Blood of a Phoenix (The Nix Series Book 2)

by Shannon Mayer

  Reaching through the grill, I flipped the latch and the circular grill swung inward, pulling me with it. Killian scrambled up after me, Noah behind him. The two men crouched and pulled bags from their backs, spreading out their gear. I pulled from my waterproof pack both Dinah and Eleanor and set them into their holsters on my thighs.

  “How close are we?” Eleanor asked quietly.

  “Close enough that we need to keep talking to a minimum the second we get moving,” I said.

  Both she and Dinah gave a shiver in their holsters, the equivalent of them nodding.

  I paused as I put a knife inside each boot. “Killian, I need you to do something for me.”

  He turned and scooped my hand up, pressing it to his mouth. “Anything you need.”

  Noah snorted. “Tell me you aren’t fucking the mobster.”

  I glared at Noah. “Even if I was, it would be none of your goddamn business. May I suggest you shut the fuck up before I jam Dinah under your chin?”

  “I’m here to help,” he snarled.

  I leaned closer to him. “Then why the comment about my sex life?”

  His eyes darted away and he leaned back, which left me confused at his reaction. “Noah, pull your shit together.” I turned back to Killian and tightened my fingers around his.

  “I want you to electrocute me.”

  He dropped my hand as fast as he’d picked it up. “Why would I do that?”

  “I can hold the charge, then use it like I did on the tree. You said the Shadow didn’t like it, and we know that if the Magelore is in there, the only way to kill her is with electricity.” At least, that was what I was hoping for.

  “All right, but we do it my way then.” He reached out and pulled me to him, dropping his mouth to mine before I could protest. His lips pressed against mine and his tongue dipped into my mouth and I was kissing back before I thought better of it.

  And then he electrocuted me. The charge raised the hair on my body and my back arched, but he kept his mouth on mine as I whimpered, and I wasn’t sure if it was pleasure or pain arching through me, and distantly, I knew that was what he’d been hoping for me, that I could ride that fine line.

  He took his mouth from mine and I stood there—or maybe more accurately he held me there while I struggled to get my legs under me—both of us breathing hard.

  “That work?” He arched a brow. “Or do you need another?”

  Noah grunted from behind us but I didn’t look back at him. I needed to focus.

  I closed my eyes, looking for where the lightning had pooled. Once more it was in my lower back.

  “I got it.” I dropped a hand to my lower back and dug my thumb into it, pushing it upward until it raced down my arm and then I clenched my fist, stopping it. Holding it there in my wrist. Yeah, that would work.

  “Just like that?” Killian sounded a little put off. Probably hoping for another kiss, which almost made me smile.

  “Wonder what he’d be like in bed? All that power racing all over the fucking place, making your skin dance and heat up,” Dinah mused.

  Eleanor gave a soft “Mmmhmm.”

  I shrugged as if they had said nothing. “This trick is new to me. Far as I know, it will work.”

  Turning away from him, brushing past a still-brooding Noah, I led the way into the tunnel. If this was an often-used network, the way in should be easy to read.

  But the tunnel was clean, as if it had been recently swept of anything useful. I stood at the intersection of four branches and stared down the three options in front of me.

  I swallowed hard, thinking of Bear, and slowly tipped my head back as if I could see the stars above and find direction in them. I blinked twice, not sure if what I was seeing was good or not. Over my head was a grill, and a ladder above it. It was a good two feet over my head which meant I was going to need some help. I pointed and Killian nodded.

  He stepped up and crouched, cupping his hands so he could boost me. I put my foot into his hands and he lifted me with a single smooth motion. I grabbed ahold of the grill, hung with one hand and found the latch with the other. The grill dropped down and I reached up and caught the bottom of the ladder. Hand over hand, I pulled up until I was out of the way and looked down to Killian.

  “Which one of you is coming with me?”

  Noah stepped up. “Me.”

  Killian’s chest shook. “Cocky, isn’t he.”

