by W. J. May
And, that was it. That was all he was willing to give me, and his answer only fueled my need to know rather than put a damper on it. What choice did I have? I had to accept his silence.
A thought came to me then, and I sat up straighter in my chair. “What about Lilah?”
He stared at me quizzically but gestured that I should continue. I told him about the demon encounter. A look of understanding passed over his strong features.
“And, what do you want to know about her?”
“For one, how the hell does she have that kind of control over a demon? Just how old is Lilah anyway?” I was being snoopy, but I was dying of curiosity. I’d seen what she did to that demon, and I wanted to know how it was possible.
Veryl smiled in amusement, and I felt like a childish student. “There is more history to that woman than you can imagine. Though it’s not my place to reveal her business, I can tell you that not many things in this world have authority over demons. She is just one of the few that does.”
Wait a minute, only angels have authority over demons. That and other, more powerful demons. Considering Lilah was a vampire, I doubted she was angelic.
“She’s a demon?”
“Is, was, whatever you prefer. It’s not something that should be common knowledge. I’m sure you understand.” The phone on his desk rang, and he looked at it pointedly before meeting my eyes again. Yeah, yeah, I can take a hint.
I went back down the hall to my own office but left the door open so I could hear the doorbell. My mind was working in overdrive as I replayed the image of Lilah’s quick dispatch of that demon. Who, or what, was she, exactly? How powerful could she possibly be?
I hit play on my voicemail. Two new clients requested a meeting, and the client that I was currently waiting for confirmed.
I was pretty sure she was a vampire, not only from the time-honed, silky voice but also the late hour of the meeting. I seldom had a vampire as a client. They tend to take care of issues with a personal touch, so I was intrigued.
I was clicking through my email inbox when the door chimed. I turned off the monitor, and I went to greet my latest potential business associate. Through the peephole, I saw a dark haired woman. She appeared to be alone. I didn’t sense anything out there but her, and she was definitely a vampire. I slid the two dead bolts back and opened the door.
“Miss O’Brien?” That angelic tone poured forth from her as I grasped her offered hand.
It was tiny, smaller than my own but icy, cold, and strong. She had a grip that bragged of inhuman strength, yet she was gentle, careful not to squeeze too hard. She was a very delicate looking woman, petite with a ballerina’s figure. Her dark brown hair, almost black, was layered so that it fell stylishly around her face and shoulders. She had a small but cute nose and strong cheekbones. A long black dress coat covered what looked to be a party dress. Her shiny, silver high heels gleamed in the bright overhead lights.
“Please, call me, Alexa. Come inside.” As I stepped back to allow her entry, I felt strangely as if I knew her from somewhere.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me on such short notice. I truly appreciate it.” She clasped my hands suddenly in her own as if to convey her gratitude. It startled me, and I took an involuntary step back.
“I’m sorry,” she said, a pale hand covered her mouth. “I didn’t mean to intrude in your personal space.”
“That’s alright.” I resisted the urge to wipe my hands on my jeans. She could know neither the extent that I felt her undead power nor how it tickled me in places that couldn’t be scratched.
I turned to lead her to my office and said, “Have a seat, and I’ll see if I’m able to help you.”
She froze at the entrance to my office door. Her eyes darted down the hallway to where Jez was working. The door to Veryl’s office was now closed. Jez’s music continued to scream down the hall at us.
“My partner is working down the hall, in her own office. Everything you say here, including your visit itself, is strictly confidential.”
A wave of anxious energy trickled from my guest to me, and I was surprised that she’d let it escape her. She hadn’t fed yet, which worried me. Vampires are much easier to talk to after they’ve taken care of their carnal urges.
Once she sat down, she began to relax, but a tightness in her shoulders told me that she was anything but calm. Her coal dark eyes peeked out at me from beneath a fringe of bangs. Her eyes were as black as Raoul’s and striking against her alabaster skin.
“I must apologize, again. I haven’t properly introduced myself. Please, call me, Cat.” When I frowned, she supplied, “Catherine. It’s short for Catherine.”
I wondered why she preferred the shorter version, but I pressed my fingers together and asked, “So, what can I do for you, Cat?”
Despite possessing the grace and skill of her vampirism, I could easily feel her sudden anguish. I was concerned but not alarmed. She should shield better than that. I was perplexed. She was powerful enough to squelch such displays. Vampires don’t exhibit a lot of emotion, particularly not around strangers.
“I’m not sure how to begin, Alexa. I’m a little overwhelmed here. I’ve been waiting so many years for this.”
I leaned back in my chair, in an attempt at casual, and said nothing. I didn’t dare read her aura like I wanted, knowing she would feel it. She took my silence as an invitation to continue.
“For several decades now, I have searched the western world for a particular vampire, the one who made me. I have finally found him and would request your services in extinguishing his undead flame permanently.” Her words came in a rush as if she’d practiced them on her way over.
I noticed how her grip tightened on the armrests of her chair. “And, what did this vampire do that makes you want him dead?”
Cat’s lips pressed together tightly. I could only imagine what she was seeing in her mind’s eye. When she spoke, her words only formed with determination. I could sense her effort.
