He was right; one of the prisoners we'd come to check on had died that morning.
Chapter 3
Lexsi
"He was beaten by another prisoner; we don't know which one," Warden Jackson informed us.
Lie, I sent to all in our party. We walked behind the warden and two guards through a narrow, claustrophobia-inducing hall toward a room where the other nine prisoners waited for us.
"Are you investigating this death?" Kell asked smoothly as we rounded a corner.
"We're in the preliminary stages. Asking questions of the other prisoners," the warden claimed.
Lie, I sent.
Nine men, shackled to benches, waited for us in a white-painted, concrete-floored, sterile-scented room. Their eyes held no hope—they were resigned to their fate.
The dead one, I imagined, hadn't lost hope. He'd died for it.
"Stand here," Kell's voice dripped with compulsion as he ordered Warden Jackson and his guards to stay near the door. "You will watch," he added. "Young one, Kordevik, please step toward the prisoners."
Kory and I were at least twenty feet away from them. Kory took my arm and led me forward. We'd barely walked five feet toward the nine shackled men when their appearances began to change. One by one, their faces transformed.
Behind us, I heard one of the guards gasp.
"What the hell are you doing?" Warden Jackson began.
"You will remain silent unless we ask a question," Kell said.
Kell. I was beginning to have a mountain-sized respect for him. "You," he ordered one of the guards, "send a communication to someone, to fingerprint these men while we are here. Then, we wish to see the body of the dead one. Mr. Stone," he turned to Davis, "Are you recording this?"
"From the beginning," Davis nodded. Davis apparently had a tiny camera, or perhaps more than one—hidden on his clothing. "I'm transmitting everything directly to the boss. She has an outside team coming in to do the fingerprint scans."
"You will direct all your employees to cooperate," Kell informed the warden. Anita, who'd stood behind the guards, grinned—I could see it from where I stood halfway across the room.
Kell had to be an ancient vampire—the way he moved and the deliberateness with which he spoke told me that. He was also very, very experienced in dealing with humans who wished to hide something.
Kell could practically smell a desire to conceal things from him. I found him amazing—and just a tiny bit scary—as a result.
Oddly enough, the fingerprinting crew that arrived didn't work for the Joint NSA/Homeland Security Department. They worked for the FBI.
Kory's arm dropped around me while we stood nearby, nullifying the duplication spells so the FBI team could do their work.
"These fingerprints match those of the missing men from that bus in California," the FBI agent in charge announced shortly after running the electronic information through a database. "These are innocent men. Where is the body of the one who is now deceased?"
His gaze leveled on the Warden, who wanted nothing more than to leave and hide in his office. Kell's commands kept him where he was. Both prison guards stayed with him, gaping, while the prisoners were identified as missing migrant workers last seen in California.
One of you must remain with these nine while they are removed from the prison, Kell sent to Kory and me. The other must view the deceased one.
I'll go to the body—I want Lexsi out of here soon. I don't like this place, Kory replied.
I dislike it as well, and worry that these nine may not be the only ones who carry a spell, Kell informed us.
I hadn't considered that Laurel's pet warlock and Sirenali could become that devious. I should have known better, after what I'd already seen of their work.
Anita, do the Warden and these two guards have an obsession? I sent to her.
They don't, but I'm getting the shivers in this place, she replied. I think the prison itself is ready to become a beast to devour and digest.
She was right—I'd begun to feel as if unseen insects were crawling across my skin. I think we should get out of here, I whispered mentally.
The noise started then; it was only the beginning of one of the worst prison riots in US history.
"I can help deal with this," Kory's nostrils blew a stream of smoke as he took a step toward the door.
"Hold," Kell held up a hand, stopping Kory in his tracks. "This may be a trap. We will not fall into it. Mr. Stone," he turned to Davis, "Instruct your crew to shut off the cameras in this room."
"Done," Davis said after several seconds passed and the noise grew louder outside.
"You knew about this?" Kell lifted an eyebrow at Warden Jackson, who tried to back away.
