I looked at Ian. Those eyes of his were disconcerting. “Ever thought about wearing sunglasses or something?”
“I will not hide who I am with some flimsy human trick,” he said flatly.
“Okay, then. Moving on.” I let out a sigh. Yeah, it probably wasn’t the best idea to throw in with a couple of strangers who had unknown magic and could be invisible, and one of them was an ex-thief. Besides their names, we didn’t know shit about them. I’d definitely never heard of the djinn. The idea that they were genies, even if that term was offensive, seemed flat-out nuts. Like, crazier than Chester Rigby and his aliens. But we had to stop this killer. And right now, these guys who’d literally appeared out of thin air were our best shot.
Taeral would probably go along with it if they could prove they really knew something. He just wouldn’t like it very much.
“You say the guy we’re looking for is a djinn, right?” I said. “How do you know that?”
Donatti looked at Ian before he answered. “Well, we’ve been hunting down evil djinn for a while now,” he said. “You know, stopping them from taking over the world, shit like that.”
“They want to take over the world?”
“Only two of them, so far.” He gave a faint frown. “Anyway, a friend of ours with … certain connections heard about this mass slaughter with a bunch of people torn apart, and all their blood drained. That’s a thing for some djinn, something we’ve seen before. Blood magic. It’s nasty stuff.”
“Sounds like it,” I said.
He nodded. “And it usually means they’re up to no good, because it’s powerful as hell. So we decided to check it out. Ian’s wife—”
“Do not mention my wife, thief,” Ian snarled. “I do not trust this ha’wa.”
That set Taeral off. “What did you call my brother, you overgrown dog?”
“Dog! I am a—”
“Come on, Ian,” Donatti said sharply. “You know we can’t do this alone. We don’t know this city, and we’re out of leads. Besides, Akila said she’d kill me if I didn’t bring you back in one piece.”
He bared his teeth, and then relented and looked away with a snort.
Donatti shook his head. “Sorry about him,” he said. “He takes a little getting used to. What I was trying to say is, Akila scryed the source of the power behind these murders, and it’s definitely djinn magic. Unfortunately, she couldn’t see the actual killer. He’s got some strong protection spells going, and a bunch of humans hanging around that he’s using as shields — and weapons.” The spasm of fury that passed through his features said he didn’t approve of the human shield tactic.
I liked him for that. And I knew he was telling the truth, because I hadn’t told anyone except Taeral and Sadie about the half-naked war paint guys. Those had to be the humans he’d mentioned.
“All right. I’m convinced,” I said. “And I think we’d better work together, before more people die. Taeral?”
His expression suggested he’d rather pour hot lava down his throat. “Fine,” he said with a sneer. “But I still say there is no such thing as genies.”
“We are even, then,” Ian shot back. “I do not believe in fairies.”
“Just keep him away from me,” Taeral snarled, stalking to another part of the room.
I looked at Donatti, and he shrugged. “Old and cranky,” he said.
“Yeah. Mine, too.”
At least the two of us had a few things in common.
CHAPTER 12
Donatti looked around the obviously cleared-out room, at the bare shelves and empty tables and occasional loose papers. “What are you looking for down here, anyway?” he said. “How’d you know this place was here?”
“I’ve been down here before. Milus Dei used it for storage,” I said.
“Yeah, about that Milus Dei thing. Still doesn’t ring a bell.”
“Oh, right.” I frowned and moved toward a utility shelf, idly pushing it aside. Looked like a regular wall behind it. “They’re this big worldwide cult, and they hunt down Others. Non-humans. They capture us, torture us, take us apart — try to find out what makes us tick, so they can kill more of us.”
Donatti gaped at me. “What do you mean, us?”
“I mean anyone who’s not completely human,” I said. “Me, Taeral, our friends and families. You guys, if they ever found you.”
“Impossible,” Ian said. “No human could hold a djinn.”
