Dead and Everything (Eve Benson: Vampire Book 2)

by P. S. Power

  Probably because the other woman wasn’t as big of a fan of pain as Eve was. Given that she hated the stuff, that was probably a sign that Nikki’s aversion to it was pretty intense. They were able to speed up though. It was still less than half speed, but the others seemed satisfied with the effort.

  The thing was, when they stopped, the other Vampire, who was well past old enough to know better, whined about it.

  “Ouch! God that hurts! They make cars for a reason. So I don’t have to do things like this. Let’s get inside, hurry!”

  Eve had to hold in a growl, and then shook her head.

  “Nope. Let’s run some laps first, for a few hours. Follow me.” She took off, letting her own breath out, and then proceeded to push Nikki for a lot longer than a few hours, not stopping, even as full noon came and they burned under the sun that was directly above them.

  Even past that, she didn’t stop, risking taking breaths every now and again to remind the other Vampire to keep her speed up. When Eve did try to stop, the other woman kept whining, so she kept her going. It wasn’t that she wanted to be mean, but rather that they were going so slowly that it seemed nearly criminal to complain about it. Nikki actually let herself move as if it were hard, after a while, even though the energy flowing to her was strong and active the whole time.

  Finally, hours later, Barb came out, and started to run with them. It was a bit before twilight came, but the Vampire woman was willing to go faster than she had before, probably trying not to look like a moody little bitch. Eve knew that she couldn’t afford to seem grumpy though, and refrained from using any motivating slaps to keep the Proctor going.

  When night came, she stopped though, and held up a hand, keeping the others from speaking at all.

  “Not too bad. Tomorrow we won’t have any complaints though, and it will be harder. We’ll be going inside. Where Lenore is. Meet me here at seven?”

  Nikki looked away, her face almost innocent seeming, even if decorated to make her seem tough.

  “Yeah. I have to. I can’t believe we just did that. It’s insane, running in the light like that, you know that, don’t you? I mean, no one does that.”

  Barb cleared her throat, and then shrugged, acting as if she’d been in charge of the whole thing.

  “That, being willing to do things that others can, but don’t, is the secret. I think it probably always has been.”

  Then they all left, going in separate directions.

  Chapter eighteen

  Eve had spent a lot of time that day, running slowly, and wondering about what was going on in her world. It was pretty clear that something was. That just made sense, didn’t it? She tried to go over it all, in her head, and collect up the data.

  It was harder to do than it seemed like at first, since she couldn’t tell what went together at all. The club had been attacked, not just once, but twice, in the last eight months. The first time had been about killing Troy, too, which was kind of strange. No one needed a big plan to do that, did they? It was possible that he had some kind of magical protection that she didn’t know about, sure, but did he? Even if that was the case, using a bomb to drive people from T2LA so that he could be sniped, well, that was too much work to get that particular job done, wasn’t it? It was almost like it was meant to fail.

  The second attack was more sensible, she guessed. After all, Morten Iron Hand had mentioned that he had a master. More, he’d definitely said that the being was a she. Then he’d burst into flames. There were creatures that could do that, and possible even some technological tricks that she just didn’t know about, Eve was sure.

  There were other things too, like her being set up to go into that case like she had. It was true that she did it well enough, and that, in hindsight, there had been benefit to doing it, even if she hadn’t loved it at the time. She’d learned to keep her links strong, and not need to feed as often because of it, for instance. That reminded her, as she stood there, thinking, to go and get some replacements set up. If Greater Demons weren’t behind everything going on, including the Vampires and then the other groups being made public…

  That was the real issue too, wasn’t it? The attack on the club had been some kind of answer to everyone being made public, or at least the Vampires. Who was doing what though?

  Eve puttered around for a bit, focusing on getting her cow blood down first, then cleaning the whole store as well as possible. Becky came in a while after that, alone, though Barb came out of the back to wave at her.

