and hunt him using everyone’s special gifts of hearing, scent, and emotions.
“You know him best,” Viktor finally said. “I will take your advice and keep everyone together. You and Gem stay alert. We cannot predict what this man is capable of doing now that he knows his brothers are dead.”
Niko switched the phone to his other ear. “Has Wyatt seen any sign of Plato’s ghost?”
“Nyet.”
“Keep him with you, even if he wants to stay behind or come home.”
“I will call when I have more news to share. If you have any trouble, do not hesitate to call. I do not want you to handle a situation alone.”
“You have my word.”
Niko hung up and set the phone on the armrest. People changed over the course of centuries, but something told him that Kallisto would pick off Keystone. Not just because of Niko, but because after escaping Christian and Claude, he knew they would be hunting him.
There was a chance he might show up at the mansion, and how Niko wished for that. He fantasized about arming himself and standing out front to greet his Mage brother. Kallisto didn’t deserve to live. Centuries ago, he’d raped women and laughed about it.
Niko lowered his head in shame. If only he hadn’t relied on those men for his survival. If only he could have been strong and skilled enough to have killed them instead of escaping.
If only he hadn’t turned a blind eye.
Chapter 13
Claude opened his hotel room door and glared at Christian, who leaned smugly against the jamb.
“Someone looks all perked up on Vampire blood,” Christian remarked with a cavalier attitude. “Your cheeks have a rosy glow.”
Claude scowled and spun around to shut off the noisy television.
Christian remained by the door, staring at his fingernails. “I don’t give my blood to just anyone, you know. It’s sacred.”
Claude folded his arms, still upset about the whole affair. “You violated my rights.”
“Jaysus wept. The right to what? Die on a wooden couch?” Christian waltzed in and kicked the door shut with his heel. “I gave you my lifesaving blood not my cock. Don’t expect me to do that again with this kind of ingratitude.”
“You slay me.” Claude guzzled down his root beer as if he could still taste the blood in his mouth.
It wasn’t dignified for a Chitah to drink from a Vampire. Yeah, he would have died if Christian hadn’t forced the blood down his throat, but maybe death by a sword would have been an honorable way to go. Vampire blood had magic in it that no one understood, and he didn’t like the idea that it might attach itself to his own blood like some kind of virus. Would Christian have influence over him? Would it affect his venom or Chitah abilities? As far as Claude was concerned, drinking a man’s blood was about as intimate as drinking his semen.
Christian reclined on one of the beds and interlocked his hands behind his head. “Looks like we’re roomies. Do you like sleeping on the left side or the right? No. Wait. Let me guess. Chitahs like the foot of the bed.”
“You can sleep in the bathroom.”
“Don’t get your knickers in a bunch. I only need a place to stay since Viktor wants us all here.”
“Did Raven kick you out for talking too much?”
Christian sat up and looked at himself in the closet mirror. “She’ll be staying with Blue. Viktor doesn’t want any distractions, and you’re the only one with a free bed.”
Claude sat down in the small wooden chair and rested his arm on the wobbly table. “If we find that male, he’s mine.”
“And why should you get all the glory?” Christian pushed up his sleeves and wrung his hands. “I’d like to get a taste of that wanker myself.”
“He tried to kill the male child in West Virginia, and he almost killed me. This is personal. I want him, and he’s mine.”
“You don’t think Niko has a stake in this? Maybe we should string him up like a piñata and take turns.”
Claude felt his fangs elongating, and the wildness within him stirred. He stared at the empty plate on the table. “I’m done eating. I say we should go.”
Viktor had commanded everyone to eat, rest, and hunt as a team. Raven and Christian didn’t need sleep, but Viktor didn’t want anyone going off alone.
Meanwhile, there were checkpoints around Cognito where insiders monitored public transportation, hotels, and bars. Even the Mageri had put their Enforcers on high alert. After Kallisto had impaled Claude, which distracted Christian, their enemy had grabbed a bow and quiver and fled. But without identification, money, or even a change of clothes, he wouldn’t get far. People had a tendency to notice men wearing prison attire.
