It was approaching seven when I finally pulled up to the house. I steeled myself for the worst, feeling like a kid who was coming home hours after curfew, and knocked on the door.
Lacey answered, and her look told me everything I needed to know. I entered and found Megan on the couch, legs crossed on the ottoman, arms crossed on her chest. I really knew I was in trouble when I saw that she was watching the Weather Channel. The cable box defaulted to it when turned on. It was late August in Northern California and the weather wasn’t going to be doing anything exciting for at least a couple of months.
“Honey, I’m home!” My attempt at levity was met with a low growl that would have done a werewolf proud. I sighed and followed Lacey into the kitchen, where her stacks of books still covered the table, the urn sitting in their midst. A pizza box was on the counter. Hopeful, I opened it, but it was empty. Totally picked clean.
“So, let’s get caught up. Do you want to go first or second?” I asked Lacey.
“I guess I’ll start. I wish I had better news. All I’ve really been able to do is absolutely confirm that this is the urn Solomon used to trap the seventy-two demons. It’s got some powerful wards that are keeping them bound up.”
“Wards?”
“Magical symbols. In this case they’re being used to bind and contain the demons, maybe even control them to an extent.”
“Wait, maybe?”
“I’m not sure. I think if you’re really looking to control the demons you need the Seal.”
“The Seal?”
“Yeah, the Seal of Solomon. It’s a ring Solomon had that let him bind and control demons; it’s what he used to get all of them in there in the first place. I mean, without it you might be able to control them. I’m not sure. It could be like a sort of super-powered magic lamp. Like what Aladdin used, only seventy-two times bigger.”
“So that’s like, what, two hundred and sixteen wishes?”
“Hey, maybe! Probably not, though. The thing is, I can’t be sure unless I try, and to be honest, I really don’t think it’s a good idea.” She said it as if trying to convince herself, not me. “Though I suppose if you want, I could give it a shot. Maybe call in a few friends to help out. I mean, if you think it would be worth knowing exactly what it does…”
“Ah, no. I think on the scale of bad ideas that one is, like, epic.”
“Oh.” She sounded dejected.
“Look, it doesn’t really matter what the thing does, honestly. I need to destroy it, not use it. But if I was going to try to lead a demonic army, you’d be the first one I’d call, promise.” She smiled. “Any luck there? Figuring out how to destroy the thing?”
“Well, again, if we had the ring we could probably unbind and then banish the demons. Without it, it’s going to be pretty tough.”
“I don’t suppose we know where the ring is?”
“Afraid not. It’s been lost for millennia. Which is probably a good thing—if this thing is bad, that would be ten times worse.”
I nodded.
“But I think we can do it without the ring. I’ll need to call in some help; this isn’t something I can handle alone. It’s not even my specialty. I’ve stayed away from demons. But I think I know how to do it. Now it’s just a question of pulling it off.” She sounded a lot more confident than she looked, and I was starting to think that trying the exorcism first was the best plan.
“Getting help is probably a good thing,” I said, “though I might have found us an alternate plan. I talked to a priest who is willing to try an exorcism.”
“An exorcism?” She considered it. “You know, that might even work. I had been going about it from another direction, but your way actually sounds feasible. But, I don’t know—that’s an awful lot of demons to try to exorcise. Of course, it’s an awful lot to try to bind and banish, so who knows?”
“Tell you what. Why don’t we try the exorcism first? Maybe we’ll get lucky. If it doesn’t work out you can step in and try the banishment.” Before she could come up with a counterargument I tried a distraction. “Oh, hey, I got to meet Jonathan Powers!”
She just stared at me. “And you’re still alive?”
“Yeah. It seems like he’s now decided it would be easier to bribe me than catch me. He offered two hundred and fifty grand in exchange for the urn.”
“And you told him no, I hope.” This came from the other room. I figured Megan had been listening.
“No, but I plan to. I told him I needed a day to consider his offer. I figured it would buy us some time.”