“Yeah, that’s what every Other thinks, the first time they hear about it. We’re magic, they’re not. Simple, right?” I met his stare evenly. “Except they know how to deal with magic. They’re well-funded, well-connected, and absolutely ruthless. If they aren’t sure how to stop you, they’ll just shoot you as many times as it takes, until you go down and stay there. And then they really go to work.”
He looked marginally uncertain. “The djinn are immortal.”
“So are the Fae. But they still held Taeral’s father — well, our father — for twenty-six years, and would’ve killed him if we hadn’t gotten him out in time,” I said. “Maybe you wouldn’t die, but how long could you keep fighting after someone pumped two hundred rounds into you?”
“I can tell you how long. About two minutes,” Donatti said. “Remember the mountains, Ian? Because I remember the mountains. Both times they gunned you down.”
Ian regarded me with a curled lip. “I suppose you may have a point, boy.”
“Don’t call me that.”
The viciousness behind my own words surprised me. I didn’t mean to sound quite that angry … but Orville had called me that. I couldn’t remember ever hearing my actual name leave his mouth. And when he said boy, I’d learned to expect pain. Lots of it.
He raised an eyebrow, and then nodded slightly. “Very well. Gideon, is it?” he said. “Perhaps you are not the frightened mouse I took you for, after all.”
“Aye, and perhaps you are not the all-powerful genie you claim to be,” Taeral called as he came across the room, kicking a table on the way. It slid against the nearest wall and cracked into three or four pieces. “You’ve claimed the ability to scry,” he said. “So why doesn’t the dog simply scry what we’re looking for?”
“My strengths do not lie in scrying, fairy. Perhaps you could try sprinkling some magic dust about.”
“Right there,” Donatti said loudly, with a pointed look at Ian.
When he had everyone’s attention, he walked over to a wooden bookcase set against the left-hand wall. “If there’s a secret anything down here, like the door at the top of the stairs, it’s behind this,” he said. “Guaranteed.”
“And how would you know that?” Taeral drawled.
“Because I used to be a thief. Got pretty good at finding the best hiding places.” He grabbed one edge and pulled hard. It didn’t move. “See? This is the only fixed piece in here,” he said. “Of course, it’ll be locked. So we just have to find the mechanism.” He crouched and started feeling along the sides of the case.
I walked over to him and gestured at the bookcase. “Oscaihl.”
There was a loud click as the unseen lock pulled back.
Donatti tilted a look at me and grinned. “Nice trick,” he said. “Usually I have to pick the locks.”
I grinned back. “It does come in handy sometimes.”
Together we pulled the edge of the bookcase. It didn’t come easy, but as it scraped across the floor, the wall came away with it. Behind it was a dark space, and a bulky shape I couldn’t quite make out on the floor.
Donatti looked at me. “You can magic a light, can’t you? Or was that your brother?”
“No, that was me. De’ársahd.”
My pendant glowed, revealing a thick cardboard, lidded carton, a little taller and wider than a standard file box. “Well, Redfield did say he was looking for files,” I said. “I’d guess those are it.”
“Who’s Redfield?” Donatti said.
“The dead guy.”
“Oh.” He looked abou
t to say something more, but he just shook his head a little and lifted the lid from the box. There was a laptop just inside, and beneath that, a row of thick files packed in so tightly that they distorted the rigid cardboard. “Looks like this’ll take a while to go through,” he said. “Should we do that here?”
“Nah,” I said. “We’ll bring this stuff back to the Castle.”
Donatti blinked. “You guys have a castle?”
“Well … sort of.” I glanced at Taeral. Right away, I knew he didn’t like what I was thinking. But I said it anyway. “We do have plenty of room, if you and Ian want to crash there while we’re looking for the bad guy.”
Taeral groaned. “Really, Gideon?”
“Yes, really,” I said. “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 13
When I pulled into the front yard at the Castle where I usually parked, Ian was out of the van almost before it stopped moving. He went out the back, leaving the doors open, then walked briskly away and stopped in the middle of the yard with his back turned.
I turned to look back at Donatti. “What’s his problem?”
“Er. He doesn’t exactly like riding in vehicles,” he said. “Not since I kinda drove a windshield through his stomach the last time.”