He knew something; that much was certain.
"I trust you three," Kell nodded to Anita, Kory and me, "can get all of us out of here? They're coming this way, and they don't intend to let us live, if the voices I hear are correct."
"What?" the Warden blustered. "They're supposed to," he stopped short and snapped his mouth shut, much like a turtle would.
"They're supposed to take us while you go free?" Kell demanded.
"We need to go. Now," Anita interrupted. The noise had risen until it was deafening, and something large and metal banged against the door into our room. It bounced off with a metallic ringing, before rolling down the concrete hall outside.
"I can deal with this," Kory began again.
"You cannot be seen," Kell snapped. "Take us out of here—all of us," Kell swept out a hand. "We do not wish for the enemy to have our images in this place."
I went still. He was right. They'd laid a trap. "Go, Kory," I shouted at him. "I'll take these nine," I jerked my head at the shackled prisoners. "You help Anita with the others."
"How?" Kory yelled over the din. More objects crashed into the heavy door separating us from the mob outside.
"I'll mist them out," I shouted. "Go!"
* * *
There wasn't time to make plans as to where to go or what to do after we got there, but I was desperate. The military plane was my destination as I misted nine terrified men out of their chains and away from a growing prison riot.
I hesitated overhead for a moment, watching as flames licked one section of the prison. I'd bet anything that somewhere in that section, the tenth man's body was stored—they wanted to hide evidence of their crime and that was how they intended to do it.
It's all right, I attempted to soothe my reluctant passengers. You'll be back to normal soon.
I had no idea how prophetic my words would become.
* * *
Kory, Anita and the others were waiting aboard the plane when I arrived with my nine. They were just as shocked as I was when I let them go—I even stood farther away than necessary to double-check.
Somehow, riding inside my mist had removed the duplication spell completely. All nine were back to their original selves.
"Young one, you have made me happy this day," Kell stood beside me and patted my shoulder. "It will be much less difficult to prove to the authorities that these are not criminals." He turned to glare at the Warden, who quailed under Kell's stern gaze.
At least the Warden was safe—I had the idea that he might have died in the riot still happening at the prison.
"Is there anything we can do?" I asked, chewing on my lower lip. "People are going to die in that prison."
"People have already died," Kell breathed a soft sigh. "Our work is complete—we must rely on mundane agencies, now."
"I was told to expect the unusual," the lead FBI agent rubbed the back of his neck as he came to stand beside Kell. "If I hadn't seen this, I wouldn't have believed it."
"I hope you know how to keep secrets," Kell said, his voice dry.
"Oh, don't worry. This isn't going anywhere." The agent shook his head. "We'll have to debrief these—to determine what they recall of their kidnapping. We'll issue a new wanted list, which includes the drug lords they replaced in that pri
son. I don't think you'll have a job or a prison to go back to," he rounded on the Warden. "There may be some steel bars in your future, unless I miss my guess."
"Are you cooperating with the Joint NSA/Homeland Security Department?" Kell asked the agent.
"That's why we're here," he grinned.
"Then send Director Tadewi my regards," Kell smiled.
"I will," he said. "Damn, this is a mess," he added, gazing at the nine unfortunates at the back of the plane.
"Treat them as well as you can," I laid a hand on his arm. "They lost family on that bus and they're still grieving, in addition to the all crap they've been through in Warden Jackass's prison. They deserve respect, at the very least."
"Agent Blevins," he held out his hand. "I don't know how you did what you did, but it makes everybody's job easier. I'll do my best to see that they're comfortable and given every ounce of respect. We have interpreters waiting, and they'll be informed."
I shook Agent Blevins' hand and nodded my thanks to him. He'd given me truth, and I appreciated it.
Warden Jackass didn't like that I'd morphed his name into profanity, but he wasn't saying anything; Kory folded arms across his chest and frowned at the warden when he opened his mouth to protest.
"Turn around, Warden Jackass," Agent Blevins said pleasantly. "You get to make the trip to D.C. in cuffs."