“He loved me and left me to die. I was a fool to believe his lies, but they sounded so beautiful. I wanted so badly to believe in him. He said we were to be together forever. Until the day that we were attacked, and he left me behind to save himself.” Ouch. Cat looked as if she might cry. She bit at her lower lip, and I could see the tiny points of her fangs for the briefest of moments.
“Just say whatever you need to say. Don’t force yourself.” I slid a box of tissue across the desk to her. I didn’t know what else to say.
Cat clutched a tissue tightly between polished red fingertips and attempted to give me a smile. “Thank you.”
She blinked a few times, and the vampire control was back. “It’s still emotional for me. I really thought he loved me, but then when our house was under siege, he escaped through a passage that he had never told me about. He arranged the entire attack as a way to get rid of me. I never imagined such betrayal was possible.”
Her voice broke then, and I saw the weakness in her, oh so well. I’d never seen a vampire look so beaten. It wasn’t in their nature.
“Why would he do that? Do you have any idea?” I shrugged and brushed a stray blonde strand away from my face. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say.”
When she met my eyes evenly again, I could see the pain etched in the depths of her ebony gaze. “He had no use for me anymore. I think he regretted turning me. I was no longer any more than a forgotten play thing.”
The guy sounded like a total prick. I was shocked by what I was hearing. It just sounded so selfish and cold. But, I mean, we were talking vampires.
“And, what about the blood bond?” A shiver ran up my spine as I flashed back to my own recent bonding experience. “Could you not reach him that way?”
“Not at all. He shut me out completely. I’ve never been able to breach the block.” That was interesting. This vampire must be incredibly powerful.
“Alright, so what is it that brings you to me, specifically?”
“I hear you’re the only werewolf in the civilized world to possess some of the vampire’s attributes. After looking for so many years, I’ve finally found him. Here.”
She knew about me. Word was getting out, and that worried me.
“And? You really want me to take him out?”
“Isn’t that what you do?” She looked at me like I’d just told her the place was an ice cream shop.
“Yes, but I have a few general rules. First, you must fully understand that you’re asking me to kill him. Another, you must really want irrevocable death, not simple retribution. Finally, my final decision is entirely based on my personal discretion.”
Instead of replying, she slipped an envelope from inside her coat and pushed it towards me. “Is that enough?” She was all business. “I can get you more if you need it. I wasn’t sure how much you would charge.”
With a brief glance, I estimated twenty-five thousand dollars in cash. “No. It’s plenty, but Cat, you must realize that I can’t just randomly kill. I need more information on this guy.”
She dropped a large manila file folder on my desk with a thwap. “Everything you need to know about him is in there. If that’s not enough to earn him a death sentence, then I don’t know what is.”
Something triggered in me, and I looked more closely at her. “May I ask why you don’t confront him yourself?”
She looked as if I’d slapped her. Her face paled as much as it possibly could, and her mouth dropped open. Recovering quickly, she cast her eyes downward.
“I could never. I have neither the courage nor the will to kill him myself. I loved him so deeply. To look into his unfeeling eyes after all this time may be too much for me to take. It’s been so long.” Her tone grew wistful as if her mind went to a happier time in her life.
I used her distraction as an opportunity to flip open the file folder, but the instant that I saw the photo on top of the sheaf of papers, I froze. I could barely keep my heart rate from soaring. I pulled the folder closer so that I could get a better look at the black and white picture.
It was old. From the style of dress, it appeared to be way before my time. The photo itself was from a wedding. Bridesmaids wore their hair in high curls and posed in extremely large skirted gowns. The bride, an unknown beaming blonde, smiled up at her handsome husband as he kissed her upturned hand. My eyes quickly skimmed over the groomsmen, each dressed in the same black suit with fringes of white lace peeking from beneath the cuffs. But, the groom held my attention.
Though his black hair was very short and he wore the same suit as the others, I stared at Arys while he happily fawned over his new wife.
I realized then I had recognized Cat from his memories. What in the hell?
“That was the most recent photo I could find of him.” Cat said as she noticed my intent stare. “I think he started using a new alias shortly after killing her.” She gestured at the photo in my hand, and I dropped it.
“And, what was his name when you knew him?” I murmured, as I fought to tear my gaze away from the picture. It mocked me from where it sat as surely as it mocked Cat. I was feeling both stupid and thankful. Thankful that I didn’t take Arys’s blood, didn’t complete a blood bond with him. I’d fucked up enough without linking us mentally.
“His real name is Sindarys Ainsley Knightingale.”
“Knightingale?” I heard myself say.
“An old family name. They were royalty once, or so he said.”
She didn’t continue, and I chewed my lip. “And, you’re sure that you want me to kill him?” My voice squeaked, and I hoped that she didn’t notice my unease.
“I don’t suppose you’d rather bring me his naughty bits in a jar?” The faintest of smiles played around her lips, and I forced a small laugh.
“I’m sorry, Cat, but you sound like you still love him.” I almost stopped when I saw her face fall. “Do you really want him dead?” Please say no, I chanted inside my head.
