“Thank you,” I replied, cheerfully. It really was nice being around people who weren’t disgusted or bothered by my blatant use of the Dark Arts.
“She is quite creative,” Sterling added in a sly tone.
“And apparently prone to blushing. Lovely shade of red you’re wearing, Catherine,” Mark stated.
“Right, so…” I managed to say as my face grew warmer and warmer. Refusing to look in Sterling’s direction, I attempted to return the conversation to the problem at hand. “So, someone else trying to find the amulet is hiring from U.M. Do you think there are rogues looking for it, too?”
“An important piece, or one that conveys power, will always have plenty of interested parties looking for it,” reflected Mark. “You’ll be lucky if there’s less than a half dozen competitors looking for the amulet, right now.”
“Maybe you should talk to the clan leaders in the area?” Jen suggested. “Someone may have approached them to hunt for the amulet. Or, they might have other info.”
“Might be a good idea,” I agreed. Jokingly, I added, “Do you think they’ll be in tonight? Or should I go knock down their doors?”
“They’re in private dining rooms,” Mark rejoined, then turned to his wife. “Jen, do you want to make the introductions? I know Roland is more intimidated by you.” He added a wink to the smile on his face.
“Sure,” Jen replied, sliding off her barstool. Grabbing her drink, she tossed back the last swallow before setting the empty glass on the counter. “Though I think Sterling will intimidate both far better than I ever could.”
“Maybe. Tell me how it goes; I need to get back to the bar,” Mark replied as he picked up the platter. Turning to me, he added, “I will put the rest in a box; grab it on your way out.”
“Thank you,” I said, a big grin on my face.
The three of us walked down a short hall that ended in double doors marked “Private-By Invitation Only.”
With no preamble or hesitation, Jen flung her hands toward the doors. A gust of wind threw them open and she strode in. Sterling was right behind her. I might have been a stunned and appreciative second or two behind them.
“Look alive, ladies!” the elf’s voice boomed at the dozen males gathered around a long table.
They were already glaring and gawking at her, so I presumed she was having a bit of fun at their expense. The one with the nicest clothes and the most adorned leather jacket tilted his head back and raised his hands in the universal, “What the heck?” gesture. His wavy, dark hair was slicked back, and he sported a wisp of a moustache and a goatee the same color. He stared at Jen with beady black eyes before turning to Sterling and me, then back to Jen.
“What is this? Did we not pay you enough respects? There is no tab on the Wolves. We pay our bill!” the leader exclaimed incredulously.
“You’re fine, Roland.” Jen’s voice was playful and cheery. “I just don’t get to do that with most customers.” She looked away as Roland glanced at the ceiling and made the sign of the cross. His constituents looked relieved. Gesturing to us, Jen declared, “This is Sterling of the Court and Catherine, the Valley’s resident necromancer. They have some questions. My hubby and I would consider it a personal favor if you paid them respects and answered any inquiries.”
“Jesus our Lord!” Roland crossed himself again, but his voice was all exasperation. “Lady, you only had to ask.”
“Good boy.” Jen teased.
“Was it you that had the staff put wolfsbane in the flower pots?” Roland asked Jen. “That wasn’t funny, Lady. Not at all.”
“Oh, gee, that means the rooms got mixed up, and the garlic cloves are hanging over the vampires’ private bar tonight.” Jen sighed. “Guess I will need to punish some staff, now. Ta ta!”
The Wolves looked visibly shaken, but none of them said a word as Jen sauntered out.
Then, it was just us and them.
Chuckling softly, I shook my head slightly. “Roland Kaufman, a pleasure to see you again.”
Since I wanted answers from him, and he hadn’t spoken his name so I could perfect the inflections he used, my repeating the name had no Magickal effect, though I did notice a few wolves keeping their hands deliberately in sight and trying to appear smaller, if that was possible.
