They fed on negative emotions which was why I had been trying to keep those feelings hidden, but when someone would bring up the harm of the man I was in love with there were no guarantees. I swallowed down the rage, but I knew the demon inside of her had to have seen it already and would use it. I took a deep breath in and let it out, composing my features and my body just enough to where I felt the anger could no longer be sensed because of my body language, but even I knew it was too late for that now.
“We don’t have time for this. The Vatican is already on its way to snuff you out so either you tell me what you know now, or when they come in I’ll make sure you aren’t just banished back to Hell, but that you are gone for good. You understand what I’m saying?”
Constance slammed her open palm down on the metal table, the sizzle of the iron burning her hand, but the demon held it there. It was torturing the poor woman inside and smiling the entire time with glee.
“Don’t you dare threaten me, hunter. I can make your life a living Hell before this is all over and not even have to raise a finger,” she yelled, leaning back in her chair as her hand still sizzled on the table top. “I have only heard whispers, but know nothing other than that. Whoever is responsible is staying quiet about their endgame so I guess you’ll just have to figure it out on your own. As for that nasty politician, you may want to look into him. We all know how politicians are, but I have a feeling you know better than any of us, don’t you?”
“Who hired him?” I asked, knowing I would more than likely not get an answer.
“You already know the answer to that question, but I don’t suggest asking me for confirmation, Van Helsing. There is only one that can help you now since no demon will speak to you. I have to admit, even I have grown tired of your questions. Speak to Eshu at Club Three-Two-Five. That is the only help you will receive from me.” She removed her hand from the table, holding it up into the air with palm facing me. It was burned so badly there were blisters, and she would have to be bandaged, but I had one more question that I was sure they’d answer.
“Alright, well, I do have one more question.” I paused and took in the demon’s expression. Slightly curious, but not enough to show it, only a raised eyebrow any hint of interest. “Did you make Mrs. Rillieux raise that zombie or did you just see the open doorway and jump right through it?”
The smile on her face only grew, turning into an evil grimace that turned the air in the room cold.
“I guess you’ll never know, hunter. Now will you?”
The chill in the air turned into an arctic cold that caused us to be able to see our breath as we exhaled and I decided that the interview was over. I stood in my chair and leaned on the table, putting my face mere inches away from the old woman, the demon so easily peeking through those dark eyes.
“Have fun with the Vatican tomorrow. That part wasn’t a threat. They are going to come here and condemn you back to the Hell you came from, and good luck clawing your way back out, you piece of scum. With any luck, they’ll push you down so deep that you won’t even be able to see God’s grace anymore.”
Her eyes flashed, a small sparkle of the woman the demon had taken over shimmering through, but overtaken quickly by it once again. I left the room with Agent Stephenson on my heels, leaving the beast to think about what I had just uttered. I had meant what I said. No one realized this, but demons could see the grace of God from where they lived in Hell, always able to see it, but never touch it or feel it. That was the true torture of Hell. Amber eyes and a stern expression met me on the other side of the door with Lacour standing close behind.
“Is it rilly necessary tae bait it loch that?” McGrady asked in that tone he had when he was about to lecture me about my practices.
I turned to look at Stephenson, who looked visibly shaken, never having dealt with the supernatural before now. She wouldn’t cut it in the Initiative as far as I could tell.
“Yes, it is. It’s one of the few ways to get anything out of them.” I pointed toward the door that Stephenson was now leaning against.
“Och aye, but ye did’ git soom answers?”
“No, but I did get a name, and that’s good enough for me. And it mentioned Richards, which just confirms his involvement. We can learn more from Eshu and go from there.”
“Why did you not tell me you suspected James Richards had a hand in this?” Agent Stephenson voiced, surprising us all that she was able to pull herself out of her shocked state to become the agent I had met again.
“I wasn’t sure you could handle this side of things, and I believe I was correct,” I answered. “There is no way Agent Stephenson is cut out for this.”
“Well, that’s a shame Izzy,” Warden Lacour cut in. “Because the FBI wants her on this case and wherever you go, she goes. She’ll learn to handle it quickly enough.”
“God damn it,” I whispered under my breath. This entire situation was bad enough, but now I was going to have a fed on my back.
Things were just getting better and better.
Chapter 12
As we left the Initiative’s Maximum Security Lockup I called Leeland’s to check on the progress of my weapons. Thomas told me that it had all arrived safe and sound, and the chips were installed. I could pick them up anytime I wanted.
“Actually, I was about to call you to tell you they were here,” he had said.
Stephenson was in the backseat fidgeting with her fingernails, and I was trying incredibly hard not to turn around and tell her to stop because she was annoying me. I had liked her even after I could say this was something that she couldn’t do with confidence, already shaken with fear after just one encounter. Now that I was stuck with her after expressing it I didn’t like her so much, and I was hoping she would stay out of my way while I did what I needed to do and she learned from it, maybe one day being able to take on this type of work. I wasn’t going to get my hopes up. She could make a great addition if she managed to pick up the work and run with it, but I wasn’t sure if she could. Her first run in with the supernatural wasn’t exactly awe inspiring. And that demon had been a walk in the park compared to what I’ve heard about others.
