And crave power
He looked up at Neko briefly, the expression on his face unreadable.
At home in the dark
Are those whose flesh is thin
Beware their true nature
And that of their kin.
“Is that all?” asked Neko, her mind attempting to process the words’ meaning as quickly as possible, as a feeling of dread washed over her.
“No.” He reached back into the box, where a rolled up piece of parchment still sat. “Animal skin,” he said, flattening it in his palm. “Preserved, somehow.”
“Another message?”
“Yes.”
Again, Lumen began to read the note, its ink deeply embedded into the skin’s surface:
“It is to the Hunter to seek. Only she can find it.
Do not delay the search.”
Separation
Neko’s fingers dug hard into Lumen’s shoulder. Dizziness had sprung on her again, but this time something else accompanied it: the nausea that accompanies profound fear.
Lumen placed the stone slab on the grass and, finding a largeish rock, smashed it into powder before scooping its contents back into the box, which he sealed and returned to its resting place. He eased the lion back down on top of the opening once again. No one would see it again, not in this century.
“What does it all mean, Lumen?” Neko asked as he rose to his feet. The mention of the Hunter was particularly disconcerting. Who had written the note, and how did they know about her existence?
“I don’t know. Not yet,” he said, taking her hand. “Come, we need to get out of here.”
“Back to the station, then?”
“No,” said Lumen. “That’s too dangerous.”
Neko understood. The same dread was gripping him that had overtaken her, and neither of them felt safe in this place any longer. It was as though they were being watched, but by whom, she didn’t know.
Once again she sniffed the air, and once again, that strange, sweet aroma came to her. An enticing scent, luring her in and repulsing her at once.
She backed up, letting his hand go as she moved away. Watching him shift into his brilliant silver Dragon, its scales fluid under the light of day, reflecting her image back at her. For a moment she felt as though she could see all of the fear and apprehension etched on her face. As deep as the words that had been carved into the slab of stone.
The Dragon turned his head, his aqua eyes looking to her. Communicating silently as though to tear her away from her troubled thoughts.
“Climb on,” he said, the voice echoing in her mind.
She did as he asked, and a second later the creature was arcing gracefully into the sky, Neko’s hands pressing gently into his neck. His movements were predictable now, her seat confident on his back, as though his déor form were merely an extension of her body.
In her mind she repeated the last phrases Lumen had read: It is to the Hunter to seek. Only she can find it. Do not delay…
They were high over the city already, Lumen’s wings spread wide, his body reflecting clouds, sunlight, everything that hung in the sky. Rippling with beauty like the ebbing wake of a crystal lake.
“You know what it means. You’re the Seeker, Neko. It’s telling us that you’re the one who must find the piece. Though I don’t like it one bit. I don’t want us to split up.”
“But if we must, we must—I thought you trusted in destiny and fate.”
The Dragon let out a huffing laugh as he went.
“Sure. When destiny dictates that you should be my lover, I’m all for trusting it. Not when it seeks to take you away from me.”
“Ah, I see how it is now.” For a moment she even managed a laugh. High in the air, they were together again. Safe. Invincible, untouchable. One being.
“Yes,” he said. “I think you do.”
* * *
Lumen flapped his long wings slowly, occasionally allowing himself to glide, the wind flowing over them both as though they were sheltered by a protective shield of warmth.
Aside from a few distant airplanes, the sky was clear. No Dragons. There hadn’t been any above London in a few days; not since Conlon’s murder. But more disturbing was the ongoing absence of the Lapsed.
I’ll take you home, he told her. To our hiding spot.
It only took a minute to reach Hyde Park. Lumen circled once over their hidden lake, his eyes scanning for threats. But all was quiet. Why hadn’t the enemy trailed them today? Where were Umbra’s pets?
The sick sensation was rising up in his gut that somehow, he and Neko were indeed being followed, whether he could detect it or not. Monitored. That Umbra knew where to find them each step of the way, and that he would strike only when they’d found what they were looking for.
Added to that the note dictating that it was to Neko to find the Relic, and Lumen’s every protective instinct was kicking into high gear. She could be in grave danger.
But there was more, as well. The verses, carved into the small stone slab’s surface: Hidden from those who seek blood And crave power…Those whose flesh is thin…Beware their true nature.
Could it be that the threat was far greater than he’d thought?
What is it? Neko’s voice penetrated his thoughts, reminding him of her newfound powers as he hovered over Hyde Park, contemplating his next move. Lumen, are you all right?
Yes, I’m fine.
He dove downwards, landing them on an open grass field. Two locals walking their large black dog stopped and looked inquisitively towards them: the beautiful silver dragon, the woman slipping off its back, her hand stroking its neck affectionately before it transformed into a tall, muscular man.
But eventually the couple turned away, going about their business as though they’d simply witnessed a squirrel gathering nuts.
“You don’t seem fine,” Neko said as they began to walk towards their small lake.
“I’m thinking,” he replied. “Trying to piece things together.”
“Anything I can help with? I can work on the verses…”
“Yes,” he said, turning towards her. “I’d like it if you would. Try and work out the clue about the watchtower, would you?”
