Daemon Uprising

by Mariah Ankenman

  Kiernan snorted. “Good luck with that. Racine’s been trying for the better part of a century, but that old biddy is one tight-lipped lady.”

  She chuckled as they climbed the stairs to the kitchen. Her mirth died as they neared the library. Steadying her breath, and encouraged by Kiernan’s strong hand at the small of her back, Tabitha turned the knob on the door and entered Racine’s office.

  The small amount of chatter went mute at their entrance. Racine sat at his desk. Hyde and Saint stood in front of the desk while Cade and Barrett took the chairs just behind them. As she entered the room, Racine stood. He moved around his desk and came straight to her. Tabitha sucked in a breath not knowing what to expect, how much Racine had been told. She was surprised when the large Euadaemon swept her up into his arms in a firm bear hug.

  “Tabitha, are you all right?”

  Smiling at the unusual—but desperately needed affection—she murmured yes and returned the hug, embracing Racine tightly. A low growl came from behind her causing Racine to drop his arms and step back.

  “My apologies,” Racine said to Kiernan, from whom the sound originated. “I was just worried and wanted to be sure she was better.”

  “I understand,” Kiernan said between clenched teeth.

  She huffed out a frustrated breath, rolling her eyes. She was going to have to get used to this Tira touching thing, but at least Kiernan was a bit better. The growl he gave Racine only measured about two on the Richter scale. As opposed to the one he gave Saint earlier.

  “I know you’ve been injured,” Racine said going back to his desk and sitting. “But time is running out. I need your report now.”

  “I’m fine.” She nodded, taking a firm stance to prove it. She launched into what had happened once she and Kiernan set down in Kenosha Pass. In true Tabitha fashion, not a detail was skipped, until she reached the part where Stryden spoke to Kiernan in the strange Kako language. She paused turning to Kiernan.

  The room was silent. After a moment, Racine broke the silence, speaking to Kiernan.

  “What did he say? Repeat the phrase, and Celia can translate.”

  “I don’t need Celia to translate. I know what he said,” Kiernan said firmly.

  Torn between the curiosity of wanting to know and the pain stabbing her heart at the tortured look on her Tira’s face, she reached out to Kiernan, hoping to comfort him in some small way. His muscles relaxed a fraction when she placed a hand on his arm.

  “Then what did he say?”

  His jaw clenched, his hands making tight fists at his side. “He said the same thing my father used to say to my mother and me. Celia translated it for me.”

  So that’s what had been on the piece of paper the night before.

  “He said, ‘With the power of the soul, you can become a god.’ ”

  “Think pretty highly of themselves, don’t they?” Saint snorted from his perch on the edge of Racine’s desk.

  “It is true the human soul gives a Kako strength, but up until now, the madness accompanying it has always been their downfall.” Racine turned to the corner of the room. “Celia, any progress on discovering the meaning behind the Drone?”

  Tabitha’s gaze flew to the dark corner of the room where the Witch/scientist sat. She had not even realized Celia was in the room. Her assistant Cory stood next to her, present but silent as always. The Witch rose and approached the group, opening a tan folder she carried in her hands as she walked.

  Tabitha was glad for the interruption of her story, because she really didn’t know how to explain the next part. She knew she needed to tell Racine about being a Tele, but she didn’t want to do it in front of such large a group.

  “I’ve been in contact with the other councils and discovered something rather unusual.” Celia shuffled through the papers. “While there have been higher amounts of Kako killings, there is something preceding all the killings. In each city before the rash of killings took place, there were reports of coma patients.”

  Tabitha snapped to attention at Celia’s words. The Witch continued.

  “Before each outbreak of Kakos, human individuals ranging all ages and races were brought into hospitals in apparent comas. Unresponsive to all drugs and no tests were conclusive on why these people fell into undisturbed sleep. No toxins found in the patients or wounds of any kind on the bodies.”

  There wouldn’t be. Daemon saliva healed, not poisoned. If a Kako sucked the soul out of a human, they could easily cover their attack by healing the wounds after.