"Are we going to D.C., too?" Anita asked. I knew what she meant—she wanted to go back to Watson.
"You can go home," Davis tilted his head at her. "If we need you, I'll call. Kell, Kory and Lexsi can answer the boss' questions."
"Thank you." Anita threw her arms around Davis' neck and hugged him before folding away.
"She, uh, didn't like leaving Watson behind," I mumbled.
"I get that," Davis grinned. "I'm getting word," he tapped his left ear, where a tiny communicator was placed, "The boss wants to have dinner with you tonight, after the debriefing."
Sighing, I looked down at my clothing. Yes, I was still clean enough, but I wore jeans and a pullover sweater. Kory was dressed much the same, in jeans and a polo. Kell—I could tell he didn't want to have dinner with Opal dressed as he was; he'd gone casual, like the rest of us.
"Stop worrying about your clothes. The boss likes pizza," Davis said.
* * *
Kordevik
Lexsi finished writing her report first, then went back to edit it, then edit it again. I'd filled out reports before, but I'd bet a lot of money that hers was going to look perfect while mine would only provide basic information.
Kell was still tapping away on his tablet; vampires had perfect recall, so I doubted anything would be left out of his report. I sighed and went back to my less than descriptive memory of the events leading up to the prison riot. The riot was still going on and had made every news program in the nation.
The National Guard had been called in to secure the perimeter, while local and federal agencies attempted to contact those inside. No images were available—the prisoners had destroyed all cameras and the recording systems in the prison offices.
The guards—many feared they were dead already.
"I worry that this is an attempt to distract us," Kell looked up from his work.
"It's working, if that's the case," Lexsi snorted. I watched in surprise as a tiny curl of smoke drifted away from her nostrils.
Baby, that's hot, I sent to her.
"Right," she whispered and went back to reading her report for a fourth time.
Kell hid a smile and returned to his report.
* * *
Lexsi
"There's still no word on the guards," Opal said as we read menus at her favorite pizza restaurant.
"Oh, I want the seafood pizza," I breathed.
"Where's that?" Kory leaned toward me. I pointed at a section of the menu, where the lobster and shrimp pizza was listed.
"Sounds good. Can they add anchovies and pepperoni?" he asked.
"I don't want either of those things on mine," I said, making a face at him.
"No problem. I can eat a medium by myself," he said. "With salad."
"Kell?" Opal turned toward him. He sat in the booth next to her, while Kory and I sat across from them.
"I will share whatever you're having," he said.
"I'm really hungry," she said.
"Then I will take whatever is left."
"Then we'll get a large sausage and mushroom," she said, setting her menu down.
"That is perfect," Kell declared.
I think he's saying she's perfect, Kory sent.
Honey, stay out of it. This is their romance, not ours.
Are you accusing me of something?
What are you talking about? I turned toward him. I should have known better. He was teasing me; a mischievous light shone in his dark eyes and a smile lurked at the corner of his mouth.
I so wanted that mouth on mine.
I was terrified of what would happen immediately after.
At that moment, I cursed the one who'd made High Demons the way they were. Yes, I realized the original ritual had recently been altered for the better. My mother was ill for days after Daddy put his teeth in her neck. My older sisters, too—with their husbands. Someone changed it so the illness was a thing of the past, but the thought of my unconsciousness; lying helpless while Kory's Thifilathi—I shivered.
"Baby, you cold?" Kory's concern was immediate.
"No." I hunched my shoulders. How could I tell him that the ritual terrified me in ways I couldn't explain? How?
Stop thinking about it, Kory's hand went to my back. His fingers gentle, he soothed away the tightness in my shoulders.
He knew.
* * *
Kordevik
I did my best to calm Lexsi while making conversation with Opal and Kell. "Do we have a schedule for the other prisons?" I asked.
"I wanted to get two out of the way tomorrow," Opal said, pointedly ignoring Lexsi's sudden silence. "I knew the one in Denver was going to be the most difficult," she added.
