Demon Kin (A SoulTracker Novel #2) (DarkWorld: A Soul Tracker Novel)

by T. G. Ayer

  He followed me up the stairs.

  Chapter 24

  Exhaustion pulled at me as I entered the kitchen, relieved only at the sight of Steph placing bags of takeout on the table.

  “I heard you beating up that poor bag and thought you might need to refuel.”

  I grinned and helped her to open cardboard boxes filled with aromatic Indian food. I grabbed the lamb biryani and received glares from both of them.

  “Geez, relax guys. I’ll keep some for you.”

  As we swapped and dished up chicken tikka and beef vindaloo, I caught them up on Santiani’s condition.

  “Woah, Mad Cow,” muttered Steph as she stared at the slice of beef on her fork.

  Drake snorted. “Pretty sure the disease no longer exists, what with the way you humans farm cattle and livestock.”

  “What?” I said, after swallowing. “Something wrong with Highrise Livestock Farming?”

  Drake snorted. “Of course there is. Back in my world, livestock ate grass and breathed fresh air.”

  Steph coughed. “You had cows in your world?”

  Drake gave her a cold glare. “We have ladri. Not cows, but close enough.”

  “Horns, tails, udders and hooves?”

  Drake nodded then shook his head, turning to me. “When does she move out?”

  “The tenth of never.” I smiled sweetly.

  “Figures.”

  I looked up at Steph. “So, what can you tell me about Prions disease other than Mad Cow.”

  Steph chewed, held up a finger, flicked her laptop open and began tapping with her left hand. She didn’t even pause to stop eating. Multitasking at its finest.

  “So it can be passed on through contaminated meat, like livestock. But there were some studies done on Prions disease in a tribe of cannibals.”

  “Cannibals?” I asked softly. It was beginning to fall into place.

  “Yeah. Your perfect billionaire is a cannibal.”

  “You don’t know that for sure.”

  “Then how else did he contract the disease?”

  I shrugged. “I’ll have to ask him.”

  “Sure, he’ll just confide his weird gastronomic tastes to you. You sure he’s not a Dr Lecter?”

  “Who’s Dr Lecter?”

  Steph rolled her eyes. “Only the most famous serial killer of all time.”

  “The most famous fictitious serial killer of all time.”

  Steph waved her fingers at me. Details. “Anyway, he’s been chewing on human bones and he’s been doing it for a while.”

  “Maybe not for a while.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We all know with magical intervention anything can be sped up on the timeline of events.”

  “That’s just freaking great.” Steph stabbed a piece of spicy chicken.

  I sighed. “We have to check out the staff, the chefs and the butler, even the company supplying their meat products.”

  “I’m on it.”

  While Steph tapped away at her keyboard, I shifted to the other side of the table as Drake went to the narrow space between the refrigerator and the cupboard. Pulling out a large whiteboard, he settled it on the counter using the overhanging cupboards to rest it at a comfortable angle.

  I grabbed markers from a nearby drawer. “Let’s put the timeline in perspective.”

  Drake marked ‘Mrs S’ as dead, Gia’s disappearance, the cops involvement, then contact with me.

  “Anything else significant?” I asked.

  Drake added the birth of the twins. The manipulation of the cop. Gina’s contact with me. Soon a pattern emerged.

  “Gina seems to be pretty antagonistic when it comes to involvement of outside investigation,” he said.

  “More like territorial,” said Steph.

  Drake and I looked at it other. Something was there. We just needed to figure out what it was.

  Steph peered over her laptop. “Everyone looks legit, but unless we start testing meat products we won’t know.”

  “The butler mentioned coeliac disease and something about the chef making lunches for the girls every day,” I said, picking up my phone and dialing the house without hesitation.

  Drake mumbled something about having to check on his bike.

  I questioned Marshall about the chef, the food he cooked, and when I put the phone down I was a little taken aback.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Marshall said that both girls liked cooking, but that Gina ruled the kitchen even since her mother died. Apparently she cooks too.”

  “Oh,” Steph said and sipped her mango lassi. “Female serial killers are uncommon but they do exist.” Her tone was so serious that all I did was shake my head.

  “It’s a possibility, but very unlikely. Prions takes a long time to kill a person.”

  “You’re the one who said all you had to do was add magic into the mix and who knew what would happen.”

  I sat back. “Right.” It made sense and yet it didn’t. I sighed. “Okay. Run a search. All similar cases over the last few years.”

  Steph nodded and typed. She had access, illegal or otherwise, to servers across the world. So when, seconds later, she looked up and shook her head I was most disappointed.

  “Widen the parameters. Cases across the continent.” As Steph began to type, I added, “And going as far back as fifty years. That should give us something to go on.”

  Seconds later Steph looked up, triumphant. “There is a thirteen month pattern. We have cases here across the country, but I expanded the search again to include Interpol databases, and its shocking.”

  I stood at the whiteboard, and waited and Steph read out dates and details over the last five years. “The killer has been busy.”

  Steph got to her feet and came to stand beside me as we both studied the whiteboard.