“Good thinking! Hey, do you think he’ll still want it after all the demons are gone? That’s a lot of cash,” said Lacey.
“Somehow I doubt it.”
“Yeah. Too bad. Maybe a museum, though, huh?”
“Worst case, there’s always the Internet,” I suggested. “People will buy anything there.”
“Good point! So where did you dig up a priest who will perform an exorcism, anyway? The phone book?”
“No, it’s a guy Toni knows. We just have to hope he gets the okay to do it. He’s supposed to call me later tonight to let me know.”
“’The ‘okay’? He has to ask the Pope or something?”
“Nah, his Pack Alpha or whatever. Some guy named Rodriguez.”
Megan was standing in the kitchen the next instant. I didn’t even see her move. All of a sudden, there she was, arms still crossed.
“So now you’re involved with two packs? Are you crazy? Why do you think Father Allen will help you? And why should Rodriguez let him? Not only is it a dangerous thing to try, but it’s sure to piss off Jonathan Powers.”
“I don’t know. Father Allen seemed pretty reasonable to me. I think he understands what this thing is, and why we can’t let anyone who might be willing to use it get hold of it. Hopefully he can convince Rodriguez of this, and he’ll give the okay. You know, for the benefit of humanity or whatever.”
She snorted, indicating that she would believe it when she saw it. “Fine. At least it’s Rodriguez and not Quan, but both of them are bad news, Chance. You can’t trust them. For all we know, they’ll take the urn for themselves and try to use it, or even sell it back to Powers.” I was going to say something, but she held up her hand to stop me.
“Even if they go along with it, the chances are that it will probably fail. And if by some miracle it succeeds, there’s no guarantee that they won’t turn on us once it has.” She was slowly starting to calm down. “We’re going to have to be careful. We might need to bring in Donovan.”
“Um, you think that’s a good idea?” asked Lacey.
“I don’t see that we have much choice, if Chance is insisting on bringing the weres into this. If they turn on us, we won’t have a prayer. We’ll need backup.”
“Look, I don’t think they’re going to try anything. Toni was reasonably sure we could trust them with this, and she’s not even in the same pack.”
“Oh, Toni was sure? That bitch can die in a fire as far as I’m concerned!” So much for calming down. She whirled and stormed off into her bedroom.
I looked at Lacey, who shrugged. “You said the T-word. Bad move.”
Megan stormed back out a couple of minutes later, having completed a miraculously fast wardrobe change. She was now wearing a black dress that I wasn’t sure could stand the scrutiny of the state’s decency laws. She paused in the kitchen and glared at me, making sure I got a good look at what I was missing, then finished her march out to the garage, calling over her shoulder, “I’m going out for a bite. Don’t wait up!” before slamming the door behind her.
Lacey winced at the sound.
“What’s her problem? I mean, I know you said there is this rivalry with the werewolves going on, but this is kind of a bit much, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, but what are you going to do? It’s like the Hatfields and the McCoys. Well, actually, I think the two werewolf packs hate each other as well, so it’s more like the Hatfields, the McCoys and the ot
her McCoys.”
“Damn, you’d think they would have killed each other off by now, if this is any indication.”
“It’s not. They usually just snipe at each other. Do their best to cause each other discomfort, but not outright hostility. It’s been a long time since that has happened.”
“See, that’s what I mean. I haven’t spent a lot of time with the werewolves, and Megan is the only vampire I’ve ever actually talked to, but with the exception of Megan and Toni, they just don’t seem all that mad at each other. So what’s going on?”
“Oh, Chance—don’t you see it?”
“See what?”
“Men can be pretty dense. What are the two common denominators you just mentioned?”
“Vampires and werewolves?”
“Think smaller. Prettier?”
“Megan and Toni.”
“And what do they have in common?”
“They hate each other?”