We pulled up to the shop and walked in, Thomas coming to meet us with excitement when we entered. He was practically giddy as he saw us and took in our new companion.
“And who is this?” he asked as he looked Stephenson up and down. He wasn’t checking her out. His gaze was suspicious. In our line of work, you couldn’t be too careful.
Stephenson stuck her hand out, and he took it, shaking it in the most professional manner he knew how working with government agents every day.
“I’m Special Agent Miranda Stephenson,” she introduced herself as she grinned at Thomas. His excited demeanor was truly infectious, causing me to be just as happy about new addition as he was.
“Oh, FBI. Interesting,” he said with mock surprise. He knew this was coming. I had a feeling, especially since they were crawling all over the area like cockroaches in suits. He turned his attention to me and took one of my hands in his, the warmth of his skin taking away the chill of my most previous spiritual encounter. “Now, Izzy, I have something special for you. If you all will follow me to the back.”
We followed him, stopping at the counter since we had never been asked behind it before and he kept going as if we had continued to do so. I heard him laugh from behind the wall and come back around the corner, ushering us to follow him into a new world we had never seen before now. The world of someone who made weapons for a living and was damn good at it. I was nearly giddy myself about the prospect of seeing the world he worked in.
“Welcome to my lair, where I work and live. No one has ever been taken back here before so consider yourselves highly privileged.”
I didn’t even know what to call anything I saw on this side of the wall, but what I did know was that the f
loor was covered in that rubbery material you found in most gyms to avoid breaking things if you dropped a heavy weight. A lot of the equipment did look heavy enough, so I guess I understood the need for the unique flooring.
“Ah tak’ it ye have somethin’ stoatin fur ‘er if we’re allowed back hur,” McGrady guessed as we followed Thomas toward the very back of the large space.
“That I do, my good sir,” Thomas shouted excitedly as he came to stand in front of three black cases. One of them looked just like the one the sword I ordered had come in, and the other two were smaller version with one slightly larger. “Gather around good sir and ladies.”
We stood before Thomas and the cases, only McGrady, Thomas and I knowing what was inside them.
“Agent Stephenson looks like you get a little peek into what life as one of us looks like,” I said, looking at her on the other side of McGrady, having to lean past his broad chest to see her. “No one really gets to see this besides us.”
“And this is?” she asked, a tone in her voice that told me she was unsure about the entire thing.
“Ye git tae see a Van Helsin’ hold their chosen weapons fur th’ first time. An’ afair ye ask, it’s a big deal.”
I took a deep breath and stepped toward Thomas as he opened the larger case, taking a step back so I could look into it. Peeking into the case, it was just as I had imagined it. A sleek, slender blade with a hilt and handle made out of the same rubberized material, but with a little bit of an added flare. The Celtic cross I had requested looked up at me and I could barely breathe as I stared back at it, plunging my hand inside the case to wrap around the handle in such a way McGrady could still see the Celtic cross we had embossed on it. I removed it, giving it a little twirl to impress everyone, but knew McGrady was impressed without the show of my skills. The show was for Stephenson. A smile spread over my face that I couldn’t stop, so wide that I felt the corners of my mouth spread painfully. Stephenson’s eyes were wide with amusement; her lips parted as she took in the weapon in my hands.
“Wow,” she sighed as she eyed the blade.
“Oh God, I know right?” I replied, wanting to hug the sword against my chest, but knowing better than to do stupid things with sharp objects.
“An’ whit did ye git oan th’ handle ye wooldn’ lit me in on before?” McGrady asked.
Jonas was almost jumping in place as I walked up to him and placed a kiss on his lips, handing the weapon off to him as I made my way to one of the other cases.
Thomas put his hand on the one that was slightly larger, shaking his head. “This one is last. It’s a surprise.”
I looked at him suspiciously, but let it slide, opening the smallest case in front of me as McGrady noticed the symbol on the handle and said my name.
“Yes, can I help you?” I said when I heard it, smiling knowingly.
“Ye didn’ have tae do that.”
“I did. You are an important part of my life and so are these weapons, so I chose to put those two things together.”
“Thes is bonnie wark, Thomas.”
“It truly is,” Stephenson even commented.
I smirked and pulled one of the throwing knives out of the case, twirling it between my fingers to test its weight distribution. It was perfect, so now all I needed was a place to test them out.
“If you turn to your left there’s a test target just for these if you want to try them out,” Thomas pointed out. I turned to my left, seeing the white and red target that had tons of tiny holes from throwing knives and stars that I couldn’t count them. It had definitely been well used.
Without having to aim, I threw the knife, it landing directly in the center and wobbling just slightly from the impact, the Celtic cross etched into the metal glinting in the light.
“Bull’s-eye!” McGrady hollered, laughing joyously at the talent he knew I had that I hadn’t had to display often enough in his presence. “That’s mah lassie!”