  Strange murders every thirteen months that followed a similar pattern. Mother is killed under suspicious or questionable circumstances. Child either dies or runs away soon after. Father dies of heart attack, suicide or disease. A few cases confirmed Prions disease in various stages.

  “They didn’t test them all?”

  “Probably didn’t think they needed to. Some of these men died under different circumstances so they may not have suspected enough to test for Prions.”

  Steph folded her arms. “If they had it would have made our investigation a damn sight easier.”

  “So the cases follow a pattern, but who is the most likely suspect?”

  “The butler did it.”

  “Very funny.”

  Steph shrugged. “We can’t rule him out.”

  “No, we can’t.” I listed names of suspects, including the butler and Gina. Which made me pause. “What about surviving children?”

  Steph shook her head. “In eighty percent of the cases, the whole family is wiped out. In some of the cases they never found the body of the last surviving child, but in others they were already investigating when the kid died.”

  “Sounds like what we are left with. Santiani on his deathbed and Gina the last one standing.”

  “But she doesn’t look sick. You think she also has Prions?”

  “It’s possible, but how the hell would you have her tested without pissing her off. She’s not going to submit easily.”

  “That’s right. But she’s staying on the list of suspects. Her behavior is ensuring she doesn’t get ruled out.”

  Although I wished we’d gotten something a little more tangible out of our session, I felt a little more comfortable with looking further into the remaining twin. She’d already put the fear of Hades into one cop.

  Who knew what else she was up to?

  Chapter 25

  I remained in the kitchen after Steph retreated to the comm center in the attic. Cleaning helped me relax and before long I had the place sparkling. I tossed the soiled cloths into the wash basket in the laundry and headed to the living room.

  The blank black screen of the TV stared at me,
as if daring me to switch it on, but my life had too little time for movies. As it was, fatigue pulled on my arms and head, reminding me that I needed a few hours of rest before Drake and I headed off to help Kai out.

  Only one more thing to do. Check on Gina Santiani.

  I relaxed on the sofa and closed my eyes, sliding into the stream of astral energy almost immediately. It was deceptively easy, but it did take a toll on my body.

  Astral traveling was the smartest way I knew to keep an eye on the girl without tipping her off.

  I followed her feedback without the need for the hair sample. Once I identified a person’s feedback thread, I could see a path leading directly to them. The astral threads were alive as much as the owner of them lived. In the same way, feedback threads faded away over time after a person’s death. Astral traveling was certainly not the same thing as time traveling. What I saw was what existed now. And in the case of the deceased such energies remained with the body for a while, depending on the circumstances of the death and the strength and ability of the person.

  I wasn’t surprised to track Gina to a mall, but what did strike me as odd, was the fact that she stood beside a heavy-leafed plant.

  Watching someone on the balcony opposite her.

  Between them was a view to the second floor, the escalators as well as a sparkling fountain. The mall was busy with moviegoers and late night mallrats. But Gina wasn’t there for movies or food. She was watching someone.

  While I watched her.

  Oh the irony.

  He’d chosen a seat at a small Italian place and sat, busy working at his laptop while picking at a bowl of creamy pasta.

  I waited for a few minutes as Gina watched him, transfixed by the girl’s intensity. She barely blinked as she stared at him, as if she was doing surveillance and was taking her job really seriously.

  Just when I was about to give up and leave, the man shifted, his blonde hair catching the yellow glare from overhead and lighting up his head like a halo. Three people approach, wife and two kids from the looks of it.

  He got to his feet, ruffled the hair on the boy’s head and kissed the woman. The daughter’s smile was more of a smirk as she watched her parents kissing.

  After some laughter and joking around they left, heading for the escalators. Gina watched until they were almost out of sight.

  Weird.

  Their disappearance spurred the girl into motion and she dashed out from behind the tree and would have slammed into me, had I been there in physical form. I winced as she moved through, glad that she had noticed.

  As I turned to follow, Gina’s steps slowed and she looked over her shoulder. As with the other night, she stared sightlessly at the spot I stood in. I was certain she had some form of psychic sense because she honed in on my spot so quickly. Thankfully, she didn’t see me. Again.

  After a few moments she turned and trotted off in the direction of the carpark. I followed her out as she trails the man and his family. Outside, the family hopped into a top of the line Mercedes Benz. The vehicle and the flash of gold from the man’s watch were confirmation of his pay bracket.

  What was Gina up to? Was she involved with this man? Was she threatening him the way she threatened Landry?

  Her behavior didn’t make sense, unless she was suffering from some kind of mental breakdown with her family all dying and disappearing on her.

  It must be tough to go through such a terrible tragedy.

  Then again, Gina isn’t all that innocent if she can be so manipulative as to fake-seduce a cop.

  Was she a rich spoiled princess too used to having her own way?

  Or was it something more sinister?

  I pulled away from Gina, my own energy draining slowly. I had to work smart if I wanted to be around to figure out what Gina was up to.

  I blinked, shaking off the tug of fatigue, and as I sat upright and rubbed my forehead a voice whispered in my ear.

  Stiffening with shock, I stared around me, aware that I probably looked a little insane scanning the shadows and the corners of the living room. The voice hummed in my ears again and relief surged through me as I recognized the speaker.