“Of course.”
“I’m going to leave you at our place, and head off to speak to the Guild. I need to ask them a few things.”
Neko tensed, and Lumen knew instantly that his proposal wasn’t sitting well with her. Easing a hand around her waist and drawing her against his body, he growled playfully, “Then I’ll return and we’ll make sweet, passionate love all night long.”
A smile. Good.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come?” she asked.
“No—you’re still adjusting to everything going on in your body. I think you should rest for a little.”
“What about you? No changes yet?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t yet been tested. It’s possible that there will be no real change, I suppose. All that I can say is that since we were…together…in carnal bliss, I’ve felt even more possessive of you. More protective, even, than before. I feel a little selfish, as though I’ve claimed you for my own.”
“Well, you have.”
“True. But I would not try to control you, Neko. Just remember that. You are still the amazing, independent creature that you were yesterday.”
“I know,” she said, giving him a sly sideways glance as they began to walk again. “I’ll still threaten to stick a knife in you if you piss me off too much. I promise.”
“Good. Don’t you dare change.”
By now they’d come to the lake’s edge, and Lumen turned her way again. “You can do this part on your own now,” he said, planting a kiss on her forehead.
“I can?”
“Look for the opening,” he said.
She stepped forward, standing among the reeds, and peeled them apart. All of a sudden she saw it: a shimmering, mirror-like point that seemed to call out, reflecting her face back up
at her.
“Only we can see this?” she asked. “And use it?”
“Yes. Only we can. Once you’ve headed in, I’ll take off again. I’ll be back before too many hours have passed.”
“Okay.” She gave him a final smile before stepping into the mirror, allowing herself to slip downward, trusting in the strange magic of their home.
And then she was gone.
* * *
Neko landed on the cushions, the softness of her fall eliciting a smile of pleasure and comfort. There really was a magic to this place, to this world. And she was beginning to feel it in her bones. Lumen’s effects on her had been mental as well as physical; he’d brought her a sort of inner peace, her skepticism in the world fading.
Though a healthy dose of cynicism still rose up in her from time to time. She hadn’t become Little Mary Sunshine overnight, after all—no matter how beautiful it had been to make love with him.
She stood up, looking overhead as the exquisite Dragon’s shadow took off, heading for the Guild headquarters under Hampstead Heath.
He’d wanted her to lie down, to rest. But thoughts eating away at her mind meant that she wouldn’t be able to even consider relaxing. And after all, he’d told her that he didn’t want her to lose her sense of independence. So perhaps she could make herself useful, rather than lie around like a lump of useless woman.
The last lines that Lumen had read to her had dictated that it was up to her to uncover what they were looking for. Not their duty—hers alone. The Hunter’s.
And so maybe his departure had given her the opportunity she needed.
Striding down the long underground hallway past the bedroom door, she headed for the round room that Lumen had shown her twice now, its walls covered in doors. Portals to locations throughout London.
When she arrived, she noted that the first on the left was the one that they’d used to get to the cul de sac and the pub. The Syndicate offices were north of there, and east. And so, doing a quick and hopeful calculation, she opened the door third from the right and stepped through.
It was time again to go and see Bertie.
Truth and Consequences
After a twenty minute walk, Neko came at last to a narrow stone staircase, leading up to a source of bright light. As she climbed, she could see a busy street ahead, people darting to and fro at a frenetic pace. She stepped outside, pausing for a moment to sniff the air. May as well put this new sense of smell to use.
The scent of freshly baked bread came to her, a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg in the mix, and she recognized its source immediately: Lorenzo’s Bakery. She was mere steps from the Syndicate’s tower headquarters.
She turned around, assessing the façade from which she’d emerged. This time it was a shopfront, and oddly enough, it looked as though she’d come right through its window display. A mannequin stared down at her, wearing a gaudy, low-cut sequined dress. Designed for a woman who had no shame whatsoever. Well, at least it would be easy to locate her later, when the time came to return home.
It took only a half minute or so of walking before the Syndicate’s tower came into view, its sand-blasted exterior gleaming clean in the light of day. At its top, the large round windows reflected the day’s occasional bursts of sunlight, interrupted by frequent clouds. It was really a gorgeous structure, its height giving the Syndicate the ability to watch over the city, sentinels in their own right.
She walked towards it, offering one final sniff to assess the location for threats. No hint of Vail or any Lapsed. Good.
“Hey, Neko!”
The voice was a woman’s, lilting and pleasant. Neko stopped in her tracks, swivelling to see who it was. Relief hit when she realized that its source was friendly indeed. It was Beatrix, a Hunter she’d come to know in her early days with the Syndicate. She was slightly older than Neko, but similar in build. A specialist in Asian weaponry, she was astonishingly accurate with her blades. Something in her jovial nature seemed contrary to the chosen life of a killer, but then humour was a good antidote to the pain associated with what their kind did on a daily basis.
Though Beatrix’s official title was Hunter, it was known through the Syndicate that she occasionally doubled as a Hash, if the price was right. Scruples were not high on her priority list.
