by Sarah Blair
Sidney shook her head. “I didn’t get a chance.”
“So, what the hell is going on? Dimitrius called me down here. He called me.”
The words just wouldn’t come out. How could she break the news about what happened to the chief? In his own way, for his own reasons, Williams cared about Mitch as much as she did. It was probably better for him to know sooner rather than later. Except, if everything was fine, she didn’t want to worry him for nothing. Saying it out loud made it real.
“It’s bad, isn’t it? Just tell me,” he said, then his attention diverted to something behind her.
She didn’t have to turn around to know it was Malcolm standing there. His shadow completely engulfed her own. She felt him like a mountain at her back. It was reassuring and awkward all at the same time.
“Ms. Lake, Mr. Williams, best you come inside. Quick as you can.” His voice rumbled low like thunder over a loch. “Ain’t safe out here.”
Thirty
The blonde assistant led them down a stairwell to the basement of Dimitrius’ building. The place had originally been the main police headquarters, and a door halfway down the hall and down a shorter flight of stairs opened into a small tiled morgue with a drain in the middle of the floor.
Banks directed the placement of the bodies into a set of nine stainless steel drawers filling the back wall. It had probably been quite a while since any of them had been occupied let alone nearly filled to capacity. The small room barely held the crowd as Dimitrius, his Highland friends, and a beautiful blonde man Sidney hadn’t seen before gathered around an autopsy table.
The assistant paused before heading back upstairs. “Will that be all, sir?”
Dimitrius nodded. “See that we’re not disturbed.”
Mitch took a spot at the back near the cabinets with his arms tucked across his chest, his gaze fixed squarely on the body bag.
Sidney found a spot near the foot of the table, between Williams and Dimitrius.
“I’m not sure we’re all fully acquainted,” Dimitrius said. Introductions went around, and when it came time for the blonde man to meet Sidney, he took her hand.
“Tyran, at your service.” His eyes sparkled like a glacier in the sun. He was built smaller than Argus and Malcolm, but taller than Dimitrius. His features held an intense and quiet command.
Argus crossed his arms, refusing to look anywhere but the drain in the floor.
Dimitrius cleared his throat and nudged him.
The man with the beard stepped forward. He took her hand and bowed at the waist. She wasn’t quite sure how he accomplished it in the small space, but he managed.
In a voice as rough as his calloused palm, he said, “Argus, at your service, my lady.”
His beard scratched as he pecked a kiss to her hand.
“Umm, you guys realize this is all super weird, right?” Williams said. “Anybody care to explain what the hell is going on?”
Banks unzipped the body bag to reveal the hybrid in the red hoodie.
“Ohh. Woah. No warning? Just BAM. There it is.” Williams glanced up toward the ceiling. He cleared his throat and swallowed hard.
Banks nodded to a jar of menthol ointment on the counter.
“There’s menthol rub if you need it,” he said.
“I’m cool. Just, maybe a heads up next time?” Williams cleared his throat again.
“Fair enough.” Banks nodded.
“All right, what the heck is this thing and why was there a parade of body bags just now?” Williams asked. “And why are you guys making out with Lake’s hand?”
This was normally when the chief would step up and use his FBI voice. Sidney waited for it, but it didn’t come. He stayed in the back, leaning against the cabinets, his gaze stuck on the body.
“I’m sure there will be a time to explain the answer to your second question, Mr. Williams. But for now, there’s the more pressing matter of this body and why it’s here, along with the others.” He turned to Sidney. “Ms. Lake?”
“This guy followed me to my apartment earlier. He told me the reason he looks this way is because he was bitten by a werewolf, then given an experimental drug to change him back to human. Only, it didn’t work.”
“Well, that’s a giant load of stinkin’ horse shit,” Argus said.
“Careful, brother,” Malcolm soothed.
Sidney glared at him. “I’m just telling you what he told me.”
“An’ I’m tellin’ you there ain’t no way this bastard was bitten by a werewolf, because we here killed ‘em all.” Argus’ chest rose and fell like a bellows. “ALL, I say!”
“And what if we didn’t?” Tyran asked quietly.
“I’ll be damned, if I let one slip through MY fingers!” The small room could barely contain Argus’ voice. “Those wiley bastards. We got all of ‘em. Every last one, I swear it on the Mother Goddess herself.”
“Malcolm,” Dimitrius said.
“Aye. Come on, brother.” Malcolm urged his brother to the stairwell. “Let’s go have a pint or two and see if we can’t figure it out.”
Dimitrius remained expressionless as the two Highlanders pounded up the stairs. He didn’t speak until the door clicked shut behind them. “You’ll have to forgive him, please. Argus takes our mission quite personally.”
“We all take it personally,” Tyran said.
“Of course,” Dimitrius said. “Perhaps he’s simply the most vocal about it.”
Tyran ran his hand through his pale curls. “And how exactly did we miss one?”
“What difference does it make?” Sidney asked. “Figuring out how it happened doesn’t change the fact that it did. What’s important is stopping them now, once and for all.”
“Sidney, did he ever say who made the vaccine they tested on him?” Banks asked.