Raven had suggested they search the human district. She said it was the perfect place for an immortal to lie low, something she’d done for years. At least that would narrow down the search area. Viktor wanted to map out potential locations while everyone went up to their rooms and ate something. Claude didn’t care what the plan was. Now that he had a full belly, he just wanted to leave this room and hunt.
“If that shitebag robs someone and rents a motel for a month, we’ll be here a long time,” Christian said, rubbing his eyes.
“He can’t get a room without ID. Anyhow, it doesn’t matter. Let him camp out in the city all he likes.” Claude hooked his arm over the back of his chair. “I own his scent, so if he stands on a corner or brushes up against anyone, I’ll know. All I need is one good scent trail.”
Christian laughed darkly. “I’m trying to remember how many square miles there are in this city. Roughly three or four hundred? Is your nose up for the task?”
A knock sounded at the door. When Christian opened it, Raven strutted in with daggers still strapped to her leg and hips. She had a tough aura about her, and Claude noticed how comfortable she was on assignments that took them into the city, more so than the recent one in the mountains.
Raven sat at the foot of the bed and took off one of her black boots. “How are you feeling?” she asked, shaking out a pebble. “I heard you sucked on my partner.”
Christian tucked his hands in his pockets and leaned against the dresser. “He’s still pining over his lost innocence.”
Claude drummed his fingers on the table, finding no amusement in this whatsoever.
Raven chuckled. “It’s not so bad. It’ll be out of your system in a few more hours. The important thing is you’re not dead.”
Claude rubbed his chest where the sword had gone in. Chitahs had natural healing abilities. As long as they didn’t bleed out, their survival rates were good. But the blade had cut through his lung, and his heart had fluttered abnormally. There’d been a moment he was certain he would die.
She reached inside her boot and felt around. “There’s mouthwash in the bathroom if you need to gargle.”
Christian gave her a cross look. “And what are you trying to say about my blood?”
Raven met his gaze, and Claude could scent her amusement. “It has a certain… aftertaste.”
“Since when are you complaining about my flavor?”
“I’m not saying it’s bad, only that others might feel it wasn’t a good year.”
“Vintage is better than the shite they make these days.”
“Bite me.”
Christian’s fangs punched out. “I just might, lass.”
Raven laughed and put her boot back on. “You’re such a fanghole.” She crossed her leather-clad legs and nodded at Claude. “Ready to go clubbing?”
Claude frowned when he caught her scent. “You’re serious.”
Christian put his hands in his pockets. “Don’t mind her. She’s away with the fairies.”
Raven leaned back on her hands. “It’s almost midnight on a weekday. The only places open
are diners and clubs. He won’t be going to Walmart; I can tell you that much.”
Christian lowered his chin. “But he’ll be dancing the night away?”
“No. He’ll be looking for victims. If I were an escaped convict, my priorities would be money and clothes. He’s probably already got the clothes, but he’ll need enough money to get off the streets and into a motel. Even if he steals a car, he’ll need gas and lodging. I don’t know. I’ve got a feeling he won’t be running.”
Christian stroked his beard. “You and me both. He just found out we slaughtered his leader. Odds are he’s a tad vexed.”
Raven reclined on her back and fished something out of her jeans pocket. It was a tiny tube of lipstick, which she applied without a mirror. All of them had brought overnight bags without any clue as to how long they’d be hunting this Mage.
Claude looked down at his jeans and black T-shirt. “What does one wear to a human club?”
Raven stood up and grinned. “Desperation.”
Christian pushed away from the dresser. “Then I’m afraid I have nothing to wear.”
Another knock sounded at the door. Christian was the closest, so he answered it.
Viktor stood in the hall, zipping up his thin cotton jacket. “We go now.”
“We go where?” Raven asked, checking the daggers on her belt as she, Claude, and Christian filed into the hallway.
Blue and Shepherd were waiting inside the elevator to the right. Blue’s axe was strapped to her waist, and Shepherd was packing heat. The elevator doors kept chiming as Wyatt held them open by spreading out his arms and legs.
“You don’t stand out,” Raven remarked to Wyatt as they got in.