  But the Irish gangster boosted Noah up without complaint.

  My hands and feet wouldn’t move, further flaring of my instincts. I listened to the soft whisper of danger that they warned me of. Together there was strength, we had a chance. “We can’t separate. Noah, go past me.”

  “There isn’t room.”

  “Don’t be a fucking douche,” I growled the words. “Climb over me.”

  With a huff he started up, reaching around me for the rung, so for a moment, his body was pressed against mine, his face as close as if we were in bed together.

  “No pit stops,” I said. “Keep moving.”

  His jaw ticked and his blue eyes were hot with anger, and I thought he was going to say something but he kept his thoughts to himself. I didn’t care, nor did I want to know why he was so pissed at me. His issues were most certainly not mine.

  As soon as he was above me, I climbed down until my legs dangled and I was hanging from the second bottom rung of the ladder. I didn’t have to tell Killian what to do. He jumped up, his arms wrapping around my knees. I tightened my hold as his weight pulled on my body and muscles, controlled my breathing as he reached up and used my belt and then my shoulders to climb to the bottom rung.

  Sweat rolled under my spider silk suit, but I held on because this was the only way we were all getting in.

  He was up and over me and then reaching down. I held up my hand and he helped me back up the ladder so we were side by side.

  Again, no words were spared as I hurried ahead of him. But his hand drifted from my hip, down my thigh to my calf and ankle as if he were making sure that I was okay.

  Dinah mumbled something and Eleanor shushed her, and I realized that he had run his hand over Dinah’s holster.

  My lips twitched; she liked the mobster far too much. More than she ever liked Simon.

  I shook my head. “Ladies, you ready?”

  “Let’s get them,” Eleanor said. “I want another shot at the Shadow. Now we can fry his ass.”

  My eyebrows raised but I didn’t answer her. I agreed, but for her to express herself regarding killing people was unusual. I put a hand over her, quieting her. The time for chatter had passed. The ladder rose high above me, and I climbed it hand over hand, moving as fast as I could while remaining quiet.

  In less than a minute, I was with Noah at the top of the ladder. Another grill barred our way, only this time it was locked from the top side. I hooked my legs around the ladder to steady myself and pulled the bag from my back. Noah looked down at me with his hands spread wide.

  “Linx,” I said softly as I pulled him out, “I’ve got a lock for you to pick.”

  “On it,” he said. I climbed up beside Noah and hooked my legs once more through the rungs.

  I reached through the grill with him in my hand and then set him against the lock. I couldn’t see, so I had to trust that he would shift into the appropriate tool. He shivered in my hand and the shape of him twisted and turned.

  “Put me in,” he said.

  “That’s what they all say,” Dinah snickered.

  I pushed him forward and felt something click, then gave Linx a twist.

  “Got it.” His voice was soft and low.

  I pulled my hand back and put him into the bag once more, then readied myself. I looked at Noah and nodded.

  If there were monsters running loose, then stepping into the wide open was going to get messy fast. I brought my legs up to the top rung of the ladder, bunching my body under the grill.

  Push it open, leap up, and grab my guns. That was the plan.


  I drew a breath, held it, and then pushed off the top ladder rung. I jammed my right shoulder into the grill, throwing it open as I shot out.

  Before I landed, Dinah and Eleanor were in my hands, up and ready to fire, silencers on.

  The space was empty.

  We were in a docking area, boxes of cargo all around us.

  Noah was fast out of the tunnel and Killian was close behind him. Noah had a single gun in his hands. Killian had a gun and one of his short swords.

  I made a motion with Dinah for them to follow me. If I was the survivor of the group then I was leading.

  I wove my way through the room, using the boxes as cover, sliding with my back against them.

  Noah grunted. “Hurry up.”

  I ignored him because each step I took closer to what I suspected was the main door made my skin itch. I kept Dinah and Eleanor tucked close to my chest, my arms bent so they were resting on either side of my face.