  “Hey all.” Her old buddy seemed happy enough, considering the happenings of the day before. That… Well, Eve explained it all quickly, since she wasn’t going to hide things for everyone else in the world anymore. Not if they didn’t have the common sense to get her to do that first, anyway. A bribe or two might be nice, after all.

  In the end they all ended up sitting at one of the booth tables, with her summarizing the entire mess.

  “So, my best guess is that Greater Demons are involved here. Over and over again. Like a war, or, I don’t know, for them it might just be Tuesday. The whole thing we’ve been dealing with is so convoluted and complex that it nearly has to be that kind of thing. If not them, then some kind of super powered being is behind it. I can tell you that this isn’t just Richard Swerlin swinging his dick around.” She nearly laughed at the image, but didn’t since the whole thing was too serious for that.

  After a bit, Becky, Krista Hall now, tilted her head.

  “So, um, demons are real? I guess that makes sense if we have wizards and Vampires, on top of werewolves, and stuff.”

  Eve nodded, then corrected her.

  “Wolf Shifters. There are lots of kinds, so they can get picky about it. Probably not rip your throat out pissed off, but werewolf is kind of an insult. Like calling them names, and since most of them are halfway cool, it would be best not to make a big deal of it. Shifter is pretty much always the safe thing to call that kind of person. Mages, not wizards. Though on that one I think that wizard is an actual thing, and not an insult. They are Mages, but can become wizards? Like for a job? We should go and check with the people across the way. They’ll know. It’s the Mage embassy for the area.”

  That was, it seemed, news to Becky, who sucked her lips in. It wasn’t a flattering look for her, but was a thing that Eve remembered her doing back in the day.

  Then she went on, waving her left hand a little.

  “So, to answer the real question, yeah. Demons are a thing, and not one you want to screw around with. There are two kinds, Lesser and Greater. Don’t fuck with either of them, if you get a choice, which…”

  She didn’t get to go on, since there was a lot of nodding from the other side of the table.

  “I can get that one! I watched the footage with that thing a few weeks ago. The giant red one that raped and killed those people in the dry cleaners? The one that we all prayed away? I did that, when I heard. Not that I’m that great of a Christian, but I figured that it couldn’t hurt. Is that a Greater Demon? The Lesser ones being like, ghost?” She tapped the smooth and sparkling clean table top. The pale Formica was un-cracked, and while there were napkins in a dispenser, there was nothing else. People didn’t need salt and pepper there, and having the spoons out was, as Lenore had assured her, tacky beyond all reason.

  “Nope. Ghosts are ghost, and about what you’d think they are. Lesser Demons, well, you know, that’s what the thing from a few weeks ago was. The Christians brought it into being. Not on purpose. Greater Demons are different. They aren’t called Greater because of their size either.”

  She froze then, actually going still, not knowing how to explain things to her old friend. If she could even understand it all. Then, a lot of people that couldn’t have gotten anything even a year before were starting to pick up on the idea that there might be something to some of the crazy shit that they were hearing about. Half of them were in denial about it though, and tried to disprove that it was real at all. That was, in the end, what had been
keeping things as quiet and calm as it was, she knew.

  That a lot of people would tease and ridicule the ones that were right, rather than go on some kind of jihad against them.

  Shaking her head, feeling her black hair brush her collar, Eve took a deep breath and then dove in.

  “Greater Demons are all devious. Incredibly intelligent, and powerful beings. The thing is they can seem just like anyone else, and you’d never know it. They know everything too, or at least it always seems that way. If you meet one, try not to accept any kind of bargain or deal with them. You don’t have to be offering your soul directly for them to make you a slave. Especially The Mistress of Souls. She can pretty much just take you as a slave if she wants, and there’s not a lot you can do about it. The rest of them can sort of do that too, but they have to work a little harder to get it done. Offer you something that you say yes to, for most of them. I think. Don’t test that though. If you meet any, just try to remember not to take any bargains or deals.” She waited, but Becky finally snorted, as if the whole thing was funny.

