Last Blood hoc-5

by Kristen Painter

The sound of her name deepened the ache in Mal’s chest. The voices droned in his brain, sad and confused and unhappy. “Like I can’t wait to see her again.”

  Damian brought his sacre a little closer to Mal’s face. “So you can kill her?”

  “No.” Mal scowled. “I love her.” Then he remembered. “Son of a priest, I’ve been a total ass.”

  “Wasn’t your fault,” Mortalis said. “Not exactly.”

  Doc shifted back to human from his half-form. “What the hell just happened?”

  “Mal just got his emotions back.” Mortalis looked at him. “That’s all that matters.”

  Doc raised a brow but said nothing else.

  Mal got to his feet, wobbling slightly. Apparently getting all your emotions sucked out and then pumped back in made you feel like you’d been on a monthlong bender. “How did that happen? And where’s Chrysabelle?”

  “She had something to take care of,” Mortalis answered. “But she should be home soon.” He studied Mal. “Are you sure you’re back?”

  Mal nodded. The voices scratched around in his head, searching for remnants of old Mal. “I feel like I am. Except I really need to sit down.”

  They moved into the living room, but Mortalis stayed close. “If you’re really back, take out those earplugs.”

  Mal reached up and popped them out. “I’d forgotten about those. Damn it. And about Tatiana.”

  “What about her?” Damian took the chair next to him. “We know she’s in town.”

  “Not anymore. She’s already gone back to Corvinestri. Where she thinks I’ll be joining her.”

  Damian frowned. “Why?”

  Mal explained everything that had happened, from Tatiana coming to see him to his encounter with Creek to the tainted blood Dominic had been sending.

  Mortalis nodded. “Chrysabelle asked him to do that.”

  “It was a good idea. I can’t imagine how many people she kept me from killing.”

  Doc frowned. “How many did you kill?”

  “None.” He tried to think, but ingesting so many drugs in so few days had left a few hazy spots in his memory. “At least, I don’t think I did.”

  “Think harder,” Damian said. “There have been a couple humans murdered in the last few days and everything I’ve heard says it was a vampire.”

  “Bloody hell.” Mal racked his brain, trying to remember. He looked around. “I don’t seem to have any new ghosts following me, so I’m going to take that as a good sign.” He stood and stretched. “But if you want to stand guard over me while I sleep, be my guest. The sun will be up soon and I’m exhausted. Wake me when Chrysabelle gets home. I’ll be in the hurricane shelter until then.” Without waiting for a response, he headed down the hall.

  He locked the door behind him and leaned against it. He’d remember if he killed someone, wouldn’t he? But he couldn’t answer that definitively. There was one way to tell. He stripped his clothes off and checked his skin for new names. Nothing but the usual that he could see.

  He’d need a mirror to check the rest of his skin, but that would have to wait until the sun went down again. Until then, he needed to get unconscious and hope no new ghosts showed up to haunt him.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  I wish Velimai had made enough sandwiches for the flight home. I’m starving.”

  Chrysabelle shook her head at Fi as she slid into the car beside her. “You’re always hungry, but this time so am I. A little.” She wasn’t totally over the lethargy of being on the fae plane, but as it diminished, her appetite increased. It probably helped that they were back on the ground in New Florida. She was finally starting to feel safe again.

  Jerem stuck his head in before closing the car door. “You want me to swing through a drive-thru on the way home?”

  “Yes,” Fi said just as Chrysabelle said, “No.”

  Chrysabelle smiled. “Fi, you know Velimai will have a better meal than anything you can get at a fast-food joint.”

  “Yeah, that’s true.” She waved at Jerem. “Thanks, but I’ll be okay. Just drive fast.”

  He laughed and shut the door. A minute later, they were leaving the hangar behind and off toward the freeway.

  Fi unclipped her seatbelt to scoot to the seat across from Chrysabelle. “How are you feeling? Better?”

  “Yes. I think the residual effects of the fae plane have finally worn off.”