  “Samuel?” I asked the room, still looking around me.

  I knew what he was trying to do. Using the astral plane’s energy to send messages was something Samuel himself had taught me years ago. But I also knew how taxing it was on a person, especially on someone who was as weak and fragile as Samuel.

  Though I tried, I just couldn’t make out his words.

  “Samuel?” I asked again, this time projecting my voice into the astral plane.

  Nothing.

  Disappointment filled me, hot tears building behind my eyelids. I inhaled sharply and got to my feet, then let out a soft, shocked cry.

  Hanging in the air in front of me were lines of words, glittering threads of silvery astral energy woven into a message. I took a step back, hit the sofa and sank onto the seat with a thump.

  Samuel’s handwriting was so distinctive, so old-worldly with its cursive font and delicate flourishes that even without reading the words, I would have known it was from him.

  He’d left a message for me. I blinked back tears and focused on the words.

  You must find us before it's too late. Watched around the clock. Teleporting impossible. Astral traveling dangerous. Still in Dastra but of my current location I cannot say.

  Do not give up. On me. On Arianne.

  Find me.

  I will contact you again.

  I blinked hard, concentrating on his words. Can’t teleport meant there are wards preventing him from doing so, or it may reveal his abilities and endanger him.

  Astral projection would most definitely be impossible if he was being guarded. Unlike me, when Samuel travels he does so with his eyes open. And when he is gone from his body his eyes fade to a milky white. It would be a dead giveaway.

  He must desperately need my help if he’d taken that chance not too long ago, and was doing so again.

  But what did he mean when he said not to give up on him and Ari? Was he with Ari or was he just ensuring I didn’t stop looking for her?

  Tears filled my eyes as the glittering words began to fade. I reached out, desperate to touch the glowing strands, as if the mere contact would comfort me.

  But even as my fingers wove themselves between the skeins of shimmering letters they disintegrated into puffs of light and tiny specks, intangible as dustmotes on moonbeams.

  I wiped away my tears and headed upstairs determine not to get caught in this state of emotional despair. Right now, I wished for Saleem to be here with me, to put his arms around me and make me feel whole, and safe.

  The need to be with him was strong enough to make me flick him a quick text. It was innocuous enough that he wouldn’t come running worried about for my safety, but enough for him to know that I needed him. I added the request for a forensic mage, but at this point I wasn’t even sure we needed it anymore.

  Minutes later, with no reply, I acknowledged what I’d already known. That with Kai’s mother and Logan involved in the search for her, Saleem would be right at his side since Logan was his commanding officer.

  Trying to put Saleem and Samuel out of my mind, I showered and dove into bed, willing sleep to come before my overactive brain took control.

  Thankfully sleep won this time.

  Chapter 26

  Drake knocked on the door for me, only because he wanted something to hit. He was still angry that I’d taken a case and added to my workload. I knew he’d eventually come to the party but when Kai opened the door and I saw my gargoyle friends expression I was certain it would be okay.

  Drake was smitten.

  And from the look of appraisal that Kai gave him, the attraction was mutual, though it wouldn’t go anywhere since she had a super hot guy of her own.

  “Hey,” I said, hiding a smile. “This is Drake. Don’t mind him if he’s surly. He likes his sleep.”

  Drake threw me a
fierce glare.

  I blew him a kiss as I entered, but I didn’t drop my messenger bag. I wanted it close to me considering it contained my small arsenal from Tara.

  Drake ignored me and greeted Kai. Logan appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, at Kai’s side. Must be some sensor men have, that they know the microsecond when another man is scoping out his woman.

  Kai introduced everyone and I followed her to the dining table. The two younger shifters eyed my, sending me curious looks, while Kai’s grandma, Ivy Odel, gave me a quick, yet warm, hug.

  I’d met Kai’s shape-changer friend, Cassandra once before. Probably a year ago we’d crossed paths on a case of a missing woman who it turned out had been on the run from her husband. We hadn’t kept in touch, but we’d gotten along and I knew I could trust her. Her partner Larson with the shocking red hair was new to me.

  Kai’s blonde brother stood at his Grandmother’s side, looking stiff and out of place. I’d heard he’d been part of Sentinel too, but was now 2IC to the Panther Alpha in Tukats. This room was filled with super powerful people.

  “So our army of eleven against . . . what did you say, Mel? Over forty Wraiths?” asked Kai.

  I merely nodded.

  “Make that thirteen, although I do believe that is meant to be a bad omen for humans,” said a voice behind us.

  I peered around Kai and stared at the new arrivals.

  Two people, a hooded male, tall, broad shouldered, facehidded within the cowls of a cloak.

  The woman’s almost white hair was a stark contrast to her pale-gray skin and her black, pupil-less eyes. This must be Illyria, the wraith Kai had mentioned. She gave me the creeps.

  “Please forgive me for the intrusion into your home. I felt it would be more prudent to remain out of sight.” The woman spoke softly, tilting her head as she studied Kai and the gathered team.

  “Don’t worry about it. That’s fine.” Kai waved the apology away, but I could tell from the stiffness of her neck and shoulders that this woman, or wraith, wasn’t exactly on her Christmas list.