  “That’s not real, is it? You’re making fun of me. I know I don’t know much about the world, but that’s a bit mean, isn’t it?’ Her eyes sparkled, playfully. As if it really were a game.

  Barb, sitting next to Eve, shook her head.

  “No, Krista, it’s not a gag, or prank. Eve is right, too. If you meet one of them, any sort of Demon, you have to be very careful. I’ve met some. It… They can be anywhere, and look like anyone. We have two of them here, in the mall. Greater Demons. That’s really rare.”

  That didn’t seem to help convince the Human girl. Especially since the place looked so very normal, all around them. Like a real shopping center.

  Eve took a breath, then reached out and grabbed Becky’s hand.

  “It’s all true. You… Actually, there are only about five hundred of them, Greater Demons, in the whole world. You know a bunch of them though. I mean, our Demons are all right, as far as that goes, but don’t be too shocked when you find out. They’re different than you think, even if they’re your friends.” She’d learned that one, over the years, herself. Their idea of being your friend was often a lot different than she would have imagined.

  “I do? Okay, so if this isn’t a joke, who? My agent?”

  Eve shook her head, not actually knowing if that was the case or not.

  “Nooo, I don’t think so anyway. Um, well, I don’t want to get in trouble. What we need is for one of them to come and tell you, so that I can point a convenient finger at them, absolving myself of responsibility. That will probably take a phone call though, or…” Possibly not? She looked up, to see Marcus walking over, his well trimmed beard covering part of a smile.

  When he got in, he threw his arms out wide, as if trying to embrace the whole world.

  “Becky! I hear that little miss tattle tale here is giving away all the family secrets for free? I’m called Marcus Aralias here, and pretend to be a Mage. I’m actually Fram, The Bold. I know, I know, you can barely contain your excitement, hearing that a real live Greater Demon has entered the room, but you can use that dampness between your legs to entertain me later. Deal?”

  Eve threw her right hand up, so that Becky wouldn’t speak.

  “Remember what I said? I don’t know how good Fram is either, at doing things like that, so even saying no might be enough. Be careful. To answer your next question though, yes, the funny looking candle shop guy is a real Greater Demon.”

  Barb looked scared, and Krista Hall looked confused, especially when Fram kept going.

  “It’s true. All true… We’re old friends though, so I won’t actually make a play for you that way. You remember me, don’t you?”

  The girl, who was a lot better looking now than she had been in school, pursed her lips and was clearly scraping her memory for the man.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t remember you. I… Did we meet at a party?”

  That got a shrug, and Mark pushing into the seat next to the actress.

  “Really, I’m hurt, Becky. We spent all that time together, and for what? You didn’t even miss me. I did look a little different, but come on, how can you not see my sparkling personality shining through? Barb? Not the one across from us, but the one from school? The cheerleader? Same trim waist, and button nose, too…” He waved down at himself, as if either of those things was actually true in the slightest.

  Eve nodded.

  “One of two of them that played that part back then. The first was actually the Greater Demon Xenses, The Defiler. Then Fram filled in, after he left, and yes, as far as I know, that Barb was always a dude.”

  Their Barb shook her head a bit, and sniffed. It wasn’t angry seeming, but was mock prim, instead.

  “Really? All I’ve heard about the situation was that it was The Mistress of Souls brother, and that he was better looking than I am.”

  Fram smiled and reached out to touch the Vampire woman’s hand.

  “Don’t let it bug you. That Barb was designed to be hot. Nearly perfect really, like a succubus almost. Too much of a good thing, if you ask me. I was being hit on constantly, for the whole time I was at Raintree. Mark here may not be getting a lot of action, but at least I can get some work done, now and again. Anyway, the point is, that was me, so we’re old friends, Becky. Really, you know a lot of us, for a Human being.”

  That got Eve to stiffen a bit, but she held her tongue. She wasn’t responsible for what Fram said, was she? It was kind of a rule, or at least the one she was going with for the time being.