“How’d you manage that?”
“I hit a moose.”
“Oh.” Well, at least we weren’t the only ones leading interesting lives. “Taeral, can you bring that file box inside?” I said.
Taeral huffed a breath and sank lower in the front seat. “For the record, I am not at all pleased with this situation.”
“Duly noted. Box?”
“Fine.”
“Thank you.” I pocketed the keys, reached for the door handle, and glanced through the windshield as sudden motion near the Castle caught my eye.
Belatedly, I realized that I probably should’ve called ahead and warned Sadie we were bringing company. The idea came right about the time she rushed out the door and promptly went wolf.
And charged straight at Ian.
Before I could shout a warning, Ian started glowing. Within seconds, he was a bright white, changing shape. Then the glow vanished … and he was a wolf, too. Not a two-legged tower of fur and fangs and muscle like Sadie’s were form, but an actual wolf. Except he was far bigger than any wolf I’d ever seen.
It happened so fast, Sadie was already at his throat before I could so much as get Taeral’s attention.
He noticed on his own.
Without a word, he banged the door open and jumped out. At the same time Donatti dove for the back. I finally got my door open just in time to see Ian’s wolf bat Sadie aside — with a huge strip of his flesh still clenched in her fangs. Impossible amounts of blood sprayed from his throat.
But it didn’t even slow him down. He lunged, twisted in mid-air and tore the ground up as he rushed at Sadie.
Taeral had gotten halfway to the fight when Donatti grabbed his arm hard and jumped in front of him. “Don’t get between them,” he said. “I don’t know who she is, but Ian won’t kill her. And she can’t kill him.”
“I will kill you,” Taeral said in a low growl. “Out of my way, pup.”
Donatti didn’t move. “There’s no need for anyone else to get hurt.”
“The only one who’ll be hurt is you, if you’ll not stand aside.”
I couldn’t decide who to try stopping first. While those two yelled at each other, Ian had just batted Sadie halfway across the yard. As he loped toward her, the white glow enveloped him again. He was in human form when were-Sadie sprang to her feet and sliced his stomach open with her claws.
Just as I was about to cast the everybody-freeze spell Taeral had tried to use at the church, Ian let out a growl and hit Sadie with a fierce uppercut. She yelped in surprise as she flew up and back, crashing hard into the ground.
This time Ian just stood there, panting and bleeding.
“Sadie!” Taeral shoved Donatti aside and ran to her.
Christ, what a mess. The minute anyone showed further signs of aggression, I was hitting them with a lockdown. But since no one was fighting right now I decided to save my magic for healing. Sadie was already coming around. She’d probably be fine. Werewolves healed fast, and Taeral would help.
Ian was a complete wreck. Soaked with blood, flesh shredded. But he didn’t seem to care about any of it.
Donatti looked more angry than concerned. He approached Ian with stiff steps and stopped in front of him. “Are you going to calm down now?” he said. “Because if you don’t, I’ll leave you like that. Swear to God I will.”
Ian’s lip curled. “She attacked me!”
“Yeah, and she obviously lives here. You don’t.” Donatti shot me an apologetic glance and turned back to Ian. “Now sit down, so I can heal you. And stop being a giant asshole.”
I could see Donatti knew how to handle Ian, so I headed for Sadie and Taeral. At least we didn’t have to worry about Sadie’s clothing issue anymore. For quite a while, this was about the time we’d have been scrambling to find something to cover her up with, since her clothes got ripped to shreds when she changed. But with the moonstone collar that the Mirror Mender made for her in Arcadia, she could generate glamour clothes.
Technically she was naked right now. It was just that no one could tell.
Taeral had eased Sadie off the ground, and she watched me approach with a puzzled stare. When I reached them, she said, “He punched me.”
“Aye,” Taeral said. “And I’ll destroy him for it.”
“No, don’t. Most guys aren’t willing to punch me. I kind of respect him for that.” She let out a whole-body sigh. “I take it they’re with you, then.”
“Unfortunately,” Taeral ground out.