Werewolves’ personas usually drew the mundanes’ attention. Unless they were submissive, in which case they could usually go unnoticed if they wanted, even if the mundanes thought they needed to be protected. That was laughable, since werewolves were stronger than humans. They also were faster healers, needed to eat more food, and often had shorter tempers.
Werewolf parts were also great ingredients for certain potions, especially for someone specializing in the Dark Arts. I suspected a few of the werewolves in the room knew that, given the way they warily watched me.
“To whom do we owe the honor of hosting you two?” Roland said, smiling easily at us. He relaxed a bit now that our hostess had left.
“You know who we are and still consider it an honor?” Sterling observed with amusement in his voice.
“Yeah, man, my momma taught me manners!” Roland replied cheerfully. “Besides, you two are a couple of badasses, and wolves always appreciate badasses.”
“Thanks,” I said with a laugh. “About those questions.”
Roland nodded, and I continued, the smile never leaving my lips. “Have you heard anything about a missing amulet called the Eye of Amon?”
There were a few groans and murmurs from the pack. Roland nodded and replied, “Don’t really know what it is, but we’ve been hearing the name a lot lately. Some people are looking for it, and they want help. As much as they can find. It’s a rock on a chain, right? Got some super voodoo attached to it?”
“Something like that,” I replied smoothly. “I wouldn’t advise getting involved. The werebear that thought it would be a good idea to take me and Sterling on ended up dead. Since I don’t think any of you want to be raised and sent to kill and eat you partner before resting, you may want to stay out of it.”
There was a whole bunch of murmuring and shifting in the pack. Ain’t I a stinker?
“Whoa, you are a badass! I like it! Get a little bit o’ irony in with the killing and clean up.” Roland seemed gleeful. “That’s cool. You got style, Lady. What can we do to help?”
“Did that pair only do work for Universal Manpower?” I began. “Anything you can tell us about these other interested parties looking for that rock on a chain?”
“Oh, Nicky and Kevon worked for whoever would pay them or make ‘em feel special. They had attention issues,” Roland reported. “Mostly, they worked for the merc outfit and that freaky dahnri elf dude. Y’know? Xantos? You heard of him, right?”
Xantos, again. That elf was becoming popular. At least if he was searching for the amulet, it meant he didn’t have it. Yet.
“Yeah. Though, who hasn’t heard of him?” I asked.
“So, we have at least two parties, The Court and Xantos, looking for the amulet,” Sterling said. “Anyone else you or your pack know of?”
“Aw, shit! The Court is after that rock? Guess they would be, if you’re involved.” Roland nodded toward Sterling. “My money’s on you and the lady—the Court’s number one enforcer and the take-no-prisoners necromancer. Talk about a power couple! Anyway, the usual, high-end Black and Dark Market collectors are looking, as are the brokers who like to deal in that level of merchandise. So, you’ve got a half dozen of the usual suspects, plus the mad gangster of the elf world, and you guys.”
My gaze slid to Sterling. He hadn’t mentioned he was the Court’s enforcer. My parents and Maekyl hadn’t mentioned it either. Someone had some explaining to do.
Or, to be more accurate, several someones.
“Thank you for your cooperation,” Sterling said pleasantly. He could tell I was staring at him, no doubt. Roland looked pleased, relieved, and nervous as he caught me looking at Sterling.
“I guess we need to find Jen and
see about going to the vampire’s room?” I asked no one in particular.
As if on cue, the double doors swung open, and Jen walked back into the room. She smiled at Sterling and me as she approached.
“Come this way,” she instructed.
* * * * *
Chapter Eleven
Jen’s entrance into the other room was decidedly less dramatic. She casually opened the doors, allowing me and Sterling to enter before her. The vampires were moving about the larger room, laughing easily among themselves. There was a pool table on the far side of the room. A group of undead with pool cues stood around it, watching one lean over the edge, setting up a shot.