I grinned and turned to look at all of them, McGrady’s broad smile all I needed to see. Both Thomas and Stephenson looked impressed, nodding in appreciation of someone with raw talent.
“Now, the surprise,” Thomas said as he rubbed his hands together and pat the last case. “You’ll love this, and I won’t tell you why until you open it. That’s if I have to tell you at all.”
I flipped the golden tabs and opened the lid, letting it fall back all the way until it was completely open. A gasp left my throat when I saw what lay inside the velvet lined case, trying to choke down a sob. My mother’s sais rested inside of the case, perfect and beautiful like they had been when she died.
“Oh my God, Thomas. I haven’t seen these in six years. How did you get them?” I could barely breathe as tears threatened to spill over, grazing my fingers along the shining silver metal of one of the tongs. The handles were wrapped in black, distressed leather and looked just the same as they had when my mother used them all that time ago. Nothing about them had changed.
“I pulled some strings to get them out of the evidence lockup just for you. The Initiative would hate it if their number one didn’t have what she wanted and, well, you could choose three weapons,” Thomas explained as I stared at him, jaw nearly hitting the floor. Stephenson and McGrady were behind me, looking into the case as I stared at Thomas in disbelief.
“How did you even know?” I asked, wanting an explanation. This was something I had never told him about, and here I was, standing in front of a case containing a weapon of my mother’s that I had wanted to keep, but couldn’t all those years ago. McGrady’s chest touched my back, and a hand rested on my hip as he looked over my shoulder.
He looked me in the eye and spoke. “Your parents were great customers and when the Initiative made the appointment for you, I knew exactly who you were. Who your parents were. Your brother never requested sais, but when you did, I knew I had to at least try to get them for you. Your parents were great people, and they didn’t deserve what happened to them.”
“Och, Izzy. These ur gorgeoos.” He reached out beside me and touched the edge of the case, staring in awe at its contents.
I couldn’t stop the sad smile or the sad laugh that was quickly followed by tears of joy. I turned to Thomas and hugged him as tightly as I could, his body stiffening uncomfortably at my touch. He awkwardly embraced me back, patting one shoulder comforting me the only way he knew how. I wasn’t sad; I was elated. A piece of my mother I thought was gone forever had made its way back to me in an unexpected way, and now I could hold onto her for the rest of my life, however long that would be.
“McGrady, maybe this hug was meant for you?” Thomas said past my ear, his voice lowered just enough not to hurt my ears.
“Nope, that one’s definitely fur ye,” he said as he chuckled, watching the uncomfortable exchange with amusement.
I turned away from Thomas and turned to McGrady, needing his touch more than ever at that moment. “Now it’s your turn,” I sniffed as I closed my arms around him, placing my head on his broad muscled chest as he wrapped me in his arms.
He placed a soft kiss on the top of my head and began to sway slightly, caressing my hair as he comforted me.
I looked to Stephenson and said, “I would hug you, but I don’t know you well enough.”
She grinned and answered, “That’s okay. I wasn’t expecting any of this really.” She looked around the shop awkwardly, trying not to stare directly at us.
I pulled away from McGrady and back toward the case that held my mother’s sais, picking it up and turning it in my hand as I watched the metal sparkle and felt the rough texture of the leather handle in the palm of my hand.
“There you are, Mom. Right here all along,” I sighed. I turned to look at my companions, the love of my life and the new and unwilling sidekick that would rather take the case on her own than help me solve it. “N
ow let’s go speak to Eshu.”
Chapter 13
Club Three-Two-Five was a club you didn’t generally find too many supernatural beings, but every now and then there would be one or two that would come looking for solitude from Eshu, the man who straddled the line between good and evil, but never choosing a side. Once a vampire attempted to run from the Initiative after killing a family of five, coming to Club Three-Two-Five to hide from the hands of justice that I was about to hand down to him. It was one of my first cases in the Extermination Sector, and I had only met Eshu long enough to get permission to drag the bloodsucker out of the building and to the offices to enact his execution. Now here I was, standing in front of the club and glaring into its neon lights as it attempted to compete with the feeling of death in the air and the darkness closing in over the city.
“So, this guy will be able to confirm Richards’ involvement in the Van Helsing killings?” Agent Stephenson asked as she stood beside me, hands stuffed in her pockets and her gun and badge on her hip.
“According to Constance, er…the demon,” I answered, trying to think of a better way to identify Constance in her possessed state. “He can do and see things that we can’t. I’ve only met him once before now.”
“An’ is he a good soorce?” McGrady probed, his eyes piercing mine to find the answer. The only answer I had was staring him right in the face. We wouldn’t be here if he weren’t helpful, never once giving the Initiative an ounce of trouble because he knew how to pick his battles.
“No doubt about it. He has connections no one else does, so that makes him valuable.” I turned to look at him. “Extremely valuable.”
“How do we do this? We just walk in?” Stephenson asked, taking in the scene surrounding us. The street was quiet, but the inside of the club was packed as usual.
Chasing Shadows (The Initiative Book 1) Page 13