  “In nature, a drone is a male honey bee whose sole purpose is to mate with the queen. They do not make honey or have the ability to sting. All a drone is good for is sustaining the queen.”

  The room fell silent. Celia closed the folder placing it on Racine’s desk. “I believe the Kakos have discovered that pulling most of a soul from their first human, but leaving them alive and incapacitated, allows the Kakos to retain their sanity while still gaining the strength the human soul allows a Daemon.” She paused, allowing her theory to sink in. “I believe when the Kakos say ‘Drone’ they refer to the human whose soul they did not completely devour. The comatose human now provides the Kako with sanity and strength, nourishing the Kako and allowing them to take more souls without the fear of madness sinking in.”

  “What happens if the Kako dies?” Cade asked.

  Celia’s brow wrinkled. “I’m not entirely positive as this is just a hypothesis, but I would say the human soul returns to the host, and the Drone regains their mobility.”

  “Celia, check and see how many people in the metro area have recently become comatose—”

  “Already done,” Celia interrupted. “Cory found three within the last six months.”

  A few eyes glanced at the small Witch in the corner, who shrank back as the attention focused on her. In her ten years with the supernatural council, Tabitha had never known the tiny Witch to utter more than four or five words to anyone. Celia said she was an excellent assistant but liked to keep to herself. Tabitha respected that.

  “Three? But I thought there were four Kakos in the group?” Saint directed his query to Racine.

  Racine nodded as Kiernan answered.

  “There were four. Shanna and Brone now dead. And Alec and Stryden.”

  “Perhaps Stryden had already created a Drone before he came here,” Saint proposed.

  Celia’s brow furrowed in concentration. “It’s possible. As he is the leader of the group, it stands to reason he had already procured his Drone before the others chose to follow him. He most likely guided them through the process.”

  If Stryden taught the others how to create a Drone, then who had taught him? She was not the only one thinking along those lines because Barrett asked that very question. In the silence that followed, everyone realized their problem was much bigger than Stryden and a few Kakos out west. Somewhere, someone taught Kakos how to create Drones and sent them out to recruit others. The Kakos were forming an army.

  Chapter 31

  After the revelation, the group dispersed. Saint, along with Cade and Barrett, went back to their room to contact Damien—their head of council—and inform him of the recent discovery. Celia had gone back down to her lab with Cory to start researching where the first outbreak of sane Kakos might have occurred in order to narrow down suspects of the Kako leader. Racine kept her and Kiernan in his office.

  Once the door firmly closed and they were alone, the sinking feeling rose in her stomach. She knew Racine cared for her, loved her like a sister he had said a time or two. Didn’t change the fact she had hidden something extremely important from him. Her reasons did not hold up as much now that she looked at them. Racine would never hurt her or lock her away as her father had threatened. He would not see her as a freak. Still, self-doubt crept in.

  Racine sat at his desk, waiting. He said nothing, but she knew he waited for her to speak. She twisted her hands together in a bid to stop their shaking. A large warm hand came down, separating them
and taking them firmly in its own, Kiernan.

  She looked up into his smiling face. He squeezed her hands reassuringly, providing silent support. He was always there for her. And she…oh shit, she loved Kiernan. It made sense considering they were Tiras. Hell of a time to admit it to herself.

  Pushing the realization away for another time, Tabitha smiled back. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face Racine.

  “There is something else you need to know…about me.”

  A thick golden eyebrow rose, but still the Enforcer leader said nothing.

  Feeling it best just to get it out there, like ripping off a bandage—which she never really understood, fast pain, slow pain, it’s all the same pain—she kept her mouth firmly closed and spoke into Racine’s mind.

  I am a Tele.

  Surprise flitted across her mentor’s face. He quickly recovered. Showing no emotion, he asked, “What level?”

  Focusing her attention on the pile of books on top of his desk, she lifted them into the air and back down again.

  “Two,” she said simply.

  Racine remained quiet for a moment. No emotions passed across his face. The worry built in her once more. Feeling her body tense, Kiernan placed a hand at the small of her back and rubbed in small circles. Her muscles relaxed slightly.