“And why is that?” I looked blank. “Well, let me give you a clue. They didn’t really hate each other until very recently. What they had was more of a rivalry. Kind of like head cheerleaders from rival schools, you know?”
“Yeah, I guess. So what happened?”
“They got interested in the same thing. They’re competitive.”
Oh. Oh, shit. Now I saw it. Sometimes I was slow on the uptake, but I usually came around eventually. Lacey saw the light dawn on my face and smiled sadly.
“But, c’mon. I’m not that special. Okay, yeah, I’m a pretty good catch”—I puffed up a little—“but let’s be honest here. They’re both gorgeous, and it’s not like I have that much going for me. Up until recently I hunted the supernatural, which you have to admit isn’t a plus in this case. I have vampires trying to kill me, I have the head of some mega-corporation who will try to kill me if I don’t accept his bribe, I’m broke, I’m homeless, and I drive a Miata. These girls can go find rich politicians or actors or something.”
“So, let’s recap. You’re attractive,” Lacey caught my pleased look and added, “if you’re into that type. You’re dangerous; you have a mysterious past; you have job prospects, even if you have to possibly give a megalomaniac the keys to a doomsday device to get them; you’re not tied down; and, well, okay, so the Miata I can’t do much with, but otherwise you’re punching all the right buttons.”
I couldn’t help it; I stood a little taller as I digested what Lacey said. “To be fair,” she continued, and I deflated in anticipation of what was coming, “it’s not a very big playing field. You’re kind of like the new kid in a really small school.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you know how the supernatural community frowns on people knowing about us? That limits the pool, at least for any serious relationship. Oh, you can always find someone outside the community and turn them, but you have to take the gamble—you know, that they will want to be turned and not hate you for eternity after it’s done for taking away their life, friends, family.”
“I get it. Not a lot of prospects, so it makes me look pretty good.”
“Yeah, to a point. But honestly, you’re a good guy. And they’re both angling for the catch.”
“So, you’re saying Megan is pissed off because I spent time with Toni.”
“Yup. And I’m sure Toni is jealous because you’re hanging out with Megan. They mate for life, by the way.”
“What? Who does? Vampires?”
“No, werewolves. Just thought I’d warn you before you do something really stupid. I mean, even for you. No offense.”
“You telling me Toni’s a virgin?”
Lacey snorted. “Not likely. I don’t mean sex; I’m talking about a real relationship. Once a werewolf chooses a long-term mate, it sticks. They don’t change their minds. No divorce.”
“Oh, come on! I was just flirting with her. She’s hot. She gets flirted with a lot. I guarantee it. It doesn’t mean she’s chosen me for her mate!”
Lacey just shrugged.
“Seriously, are you telling me that Megan doesn’t flirt? I mean, she flirts with me.” At least, I thought she did; she could have just been one of those touchy-feely people. They always did confuse me.
“Of course she does—she’s a vampire. They’re flirty by nature.”
“Right. Flirty by nature, so she flirts with everybody. She probably doesn’t even like me, so I don’t see what the big deal is.” Even as I said it, it kind of bothered me. I wasn’t super happy to think that I was just another guy she toyed with.
“I didn’t say that; I just said she likes to flirt.” She paused and looked at me. “In fact, I think you manage to thump our little vampire’s heart. And that’s something I haven’t seen happen before. So, the question is, now what are you going to do with her? And, Chance, think before you decide. She has fangs.” And I could see that could be taken a couple of different ways.
Father Allen called, interrupting the awkwardness. I answered the phone and could hear the sound of old-school rock and roll and pool balls clashing together in the background.
“Chance?”
“Hey, Father Allen!”
“Good news, son. Rodriguez said I can try the exorcism, but he wants to meet with you tomorrow and talk it over to review logistics.”
“Oh,” I said, disappointed. I was hoping we would actually do this thing tomorrow, preferably before I had to give Powers a decision.