  “He’s a fucking douche, all right,” Dinah whispered.

  Through my mind ran a litany of what we faced. Genzo and his Yakuza. The Ikimono myst. The Shadow and his minions. My father. Bear.

  If Mancini held to his word, help would show up, but when and in what form? And after the scenario with Simon, how could I possibly trust Mancini’s word about anything?

  At the door, I pressed the back of my hand against it and felt a slight buzzing, like a troop of ants marching up my forearm.

  I motioned for the two men to back up and I slid to the side of the door as it opened. One of Genzo’s Yakuza tromped through, bulked up and nearly waddling with the amount of muscle he had on him. His black hair was braided all the way to his ass. Perfect. The door slammed shut behind him and I stepped up beside him and pressed Eleanor to the side of his head as I grabbed his braid and yanked his head back.

  “How many Yakuza are here?”

  He froze and his eyes rolled as he tried to see me. “Who are you?”

  “How. Fucking. Many.” I pushed against his skull with Eleanor’s muzzle with each word.

  “Not many. They . . . they made them into something else.” His jaw tensed and flexed. “That bastard Romano is running things now. Not Genzo.”

  I took a chance, knowing the big boy could turn on us in a flash, but knowing we needed an insider, too, so we could navigate the massive structure. I let him go. “I’m here for Romano. Help me find him.”

  A wicked grin slid over his lips. “I know who you are. He said you’d be coming for him. I’ll gladly show you the way.” Truth, his words were truth.

  I motioned for him to go ahead of us. Killian swept up beside me once the big guy’s back was turned. He put his mouth to my ear. “You sure?”

  I nodded. I was sure. This was our best shot. Besides, if he tried to turn on us I’d just shoot him. End of his story.

  The giant Yakuza led us through empty halls for a solid two minutes and then he stopped at a door. “Genzo is in here. He would like to talk to you.”

  I frowned at him, looking him over for some sort of walkie talkie. “Mind speak?”

  He nodded. “Yes. But the other Yakuza don’t know you are here yet, just Genzo.”

  He pushed the door open and motioned for us to go in. I looked past him. An old man hunched with age sat at a table, a lab spread out around him. A scientist past his prime.

  “Phoenix, we need to discuss your father.”

  “Do we?” I stepped into the room, Noah and Killian at my back.

  Genzo nodded, his eyes fatigued, the lines of his face deeper than if they were just his age showing. “Yes, your father. And your son.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  I stared at Genzo, the abnormal mob boss of the Yakuza, scientist and creator of the Ikimono myst, in his chair, partially slumped. The door shut behind us, but I didn’t look back. I was trusting Noah and Killian to guard my ass.

  “You’d best be careful what you say about my son,” I said softly.

  “He is entrapped by your father, but you already knew that.” Genzo lifted his eyes to mine. They were fogged, as if filled with a gray mist. “The Ikimono is not what I created it to be.”

  I didn’t move from where I was. “And what have you created it to be?”

  “It was meant to heal those abnormals who no longer wished to be abnormal. To cure them of this disease.” Genzo sighed. “I created it for my daughter. But Romano took the base formula and forced me to twist it further. So that it would create monsters, instead of cure them.” He paused and a shuddering breath escaped him. “I have not been in control of my Yakuza for over a year. Romano began delivering the drug through the Shadow’s minions to see the effects in the wild on humans.”

  Killian let out a slow whistle. “Went sideways awfully fast, old man.” He stepped up beside me and Genzo’s head turned to him.

  “That it did. Romano has things set to take over my Yakuza. They will die before they follow him.” His words sent chills up and down my spine.

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because you will need them to survive, Phoenix. I will give them to you for this fight.” Genzo spread his hands on the table. Between them was a plastic water bottle. The water was a bright red that looked more like blood than water.

  Killian moved up to the table and leaned forward. “What is this?”