“No, he only said I was the key. He was ready to turn me over in exchange for a cure.”
“That’s why they wanted to take you?” Dimitrius asked.
“It all happened so fast, I have no idea why they wanted me.” Sidney sighed. “But what if he was right? Somebody out there is working on a vaccine for this. What if I can help? What if I can fix this somehow?”
“And do what exactly?” Mitch pushed away from the wall and joined the circle. “Hand yourself over to these guys so they can treat you like a Rhesus monkey? I don’t think so.”
“But if I can help—”
Mitch cut her off with a shake of his head. “Not like that. It’s out of the question.”
“If we could at least find out who was working on the cure, that would be something.” She pointed at the body on the table. “He knew who was behind this. He knew enough that they killed him before he could say anything else. They never wanted to cure him, they only wanted him dead.”
“Too bad we can’t just ask him,” Williams said.
Sidney stared at Banks. “We could.”
“Could what?” Williams said.
“Ask him.”
“Dude, he’s dead.”
“He doesn’t have to be,” Sidney said.
Banks finally caught on to what she was saying. He straightened up from the body and took a step back. “Oh, no. No way.”
“What supplies would you need?” Sidney asked.
“Nothing, because it’s not happening.”
“Sorry, what the hell are you two talking about?” Williams asked.
“Nothing.” Banks shook his head and gave a pointed look to Sidney.
“Banks is a necromancer. He could bring him back and we could ask him.”
“Not happening. First of all? I can’t. Even if I could, I wouldn’t. And even if I would, we don’t have what we need. If we had what we needed it still wouldn’t work because half his brain is splattered all over your apartment.”
“It’s our only lead. If we try and it doesn’t work, fine. But we have to try.”
“Shit.” Banks somehow managed to turn the word into two syllables as he stared at the body.
“To start with? The four elements: earth, air, fire, water. So, we need some dirt, a candle, holy water. This is way easier in a cemetery.”
Sidney hiked her thumb at Dimitrius. “He smells like dirt. Does that count?”
“Dirt?” Dimitrius canted his head.
“It’s not a bad thing,” Sidney shrugged.
“I don’t think that counts,” Banks said.
“Are we seriously going to bring this guy back to life?” Williams jumped in. “Like, a werewolf zombie?”
“No, because it’s not going to work,” Banks said.
“It will work,” Sidney insisted. She squeezed her eyes shut and concentrated on figuring out a solution. “How about this? I’m a Pisces. Williams is a Leo, and Mitch is a Libra. We just need Earth.”
Dimitrius raised his hand. “Virgo.”
“This is seriously not even close to how this is supposed to be done, you know that, right?” Banks said.
“We don’t have time for a scavenger hunt.”
“At the very least, I need some salt,” Banks said.
Dimitrius turned to Tyran, but he was already in motion. He disappeared up the stairs just as Williams spoke up again. “You don’t need a blood sacrifice or something do you?”
Banks hitched up his shoulder. “Why don’t you ask the lady in charge?”
“Do we need to step into the hall for a minute?” she asked.
“Are you gonna hit me?”
“Maybe.”
Banks smoothed his expression out and headed up the stairs with Sidney on his heels.
She paced down the hallway, then turned and came back while he leaned against the wall. “Okay, I don’t know that much about necromancy, but what I do know is that it runs in your blood. You carry the power within you. The ritual of it all is just to help you get in the right frame of mind. Those objects don’t actually mean anything. You can do this, you just have to believe you can.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking me to do, honey.” Banks kept his voice low. “Last time I tried this, it was a disaster. Maybe I got the blood, but I don’t have the talent. Not by a long shot.”
“I know exactly what I’m asking you to do.” She stopped in front of him, toe-to-toe. “I’m asking you to do your part to save Mitch.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What exactly happened in your apartment today?”
She thought about the answer to that question, and the image of Mitch kneeling on her floor flashed into her mind. Her eyes stung when she remembered how he’d saved her without even thinking about the danger to himself. He would do anything for her, and now she had to do everything she could for him.
“One of those things bit him.”
“Good, Lord.” He sagged heavily against the wall. “Okay, I’ll do it. Just, please don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying.”
“Liar.” Banks gave her a half-hearted version of his smile at the same time Tyran returned with the salt.
“This is all I could find.”
“That’ll do.” Banks took the leather pouch, similar to the one at Dimitrius’ club, and turned to Sidney. “I sure hope you know what you’re doing.”
She shuffled down the stairs after them. “It’ll work.”
He paused with his foot on the bottom step. “But do we really want it to?”
Sidney didn’t have an answer for him. All she knew was that Mitch was running out of time and this was their best chance to get a lead.
“Okay, you four come over here around the body. One on each side. And make sure fire and water are across from each other, and wind and earth are opposite each other. Not that it matters I guess, but it feels right,” Banks said.
They took their places around the table and Sidney stared across at Williams.
“Why do I get the feeling this is going to cause me permanent nightmares?” he asked.
She shrugged. “At least he’s not a demon koala.”
“Once we begin, everyone should stay inside the circle.”
“What happens if we don’t?” Williams asked.
“I’m not sure. I’ve never done it like this before.”