“Hey, Jennie!” a male who was standing behind the bar called out. He wore a black sleeveless shirt and skinny jeans, and had short, spiked platinum hair. In the middle of making a boilermaker, he looked past us and smiled at our hostess. “We just heard about that gag you pulled on the furbabies with the wolfsbane in the flower pots! Awesome!”
He burst out laughing while topping off the whiskey-infused ale.
Jen walked past us and up to the bar. We followed.
“It was their turn to be picked on,” Jen said. “Next time, Alesio, it’ll be you and yours. Consider that fair warning.”
“As long as it’s you and not your husband, I welcome it,” the vampire confessed as he leaned comfortably over the bar toward her. “There are still dignitaries who are afraid to come here after the last time Mark got in on the fun.”
“Mark spent a month planning that surprise. He’ll be delighted to know it’s still making an impact,” Jen retorted.
“Seriously, where did he find that many faerie dragons?” Alesio asked, leaning in further.
“We used to live near their nest,” Jen answered, then waved at us. “These are the two people we want you to talk to. Sterling, this is Alesio Salvatori, head of the vampires for Central and Western Virginia. Catherine, you already know him, I believe.”
Alesio and I nodded at each other.
“Sterling of the Court, your reputation precedes you,” Alesio said. “It’s an honor to meet the legend my predecessor spoke so fondly of. Catherine, I’m not familiar with your reputation, aside from your ability to kill my vampires.”
The unspoken threat in response to my destruction of his clan remained unspoken, which was fine by me.
“I deal in Magickal antiquities and favor the Dark Arts, most notably necromancy,” I replied in a modest tone. Shrugging, I added, “I’ve been practicing for a few centuries.”
Vampires don’t breathe and only make sounds when they move if it suits them. So, it was only through my Magickal senses that I noticed that all the vampires in the room had tensed up and were moving into a defensive circle around us.
“You are that Catherine, then,” Alesio said, and recognition flared to life in his eyes. “We haven’t given you any reason to cast a spell against us or enslave us, so welcome! It’s a pleasure to see you’re beautiful as well as dangerous.”
“Not yet, you haven’t,” I assured him easily. My gaze swept around the room, and I lifted a brow. “I’m not here to cause trouble, but I’m also not one to turn down a challenge, of any sort.” I curved my lips into a sly smile. “That is, unless you or one of yours has the Ilygad Amon.”
“Do you see anyone here acting as though they have a god complex? Wouldn’t you sense it if someone was using that kind of power?” Alesio was still leaning casually on the bar, even though his body had tensed.
“Are you telling me that one doesn’t have a god complex?” I jerked my thumb toward a shaggy-haired male who looked like a slightly plump frat boy. He was standing a little closer to me than the others and was smiling, until I singled him out.
“JP has believed he is Cupid and Don Juan since he was a real high school boy.” Alesio waved dismissively and sounded bored. “I didn’t turn him, but I burned the idiot that did. If you want to take control of him, please make him do foolish party tricks, so we can be amused.” He paused a moment before giving us a smile that showed the pointed tips of his fangs. “The threats are unnecessary, Lady of Death. I and most of my people are well aware of what you can do. Sterling isn’t your keeper, so the elephant in the room is what you want, not what you can do.”
“That’s a name I haven’t been called in a long, long time,” I said with a sigh.
It brought back memories of my wilder, more youthful days, when I had minions and a good many undead under my control.
“I’m here about the amulet. I’d like to find it before someone is foolish enough to try using it without the proper knowledge or skill.”
“I remember being a newly turned immortal and stories about you were like bogeyman tales in my mortal life,” Alesio said with a warm smile. “The difference is that I met all the bogeymen after turning and partied with them. You, I still have a healthy fear for. As for the amulet, we had a few issues with the fae who possessed it, but whoever took it from her is steering clear of us. Rightly so, since it would be nigh on irresistible for our kind to try and use it.”
Laughing, I held my hands up in faux supplication. “I’ve mellowed with the years.” Sterling snorted, causing me to chuckle. “I’m at least more particular than I was in my younger days.”