  Becky Hoader, her face a bit blank, asked the needed question to set things all in motion. Almost as if it were part of a plan. A complex device created to push the world into a given shape. For half a moment she wondered if that was real. That it really might be wasn’t a thing that Eve couldn’t see, even if she didn’t understand the parts that were working away. She would have missed it as a Human though, she didn’t doubt.

  “Who? I… I guess that you might really be Barb, but who else?”

  The Greater Demon shrugged, and then drew things out. Because that was how he rolled.

  “Well, you know The Line Walker, and The Pristine. The Mind Taker, The Mistress of Souls, Me, and of course, your best friend in life, The Technician. I think that’s all, but I can’t swear your agent isn’t one of us. She seems like a barracuda. It’s a family trait, so that could be a sign.” Then he was silent, as Eve counted things up.

  After a bit she shook her head, confused.

  “I… Don’t know The Pristine, myself, I don’t think?”

  The former fatbeard looked at her knowingly.

  “Bente, the fashion designer? I think you helped set up some events for her, with Clara, and Keeley’s hot mom. By the way, I need to go and look Sherri up soon. After I lose a few more pounds. I’ve been meaning to nail her for years, and if I wait too much longer all the challenge will be gone.” He patted his stomach and smiled, then waited for the rest of the table to process all of it.

  Barb had no problem with that news though. Becky looked a bit troubled, but Eve hid it, herself. It was bad to let that kind of being sneak into your life, but it wasn’t like you got a choice in the matter, if it was going to happen.

  Finally, after a bit, Eve went on, knowing that she was supposed to.

  “So, you remember Zack? Keeley’s boyfriend?”

  “Sure. Um, we went out a few times. They weren’t exclusive.”

  Eve nodded, having heard about that from Keeley herself, and later Zack. Greater Demons did what they wanted, after all. It wasn’t that big of a shock that Zack would be cool enough to see that Becky was worth spending time with.

  “So, he’s one. Um, Keeley and Darla too. Both of them. Keeley’s dad is The Mind Taker.”

  Becky made a face then.

  “Um, Charles Thompson, or Dan Carmichael?”

  It was Fram who had the answer there, “Dan. His real name is Finias. He should be around here in a few days, if you w
ant to visit with him? He dropped a line the other night. Anyway, that’s about it. There are a few other people that you know that aren’t Human though. Rebekah the Manthori, but you know that one. Clara the caterer and her son? Hsreth. Which is… Well, they’re good beings to have around. I always meant to get one as a slave, but they’re hard to find and harder to catch. In high demand, you know? Your old boyfriend, Kyle? He’s… Well, you need to figure that one out for yourself. It will be funny! I wish I could be there for that, but I actually have to get back to my store. Oh, Lisa doesn’t know about me yet. Let’s keep it that way for a while? I really don’t need her melting down and locking herself in a closet saying the wrong spell to make me go away. It would embarrass her. Later, after we get out of bed?”

  Standing without saying anything else, he leaned over and kissed Becky on the cheek.

  “I missed you, by the way. We really should get together sometime, and really chat about things. There’s a lot that I could teach you.” He grinned and bustled away, like only a person pretending to be a cardigan wearing Mage could.

  Without shedding any light at all on the real problem that they were facing. If, and it was a real part of things, it was actually her problem.

  Iron Hand had been ready to attack, and the target was probably going to be a bunch of hapless and helpless Humans again. That seemed more like the dry cleaners than anything else. A thing set up to get on the news, and make Vampires look bad. Who benefited from that though?

  Someone that…

  The thing there was that, while she could see that it had to be someone that wanted to make trouble, how they were planning to profit from it was just outside of anything she could really see.

  It was damned frustrating, though she didn’t let it show. She just didn’t have enough information, and possibly wasn’t really involved, when it came right down to it. The others, Lenore, and Bey, they were the ones that needed to handle this kind of thing, not some girl that could barely figure out whether she was supposed to suck the blood, or blow bubbles in it.