  “It is the cure for the Ikimono. It will reverse the myst’s effects.” Genzo stroked the bottle. “Put it into the sprinkler system, that will be your best bet to spread it to the entire facility.”

  “I know where the water system originates,” Noah said. “I could get it there. It’s not far from the entry gates.”

  I scooped up the water bottle, suspicions rattling through me. “What will it do to those who haven’t taken the Ikimono?”

  “I do not know,” Genzo said.

  I held the water bottle, my mind racing. “How many are infected by your myst?”

  “Five hundred abnormals that are here. Several hundred dogs. Romano wanted an army that he could use against Mancini and Killian, and his plan was to continue to infect the general population of humans. To create more abnormals.” Genzo shook his head. “Take the cure. Get it in the water.”

  Fuck, those numbers . . . even I couldn’t swing taking on five hundred abnormals. I looked at Killian. “He’s telling the truth.”

  “I know.” He took the bottle from me and handed it to Noah.

  “I’ll go with you,” the big Yakuza said.

  “When you get to the front gates, wait for us there,” I said. “We are going to need a fast out.”

  Noah nodded and he and the Yakuza left.

  “He’s less likely to die,” Killian said.

  “Or get in my way and force me to kill him,” I countered. I looked back at Genzo. “You’re dying?”

  “Yes. How did you—”

  “I’ve seen a lot of people die, old man. You have the look of death waiting for you to stop fighting.” I stepped around the table and crouched beside him. He had information, lots of information. But how did I get it all?

  “Here,” he whispered. “I will show you what I can before I let go of this last fight.”

  He lifted a finger and pressed it to my right temple and a shot of something hot, like liquid fire, raced through my veins. Flickers of information, conversations, codes, contacts, and deaths floated through my mind. I clenched my hands over Dinah and Eleanor, breathing through the process. Like most men, he hadn’t asked, he’d just taken my silence as acceptance.

  His hand slid from my face and he fell forward to the table, his heart no longer beating.

  I stumbled back and ended up on my ass, breathing hard as if I’d taken over his energy for just a moment before he died.

  The sounds of voices flickered through my head in a language I didn’t know and yet understood. Fuck me, I understood Japanese, now?

  Killian crouched beside me. “What did he show you?”

  I closed my eyes. “We have to find Be
ar and protect him from whatever that shit is in the reversal.”

  He held out a hand, took my wrist, and I let him help me to my feet. I tucked Dinah back in her holster.

  “Come on,” she whined.

  “You’ll get your chance,” I said. “Just be patient.”

  The schematics of the building floated to the forefront of my brain, including the places Romano liked to haunt. The cell blocks where my brother was held. I sucked in a sharp breath.

  “Let’s hunt.”

  I stepped past Killian and slid out of the room. I took a deep breath and broke into a run, following the images in my head that Genzo had left me. I did not allow myself to focus on the fact that I had taken on abilities that were not mine.

  But it was a tool, a weapon, and when I thought of the memories in that capacity, my racing heart calmed. Weapons I understood, and this was just a different kind of weapon. I could handle that.

  On the other hand, the fact that we ran into no one as we worked our way through the jail made my skin itch.

  Killian and I hit the door that led into the cell blocks at full speed, knocking them open with a massive bang. I stepped through, both guns raised, and swept the area.

  “Seem odd to you that we’ve not been challenged?” Killian asked.

  “More than a little,” I said.

  I jogged down the stretch between the cells until a familiar scent caught my nose. Romano’s cologne. My feet froze where they were and I whipped to the side, Dinah and Eleanor raised as I stared into the shadows of a cell, the figure of a man weaving from side to side.

  “Kill me and get it over with, Nix.”

  “Tommy?” I took a step and then stopped. He’d been a bastard to me, too, though not as bad as our younger brother, Gabe. I’d been far too young for him to notice much more than in passing, a fist to my head once in a while.

  “Dad has your kid. I . . . I hope he’s a very good actor.” Tommy sighed and went to his knees.