“Good things come to those who wait, son,” said Allen. Then he laughed. “Seriously, kid, I wish we could act faster. But we need to make some preparations. This isn’t something we just jump into feet first and hope for the best. We have to plan.”
There wasn’t much I could say to that, especially after what happened the last time I jumped into something feet first without planning. I had lost enough friends this week to last me a lifetime.
“Yeah, okay—when?”
“Why don’t you swing by Midnight Cycle around noon?”
“Okay, I’ll be there.”
“Take care, son.” He hung up.
“Looks like he’s going to do it,” I told Lacey. “I just need to meet Rodriguez tomorrow to work out the details.”
“Okay,” she said. “What time are we meeting him?” At my look, she said, “Oh, there is no way you’re getting out of this house alone to meet werewolves again. From now on, consider yourself chaperoned.”
“So, you ever had a real Southern breakfast?” I decided to distract her with food before she decided to return to our previous topic of discussion—relationships.
“What’s that?” Megan had conditioned her well to accept sudden topic changes.
“Homemade biscuits, gravy, eggs, sausage, the works.”
She shook her head.
“No? You’re missing out. Tell you what, how about I run to the store and pick up a few things, and I’ll cook breakfast tomorrow. While I’m out, I can find a hotel.”
“That’s a bad idea.”
“Really? You haven’t even tried it.” I found the idea that Lacey could think any food was a bad idea rather hard to wrap my mind around. “Um, okay. I guess I could make pancakes instead.”
“Oh, no, the Southern breakfast thing sounds awesome! You staying in a hotel, however, does not. Megan would really kill me, and I think she’s right. We need to stick together, at least until this whole thing with Powers and the urn is taken care of. You can sleep on the couch.”
“All right. Hey, do you think I could borrow your car? I’m not sure I want to try carrying all of the groceries on the bike.”
“Yeah, sure. Keys are in my purse on the counter. And, Chance, hurry up at the store. Don’t not be here when she comes back, okay?”
“Will do.”
So I did. The nearest store was less than ten minutes away. Bryan had left a message, so I called him back while I drove. He said that he had gone through the conversion van that was still parked in our trailer park where I had left it.
He’d grabbed a few things
that he thought I could use and wanted to know where to send them. I told him there was no way he was going to mail me hardware, and he said not to worry; he’d only send clothes and stuff. I worried, but against my better judgment, I told him I would see if it was okay to use the girls’ address and that I’d get back to him.
I ran into the store and grabbed the ingredients for breakfast plus a couple of pints of ice cream—I learned long ago that when a girl is mad at you, having allies in her camp can’t hurt.
I stopped by one last section of the supermarket before heading back home. The whole trip took under thirty minutes, and I even swung by a drive-thru on my way back. I was starving. I picked up an extra meal for Lacey. I assumed that the empty pizza box I had found was Lacey’s dinner, but the thought of walking in with my dinner and not bringing her something seemed unsafe somehow.
I shouldn’t have bothered to hurry back. Megan wasn’t there. I asked Lacey if it was okay for my brother to send me a care package at their place. She didn’t see why not, so I reluctantly called Bryan and gave him the address.
Lacey and I finally retired around one in the morning, and there was still no sign of Megan. Lacey got out some spare blankets and a pillow from the linen closet. Before going to sleep, I went to the car and retrieved the card and rose I had picked up on the way out of the grocery store. I wrote a note to Megan and left the card and flower on her pillow.
It took a while for me to get to sleep. The last time I’d checked the time on my phone, it was almost three. I told myself it was nerves because of the day ahead, but it might have been a little bit of something else, as my mind kept drifting back to Megan and where she might be.
Chapter 18
We pulled up to the driveway just after dawn. The gate stood ajar, the padlock twisted off and discarded in the dirt. The house was some distance down the gravel drive, so we pulled the van in just enough not to draw attention from the road, then grabbed our gear, got out and headed toward the ranch.
Chance in Hell Page 13