“Yeah, we brought them here,” I said. “So what prompted the attack?”
Sadie grimaced. “Eli said he smelled badmen. So I came out here, saw a stranger, and drew the obvious conclusion. Didn’t even notice the van.”
“Well, that’s a little troubling.” It was probably nothing. Earlier today, Eli had insisted the toaster was trying to kill him. The poor guy’s head was more than a little scrambled — through no fault of his own. But it did make me wonder who, exactly, the ‘badmen’ really were. “Anyway, these guys definitely aren’t Milus Dei.”
“So what are they?” Sadie said.
I glanced back to find Donatti and Ian heading toward us, and lowered my voice. “They’re djinn. Which I guess is a fancy word for genie.”
She almost choked on a laugh. “You’re kidding.”
“They claim to be, at any rate.” Taeral helped her stand, and she wavered on her feet for just a second. “Are you all right, a’ghreal?” he said.
She gave him a smile that would’ve made me blush. “I am now.”
There was a throat-clearing sound behind me. “Ian is sorry about that … er, ma’am,” Donatti said.
“I’m Sadie. And it’s all right. I mean, I did start it.” She looked from him to Ian. “So, you’re a genie?”
“Djinn,” I said, at the exact same time as Donatti.
“Whatever. Hey, if you guys found him, who gets the three wishes?” She cracked a slanted smile and rubbed her jaw. “Because I wish I’d known whose side you were on before I attacked you. Hell of a punch you’ve got there.”
“I do not grant wishes.” There was considerably less venom in Ian’s voice when he spoke to Sadie — and Taeral definitely noticed. His eyes practically sizzled. “However, I do apologize for engaging you in that way.”
“Actually, I should be thanking you,” she said. “I happen to think I’m pretty good in a fight, but … you could’ve killed me. Couldn’t you?”
Ian gave a careful shrug. “I would not have.”
“Well, thanks. And who’s your friend?”
“This is Gavyn Donatti. They’re here to help,” I said. “That killer we’re looking for? He’s a djinn, like these guys.”
Ian’s jaw clenched. “I assure you, th
is djinn is nothing like us.”
Taeral somehow managed to refrain from making a smartass remark, even though I could see he wanted to.
The unexpected brawl seemed to drain most of the animosity from everyone, at least temporarily. No one protested when I said we should go inside. I jogged over to the van, grabbed the file box, and still made it to the door first.
Grygg stared impassively from his station at the desk as I walked in with the others filing behind. I nodded at him, since my hands were full. “Hey, Grygg.”
His face moved a fraction toward scowling. “Are these strangers welcome?”
“Holy shit,” Donatti said. “You have a talking statue?”
I had to bite my tongue so I wouldn’t laugh. “Actually, he’s a golem,” I said. “They’re all right, Grygg. We invited them.”
Grygg made a sound like grinding stones. That wasn’t his happy sound. But he let everyone pass without comment.
We made it all the way into the parlor before Eli poked his head over the back of the big couch, squeaked “Badmen!” and dove back down.
“I’ve got him,” Sadie said. She patted Taeral’s arm and headed for the back of the room.
I put the box on the table by the window and looked at our guests. Ian stood by one of the bookshelves, staring at nothing in particular. Donatti came up to us with an expression more serious than any I’d seen on him yet. “I guess that wasn’t the best introduction,” he said. “And I’m sorry I got in your way, Taeral. But the truth is, I’m glad your woman there roughed him up.”
Taeral’s brow lifted. “Is that so.”
“Yeah. Sometimes a good fight’s the only way he’ll calm down. It’s hard to explain,” he sighed. “He was a warrior, a long time ago. Then — well, shit happened, and he’s stuck here. Pretty much forever.”
Ian didn’t seem to hear a word Donatti said, but Taeral’s expression softened. Just a little. He definitely understood warrior and stuck. “I suppose no harm’s been done, though he may have bruised Sadie’s ego.” One corner of his mouth lifted. “I accept your apology.”
City of Secrets (The DeathSpeaker Codex Book 5) Page 5