  Finally, Racine spoke. “Does Stryden know?”

  She worried her bottom lip. “Yes.”

  Racine rose from his desk, stepping out from behind it.

  “They will not hurt you, Tabitha,” Racine said firmly. “I promise you.”

  Emotions she never let show, rose up. Her eyes watered. She felt a small push on her back as Kiernan released her hands. Willingly she went forward, arms outstretched. Racine greeted her with open arms, grabbing her into a fierce embrace. He placed a soft kiss on the top of her head, as a father might do. It made her realize all over again how stupid she had been to keep her secret. Racine loved her. He would never harm or betray her. None of her fellow Enforcers would.

  “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, Racine,” she muffled into his shirt through sobs.

  He rubbed her back gently, soothing her, but not interrupting her emotional release. “Shhh, it’s all right, Tabitha. I understand your hesitancy to reveal your secret.”

  He comforted her as a parent would a child. When she pulled back, Kiernan handed her a box of tissues. She smiled at him as she accepted it. He understood what she needed, whether a tissue or a hug from a friend. Damn, she really loved the man.

  “What about Krista?” Racine asked.

  She shook her head. “I inherited the abilities from my mother.”

  Racine nodded. He knew more about Tabitha’s past than anyone, except now Kiernan. She knew Racine still felt guilty he had not saved Krista in time. She was just grateful her baby sister was still alive, even if Krista lay in a vegetative state.

  “Holy shit!” Tabitha exclaimed, realization dawning.

  Kiernan stood at her side in a second, concern marring his handsome face. “What’s wrong?”

  “Krista.” Her eyes widened. She gazed between Kiernan and Racine. “Racine, did you kill the Kako that attacked my sister and me?”

  Light dawned in his eyes. “No. He got away.”

  Kiernan tensed beside her as he followed their thread of logic. “Then, that makes your sister—”

  “A Drone,” she finished. “If we find out who sucked her soul, we can kill him and bring Krista back.”

  Hope sparked in Tabitha for the first time in over ten years. Krista. Her little sister. They could wake her up. Bring her out of the darkness.

  Racine moved behind his desk. He brought the laptop on his desk to life and began clicking.

  “What’s up, Boss Man?” Kiernan asked, the words light but the tone far from it.

  Racine answered without glancing up. “I’m bringing up the file on you and your sister, Tabitha. There is a description of the Kako attacker. It will help us identify him so we can track him down.”

  No doubt laced Racine’s words. The Daemon held a lot of guilt for what had happened to her and her sister, even though he saved them. The determination in his voice was unlike anything Tabitha had ever heard before. How could she ever think Racine would be upset by her secret or betray her?

  “We still need to find Stryden and Alec,” Kiernan said.

  “I think I know a way to draw them out.” She had an idea. They weren’t going to like it, but time quickly ran short.

  Kiernan gave her a suspicious look. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

  She grinned. “Probably not.”

  He let out an aggravated breath. “Fine, let’s hear it.”

  She took a deep breath. Not only was Kiernan not going to like this plan, he was going to hate it. At the moment, her plan was all they had. Damn, didn’t that feel like the statement of the day lately?

  “To lure Stryden out, we need to give him something he wants. He wants me.”

  A growl escaped from Kiernan’s chest. “I knew I was going to hate this idea.”

  Racine shifted uncomfortably in his chair, looking up from his laptop. “I have to agree with Kiernan on this one, Tabitha. I don’t like it.”

  “Hear me out,” she said, holding her hand up to prevent further protest. The men quieted and let her continue. “He ran away tonight because the odds turned against him, but he knows I’m a Tele. He won’t stay gone long. I think that’s why he didn’t flee when we found out about The Basement. He wants me, and he’s going to keep trying to get me. Let’s give him the opportunity.”

  Tabitha liked to spend more time on her plans. Hours, or even days, strategizing was normal. Fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants plans were Kiernan’s method. Oh hell, the Daemon had started to rub off on her now, too. Next thing she knew, Tabitha would call Racine Boss Man. She suppressed a chuckle as the thought entered her mind.