“I love who he pretended to be. But, I accepted long ago that was never really him. He’s nothing more than a lying, womanizing murderer who thinks of nothing but himself.”
I nodded slightly. I could agree with some of that. She looked like she was about to say more, but her mouth snapped shut, and she shook her head.
After a long moment, she sighed and said, “He needs to die so that I can finally escape him. He haunts me constantly, and I would give anything in the world to make that stop.”
I could sense the weight on her, feel the burden she carried around with her, but I didn’t know why. Was her hurt really never going to heal?
Was I really thinking that? If I were in her place, I would be on the hunt for blood, too. But I’d want to do it myself.
“Look Alexa, I appreciate your time, but I really should get going. I’ll understand if, for any reason, you don’t take the case.” She stood, and I held the cash envelope out to her. She counted out five thousand dollars and forced it into my hand.
“Keep it. Read through the file and tell me what you think. I’ve included a few pages from my journal. It seemed better than reciting the past in detail.”
I closed the folder and accompanied her out. “I will definitely read through everything and get back to you. But, I can’t accept your money.” I had difficulty swallowing around the growing knot in my throat.
“Please, I insist. Something for your time at least.” She refused to take the bills when I tried to give them to her.
When she was gone, I sank against my desk in relief. What in the world would she think if she knew that I’d been in the arms of her traitorous ex only two nights ago? I felt sick.
“Holy shit,” I said aloud to myself. I had to look at the photo again.
I had accepted jobs like this before. Vampires were monsters, and no matter what the situation, they usually gave me just cause to kill them. I kill rogues and eliminate problems. It’s what I do. But Arys? I just couldn’t do it.
I was still staring at the black and white, elegantly dressed Arys when Jez appeared in the doorway of my office.
“Hey, I heard your client leave. You want to grab a bite to eat? I haven’t eaten in hours.” She rambled casually, but when she saw my expression, she snapped her mouth shut and came closer. “Are you ok, Lex?”
“Hell no.” I handed her the picture and waited for her reaction.
“This is Arys.” She let out a low whistle. “He cleans up pretty good. Where did you get it?”
“He’s my new target, if I decide to take the job.”
“You’re kidding.” Her eyes never left the aged image in her hands. “You didn’t say no?”
“I didn’t know how. Jez, he left her for dead. I couldn’t very well tell her the truth.” I sighed and held the file folder open for her to drop in the picture. “She left a bunch of dirt on him that I really don’t want to know.” Besides, everything was already hidden in my memory now. I didn’t really want to access it.
“But you’re going to read it anyway.” There was no question in her tone.
I nodded. “She paid me to. She also said she’d understand if I don’t take the hit. And of course, there’s the whole curiosity aspect.” I shrugged, and we fell silent.
After a moment of eyeing me, Jez cleared her throat. “Do you think there’s anything in that folder that will change your mind about taking the hit? I mean, it may very well solve your little energy bonding problem.”
I met her mischievous green eyes and found no trace of humor within them. She was dead serious.
“You’re an evil woman, Jez.”
“So I’ve been told.” She produced a set of car keys with a loud jangle. “Let’s go eat. I’ll buy.”
Chapter Twelve
The radio DJ spoke of sunshine ahead for the rest of the day with a chance of showers overnight, perfect sunroof weather. With it slid wide open, I cruised the streets with the summer breeze in my hair. The scent of rain was light on the air, hours away yet.
My bag, with Ca
t’s unread file, sat on the passenger seat. I had yet to work up the gumption to read even the first page. I just wasn’t ready yet.
Not only that, but I was on my way to see Raoul. First things first. He’d left half a dozen messages on my home machine after finding my cell phone voicemail full. Nothing linked him to either murder, but he was having kittens over the whole thing nonetheless.
I still wondered if he wasn’t being melodramatic or putting on some kind of act. He wouldn’t normally come undone, but I suppose if my exes were dropping like flies, I might be worried, too.
Somebody had it out for him, though, and I wanted to know why. That seemed like a better question than whom. A number of people could have a grudge with Raoul, and they would most likely be completely justified in it.
All too soon, I stood on Raoul’s front step and crossed my fingers in the hope that he would have stepped out. The door swung open unexpectedly, and a large hand jerked me inside before I could blink.
My wrist stung where he grasped it, and I glared up at him until he let go. I rubbed the sore spot and frowned. I don’t react well to being manhandled.
“I don’t want anyone to see you here. They would probably just think I’m going to murder you and have the police here in a heartbeat.” When I just gave him a suspicious look, he added, “I didn’t kill anyone.”
“Well that line is sounding more convincing every time I hear it, but if Belle is going to be your key alibi, consider it an open and shut case.” I wrinkled my nose at Belle’s heavy, lingering perfume. “Is she gone?” I couldn’t sense her physical presence, but I had to be sure.
“Yeah. I asked her to leave before I called you.” Raoul ran a hand through his disheveled hair. He looked tired. The dark circles beneath his eyes indicated he hadn’t been sleeping well.
“I want to help you, Raoul, but we’re running out of time here. No more games. Tell me who you think is doing this.”