I winked at the vampire. Alesio was either far more entertaining and enjoyable than the other vamps I’d dealt with, or the years had given me a new outlook. All things considered, I suspected it had more to do with our changing with the eras than anything else. No one stayed the same, especially after centuries of life. Or un-life, as was the case with Alesio Salvatori.
“What problems did you have with Althea? Do you know if she had problems with anyone else?” I asked.
“I don’t believe any of us can give you much insight into the fae’s life and social existence,” Alesio admitted. “Our issue was that she would taunt us with the amulet whenever she had the chance. She’d dare us to try and take it.”
“To what end?” Sterling prompted.
“I don’t know…” Alesio said, shrugging his shoulders. “Perhaps she wanted to kill more of us. She destroyed half a dozen of us the first time we encountered her.”
“Tell us about that; did you come across her?” asked Sterling
“No, she walked onto the lawn of our common home an hour after we woke. We were all standing or sitting around the front porch,” Alesio recalled. “We smelled her immediately, but she strolled right up to us and declared she had our salvation with her.”
“With the proper application of power and spell, the amulet would allow you to survive daylight,” I realized.
“Exactly,” confirmed Alesio. “Five of our younger members and one elder went to meet her. Four females, two males. The younger were expecting a challenge; the elder recognized the amulet and went to ask her what she was proposing. All of them were vaporized within three feet of the fae. She laughed and asked who wanted to meet salvation next. No one fled; no one came forward. She laughed again and left. That was our first experience with the amulet and that fae.”
“You didn’t investigate her reasons for coming at you like that?” I asked.
“No. Our kind has committed enough atrocities against other races, especially fae, to warrant unreasoning hatred from any side.” Alesio wasn’t offering an apology or saying this with any discernible pride. It was fact; irrefutable history. I respected him a bit more for it.
“Inquiring after her would be tantamount to admitting she had influenced them in some way,” Sterling interjected. “That she raised an emotion. Vengeance, fear, curiosity, it would not matter. The best emotional state for a predator is apathy. Anything else can reveal a weakness.”
Alesio nodded appreciatively. The crowd of vampires offered several words of acknowledgement. It made sense, now that I thought about it.
“So, any time after that, if any of you encountered her, she would pull the same kind of thing?” I postulated. “Come at her and she was burdened with your sa
lvation, that sort of confrontation?”
Alesio nodded again.
“Very well,” I said. “Thank you for your time and confidence.”
“Don’t troll away on that somber note!” one of the vampires shouted.
“I must agree. For a natural enemy, she is quite an alluring guest,” Alesio declared to the room. Many voiced encouragements. I readied myself for an attack, not sure where this would lead.
“Come on, at least show us a bit of fun and have a drink or two before you go!” he invited. Sterling smiled and walked up to the bar.
“Pour me the strongest thing you can manage, without blood,” he said.
The vampires roared with laughter and approval. Alesio began placing decanters on the bar and smiled widely enough to show his fangs.
“That’s a proper challenge!” he roared, and it was met by the others.
Sterling kept on smiling.
“If it’s a party, there had best be entertainment,” I interjected.
The undead predators turned toward me, but they sensed no malice. I pointed at the one called JP. A burst of willed energy later, he was stiff and unmoving, his body waiting for my command and whim.
I narrowed my eyes and smiled.
“Let’s see if you were paying attention during the Nineteen Eighties…”
* * * * *
Chapter Twelve
Thursday
It was well past midnight when Sterling dropped me off at my home, reluctantly stating he wouldn’t be able to stay with me as he had other duties to attend. He did, however, give me a kiss that left me weak in the knees and a bit dazed.
At least he didn’t just disappear into the night, leaving nothing but a note behind. If I wasn’t careful, I knew I’d end up falling in love with him. That was definitely not something I had any desire to do. Someone as old as Sterling probably wouldn’t be interested in a long-term relationship, especially not with a necromancer who had only three centuries behind her.
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