  “I go about my daily routine, my apartment, the shelter.” She needed to get back to work anyway. They were pretty lenient with her drop-in-whenever schedule because they needed all the help they could get, but even volunteers got sacked. “Stryden will follow me, or have Alec do it. When they have the best opportunity, they’ll attack. All we have to do is anticipate that opportunity and hit them with an ambush.”

  As she finished outlining her plan, Kiernan and Racine remained silent. After a moment, Racine spoke.

  “It’s not a bad plan.”

  “I know,” Kiernan grumbled. “I still hate it.”

  Racine stood and came around his desk. He placed a large firm hand on Kiernan’s shoulder. “No one wants to see Tabitha in danger, especially her Tira, but it’s the only one we have.”

  ****

  Kiernan agreed it was a solid plan, but he wished they had a better one. He would rather cut off his own arm than place Tabitha in danger. He knew in the back of his mind, if they did not catch Stryden and Alec soon, Tabitha would continue being in danger. That thought alone made him agree with the asinine plan.

  “What about me?” he asked, the dislike still apparent in his voice. “Stryden knows you are my Tira. He won’t be stupid enough to think I let you go about your day unsupervised when he’s still out there.”

  Tabitha’s eyes gleamed. The way they did when she had a perfect strategy all planned out. He loved that gleam. He loved her.

  “That’s where the ambush comes in. I find a way to ‘sneak away’ from your overbearing watch-dog routine—”

  “Overbearing watch dog?” he interrupted with a raised eyebrow.

  Eyes rolling, she huffed out an exasperated breath. “Protective supervision. Is that better?”

  He gave her a smirk. “Much.”

  Another eye roll. “I make it look like I’ve slipped away. I go back to my place where Hyde and the others await in hiding—”

  “Hard to hide four large men in that dinky little place of yours, Tabby Cat.”

  “Will you let me finish?”

  He hid a laugh at her aggrav
ation. Damn, she was cute when she got all riled up. Her cheeks flushed pink, her eyes sparked with fire. It reminded him of the way she looked in bed right after…He stopped mid-thought. They had a job to do. He couldn’t whisk Tabitha away and have his way with her for weeks on end just yet. After they took care of Stryden, he’d put in for some much needed time off, Tabitha too, even if he had to force her to do so. In all the years he’d known her, he’d never seen her even take a sick day, let alone vacation time. He waved a hand motioning for her to continue.

  “It’s four against one, two if he brings Alec, but I still think we can take them. And, of course, we’ll have a few Enforcers waiting on the roof for backup.” Tabitha turned to him. “Think you can handle getting a team together on short notice?”

  Kiernan’s eyes gleamed. “You know it.”

  “Son of a bitch.”

  The use of profanity from Racine was an uncommon occurrence. It usually heralded bad things. Judging from the dark rage in his voice as he uttered another foul curse, Kiernan prepared himself for more bad news.

  Pile it on, it can’t get much worse.

  “What?” he asked, his attention turning to the Enforcer leader.

  Racine looked up from his computer with murder in his eyes. It chilled him to the bone. He had never seen his mentor’s eyes look so dark and deadly. Whatever he discovered, it was bad.

  “I know who made Krista a Drone.”

  ****

  Her heart jumped to her throat as Tabitha moved around Racine’s desk to look at the computer screen. Not only was there a description, someone had managed to make a very accurate drawing of the Kako, attaching it to the file. An average-looking man, short dirty blond hair, a long square face and narrow, beady, dangerous eyes. Stryden.

  “Son of a bitch,” Kiernan murmured from behind her.

  She wholeheartedly agreed. Not only did the Kako leader want to eat her heart, but he was the Kako who attacked them ten years ago, changing both of their lives forever. He was the one responsible for putting Tabitha’s baby sister in the hospital. And now, he was the one going to die.

  “Stryden will not escape us again.” The dark vow escaped Racine’s lips with such ferocity no one in the room doubted it. She knew he finally saw his chance to redeem himself for letting harm befall a human all those years ago. Krista would wake, if Celia’s theory was correct.