"The riot continues," Kell said, shaking his head. "They should realize that this will change nothing in the end, except to add years onto many sentences. Those who have died," he frowned at the thought.
"You can't reason with a mob," Opal said.
"I agree," Kell dipped his head in acknowledgment.
"Ready to order?" A perky waitress appeared at our table. The pizza restaurant had a theme—that of a 1950s pizza diner. She wore a pink dress with a tiny, white square in a fake pocket, and a white apron, tied at the waist. Her shoes were fashioned after saddle oxfords popular in the era, with white, lace-trimmed socks.
I could see why the nostalgic dress was popular—I found it quite attractive. We ordered our food, although Lexsi looked as if she'd lost her appetite.
"Baby, you need to eat," I leaned close to her ear. "You've had a long, rough day."
"I want a small, seafood pizza," Lexsi said, handing her menu to the waitress.
"Want something else to drink?" the waitress smiled at us.
"I would like a refill," Kell indicated his wineglass.
"Bring two strawberry shakes, one for me and one for her," Opal pointed at Lexsi. "They're excellent," Opal said before Lexsi could refuse. "You need the sugar—you look pale, young one," Opal continued as the waitress walked away.
"I don't like being the young one," Lexsi dropped her eyes and twisted her fingers together.
"I know." Opal's smile was bittersweet. "I don't really like being so ancient. There's not much I can do about it," she added. "After a while, everything gets old. It's difficult to surprise an Old One."
"Madam Director," Kell began.
"You surprise me, Kell Abenott," Opal turned toward him. Lexsi and I watched as wonder touched his features and a slow smile spread across his face.
* * *
Anita
I held back from touching Watson. Yes, I cared about him, but the girlfriend thing still rankled. He'd gone for he
r after rescuing his sister, and she'd nearly killed him.
Yet here I was, waiting on his every wish and whim.
I sighed.
At least he was asleep. Sleep had been difficult for me since the big fight. Tibby—I could see in his eyes he mourned Martin, the cousin he'd lost. He tried to hide it from Farin, though.
"At least Claudia's dead," Sandra whispered, placing a cup of hot tea in my hands.
"Yeah." I didn't add that Felicia was dead, too, and good riddance.
I expected that Felicia—and her death—would create a canyon between Watson and me. Lexsi was right, dammit. I couldn't be just a sex partner to him, no matter what I said to the contrary.
Besides, nowhere in the records had a Sirenali ever mated with a werewolf. I doubted that tradition would be broken by the two of us.
Klancy and Mason stepped inside Watson's bedroom, probably to ensure that we were there and safe. They'd awakened with the setting sun, minutes earlier.
"Is there anything you need?" Sandra half rose from her chair.
"No," Klancy held up a hand. "We have fed and all is well. We merely wanted news of the day's events."
"I can fill you in while you see the rest of it on TV," I said, nodding to Sandra and rising from the chair I occupied. "The others are safe, but the prison is destroying itself from the inside."
* * *
"It is most fortunate that those victims no longer appear to be the criminals they replaced," Klancy said after I muted the sound on the news program. News crews, forced to report from far a distance, had long lenses trained on the prison. Half of it was now on fire.
Speculation was running wild as to how many deaths had occurred inside and the fate of the guards who'd been on duty when the riot erupted. If Lexsi were still employed by a news station in town, I could imagine her being the voice of reason as she stood there, mic in hand, while describing the day's events. She wouldn't make any wild accusations while she did it, either.
Kell had handled the situation at the prison with smooth aplomb, keeping everyone from panicking when the inmates threatened to break into our space. It made me want to ask what he'd been given to walk in daylight—I wanted those things for Klancy and Mason, too.
"I've never really been close to any vampires before," I looked at both. "I'm happy that you're my first vampire friends." I hoped I could count Kell as a friend, too—he'd impressed me already.
A Demon's Work Is Never Done: Latter Day Demons, Book 2 Page 4