“Super.”
“Get a grip, Williams.”
“What?” He loosened up his shoulders like he was getting ready for a boxing match. “You know I babble when I’m nervous.”
Banks reached into the pouch and laid out a thin circle around them. “All right. Everybody take hands. Let’s get started.”
Thirty-One
“I don’t suppose there’s any chance you might have caught his name?” Banks asked.
“David Anderson.”
“Well, that’s something at least.”
The bond between her and Dimitrius coiled up and around her forearm like a snake wrapping around a tree branch. She shivered and squeezed Mitch’s hand tighter. It was hot and dry, or maybe hers was just cool and clammy. She tried to remain motionless, but it was difficult as the binding worked its way up her right arm and melted into her core.
“How long is this going to take?” she asked.
“It’s too late for a bathroom break, if that’s what you’re asking,” Banks said.
Sidney took a peek at Dimitrius to see if he was experiencing the same sensation. He stood still, his eyes focused on the table. She couldn’t tell where her hand ended and his began. It felt as if he was an extension of her own body. On her other hand, Mitch’s grip was like stone, his fingernails digging sharp into her skin.
“What information do we need?” Banks asked. “The more specific, the better.”
“We need to know who told him there was a cure for his condition. What did he mean when he said I was the key? Who tried to kidnap me?”
“Okay, okay, three questions might be pushing it. He only has half a brain anyway. Let’s just hope his speech isn’t affected.”
“Shouldn’t we be wearing some kind of protective gear? Those teeth are pretty sharp.” Williams edged away.
“Watch out for the salt,” Banks said.
“How did I end up this close to his head anyway?”
“Shut up, Williams.”
“Okay. Nobody talk. I have to concentrate.”
Sidney bowed her head slightly so she didn’t have to look at Williams. Silence descended on the room. Banks sucked in a deep breath and blew it out through puckered lips.
Everything settled. The air in the room stilled and grew thick, as if it had substance. Magic licked her skin and raised goosebumps on her arms. It was a different feeling than what passed between her and Dimitrius, different from what she’d felt around the demon.
“We have gathered the elements of the earth together to bring David Anderson back from the realm beyond,” Banks said. His voice was a few tones deeper than it had been a moment ago. “David Anderson. I call thee forth. Rise and speak.”
The sweet smell of honey and fresh mint leaves filled the room. It was so thick she could almost feel it drizzle across her skin. No one moved or spoke for what felt like an eternity. Sidney held her breath as the mix of two different powers swirled around and through her.
Banks opened his eyes. “I told you—”
“It’s working,” she insisted. “Call him again.”
The necromancer gave her an exasperated sigh, straightened his shoulders and held his palms out toward the body. “I call thee forth, David Anderson. Rise and speak to us.”
The hybrid creature on the table jerked once, as if it had been touched by an invisible defibrillator. Williams jumped too.
“Don’t!” Banks said at the same time Williams took a step back. The rest of them moved sideways, dragged by his momentum. “I told you, don’t step outside the salt.”
“Aw, dang.” Williams turned and looked at the floor. “Sorry, that was creepy. He moved!”
“That was the point, genius,” Sidney said.
“I know, but it’s different when it actually happens.
Besides, I didn’t think it would work.”
“It didn’t, thanks to you.”
“I said, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t get how important this is. It was our only chance to save the chief.”
“Lake,” Mitch warned.
“The chief?” Williams frowned. “I thought you were the one they were trying to snatch up. What do they want with him?”
Sidney let her hand drop away from Mitch’s and motioned to the hybrid. “This David Anderson guy came to my—”
The body on the table sat straight up, and sucked in a noisy breath. The mouth worked open and closed like a puppet, showing off exactly how long and sharp those canines really were. Eyes rounded open wide, with the bullet hole in his forehead making it look as if he’d blossomed a third.
“Sweet fancy Moses!” Williams yelled.
Sidney took a step to the side, her body lined up with Dimitrius. The bond strengthened between them, spreading down into the very tips of her toes. They were one and the same. A force united. Anything seemed possible in that moment.
“Why did you come to my apartment?” she demanded.
A sound leaked out of the thing’s open mouth, something between a growl and a scream. Williams shuddered and shrank against the wall.
“Who sent you?” Sidney asked again.
The thing pivoted its head toward her slowly. That ugly sound grew louder, a continuous groan that didn’t seem to end. Her heart thudded in her chest, but she didn’t back down.
“Why am I the key?”
The thing lunged at her. Dimitrius grabbed its neck and held it back with one hand as if it was nothing more than a squirming puppy. Claws flailed. Jaws snapped. Tyran stepped forward and twisted the head all the way around with a crack. The body fell limp on the table again, head dangling loosely off the end.
“I should have worn Depends,” Williams whispered.
Sidney ripped her hand away from Dimitrius. It stung the same as if his flesh was made of duct tape.
“Ow!” She cradled her arm against her chest. As the bond broke between them, a feeling of emptiness flooded in. It crushed her from the inside, and she felt like she was back in Mitch’s bathroom, confused and hopeless, with nothing left to do but scream at the world. “What the hell were you doing?”