Bright red hair betrayed her Scottish origins, and freckles dotted a pretty face. Neko registered for a moment how different she looked from Tryst, the lone female member of the Dragon Guild. In spite of the similarity in hair colour, everything else seemed opposite. Beatrix was all smiles and light, whereas Tryst was surrounded at all times by a dark, daunting energy.
As her colleague approached, Neko realized something she never had before: Beatrix smelled of lavender. The benefit—or curse—of being the mate of a Dragon shifter was that she could now identify her friend’s body wash. Somehow, the revelation felt invasive, as though she’d opened a drawer and rifled through the other Hunter’s collection of panties.
“Trix, how are you?” she asked, smiling. It was good to see a friendly face.
“Fine,” the other Hunter replied, stopping just outside the tower’s doors. “Life was very busy for a few weeks, but things seem to have slowed down. Like the city’s gone quiet—Dragons disappearing from the air, and nary a Lapsed to be seen.”
“Yes,” said Neko, “things have been oddly quiet, haven’t they?”
“Though something else has happened—outside our normal jurisdiction.”
“Oh? What’s that?” Neko found her curiosity piqued. She swallowed hard, wondering if word had gotten out about what she and Lumen had done to Vail in the lavatory.
Beatrix leaned in, speaking in hushed tones. “Bodies,” she said. “Discovered this morning, only a few blocks from here.”
“Lapsed?” asked Neko.
“No. Human. That’s the weird bit.”
A jolt of anxiety struck Neko’s chest. This wasn’t good news. “Humans? Who the hell is killing them?”
Trix shrugged, seemingly indifferent to the situation. “Dunno,” she said. “But it’s unusual, to say the least. It’s probably some psycho. The police will look after it. Scotland Yard is on the case, I should imagine.”
“I suppose,” said Neko, distracted by the thought of police roaming London’s streets. “Listen, I should head upstairs—I want to see Bertie.”
“Oh, you won’t find her in her office at the moment,” said Trix.
“No? Where is she?”
“She went off to investigate a little. The bodies got her all curious. I suppose she itches for her blades every now and then. It must be difficult, being a retired Hunter. Most of what she does these days is administrative work, and I suppose she likes to get her feet wet now and then.”
“Jesus. Bertie shouldn’t be running off on her own,” said Neko. “It’s dangerous. Where do you suppose she headed?”
“She said something about Beggar’s Alley. I dunno—I suppose she’s just out for a sniff around. I wouldn’t worry too much about it.”
“Still, London’s not so safe these days. She should have brought someone with her.”
“No shit,” Trix replied. A sly grin formed on her features. “Oh my God, I nearly forgot—did you hear what happened to Vail?”
Neko tightened, her stomach clenching. I saw what happened to him. “I—” she began.
“He got jumped by some street thugs. One of them sliced right into his hand and stole his wallet. He won’t be holding a knife for months, the wanker.”
Neko raised her eyebrows in mock surprise. “Wow,” she said, breathing a hidden sigh of relief. “I never saw that coming.”
“Neither did he, apparently,” Trix chuckled. “The bastard deserved it though. I don’t know about you, but he’s been trying to infiltrate my trousers for months. It’s about time someone kicked his sorry arse and taught him a thing or two.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
“Oh hey, speaking of strange occurrences, Bertie mentioned tha
t you’d befriended a Dragon.”
“I…” Damn it, Bert. Keep my private life private. “I have, I suppose you could say.” Or you could say that I’ve given myself heart and soul to him.
“What are they like?” Beatrix’s eyes were wide open, a look of childlike wonderment to her expression. So strange that a woman could be so experienced and so innocent at once.
“You haven’t met one?” asked Neko.
“No. Only observed from afar, admiring. But I’m curious to know what they’re like in their human state.”
“They’re…intimidating. Charming. Difficult to read.”
“So, sexy as all fuck is what you’re saying, then.”
“Yes. Sexy as all fuck.”
“Well, hopefully one day you can introduce me to one. I enjoy a sexy man.”
“And I’m sure they enjoy you, too. I will introduce you, and soon,” Neko said, smiling. “Listen, I should head out and look for Bertie. I’ll do some checking around, see what I can find and report back, yeah?”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“Nah. I’ll be okay. You keep an eye on this place, would you?”
“Sure thing. You be careful.”
Neko turned and headed away from the tower, fingers handling one of her daggers already. “I always am,” she called over her shoulder.
* * *
Instead of seeking the doorway that would lead her back to the underground flat, Neko began to walk east towards an area known to be populated by a large homeless crowd.
Lumen wouldn’t be happy that she’d left their temporary home, not to mention that she was off on a new, self-imposed assignment. But somehow Neko felt compelled to look into this new development. The verse that she and Lumen had uncovered beneath the lion statue had talked about those who need blood…or seek blood…or want it. Something. It had thrown her at the time, but now that she’d learned of the string of killings, it seemed too much to hope it was a mere coincidence.
Dragon Hunter Box Set: A Dragon Shifter Serial Page 18