  “That was the scariest place I’ve ever been in.” Fi tucked one leg underneath her. “We probably shouldn’t tell Doc too much about it. He’ll freak. I know him. And in your condition, you probably shouldn’t be getting all stressed by being yelled at.”

  “I can handle Doc.” Chrysabelle’s hand slipped to her belly. “Whoa.” She looked down. “Is it just me or does my stomach seem bigger?”

  Fi nodded. “You’re definitely showing a little. Maybe you should go back to your loose tunics. T-shirts and snug jeans don’t hide much.”

  “You’re the one who bought me these clothes.”

  Fi smirked. “Check the label. Those are maternity jeans. Why do you think you’re still fitting into them?” She laughed. “You think all jeans are that stretchy?”

  “They don’t look like maternity jeans. Not that I’ve ever owned a pair before. Of any kind.”

  Fi yawned. “I’d say it was weird how fast this is happening, but considering this kid’s parents, I guess it’s not that weird at all. I wonder what your due date is. You should really go see a doctor.”

  Chrysabelle shot Fi a look. “And tell him what? I’m carrying a half-vampire baby? I realize with the covenant broken, othernaturals aren’t a secret to humans anymore, but I doubt there’s a doctor out there who’s studied anything close to what’s happening with me.”

  “Actually…” Fi’s eyes took on a curious glow. “Barasa, he’s one of Doc’s council members and the pride’s chief physician, he studied at a hospital that specialized in othernaturals. If anyone could give you some insight into this pregnancy, I bet he could.”

  Chrysabelle thought for a moment. “Couldn’t hurt to see him, I guess.” She shrugged. “Might be a little strange, but normal hasn’t been a big part of my life so far. Why start now?” She glanced down at her belly again. Soon everyone would know her secret.

  “Something wrong?”

  “Just thinking.” She looked out the window.

  “About?”

  “If things didn’t go the way they were supposed to with Mal… I’m not going to be able to hide this pregnancy from him for much longer.”

  “You did everything you were supposed to. You killed the raptor, and the emotions were released. It’s all going to be fine.”

  “What if he got his emotions back but isn’t happy about this child?”

  Fi rolled her eyes. “How could he not be happy about a baby?”

  “He refused to turn his daughter into a vampire to save her life. He thought being a vampire was worse than death for a child.” She stared at her stomach. “Now he’s responsible for bringing a vampire child into the world? Look at the trouble the last one caused. And now it’s in the hands of the ancients. You think Mal’s going to be thrilled about this?”

  Fi reached over and squeezed her hand. “This is just the pregnancy hormones talking. I’ll get you in to see Barasa tomorrow, I swear. I’ll bet you feel a ton better after talking to him.”

  Chrysabelle nodded. “Maybe you’re right. I’m going to sleep a little bit.” She closed her eyes, intending to work out the worst-case scenarios in case things weren’t fine, but when she opened her eyes again, they were pulling into her driveway.

  With the brilliant blue sky above them, the emerald green palms waving in the soft, salted air and the sun’s warmth beating down on them, it should have felt like paradise. But without Mal… she shook her head and forced herself to smile. It was that or cry.

  Tatiana read the Paradise City Press online, looking for anything that might give her an idea of Mal’s whereabouts. She’d expected him her
e by now and nothing in the paper provided any reason why he might be late. Except for the mention of a few vampire-related killings. Could he have been brought in for questioning? Considering that the mayor had tried to put him to death once already, he was probably high on the suspect list. Yes, perhaps that was what was keeping him.

  The tang of brimstone reached her nose. She spun around, realizing too late how dark her office had become. “My liege?”

  “No, Mother. It’s me.” The voice came from behind her.

  She twisted again. Lilith sat in one of her office chairs, one leg kicked up over the arm. Her jacket was made of dark red-brown leather and oddly cut, its edges left ragged and the seams joined with rough, looping stitches of ribbon in the same color. “Lilith, how nice to see you again.”

  She pouted. “Why haven’t you called me? I thought you loved me.”

  “I do, my darling, so much, but I’ve been busy finding a father for you.”

  Her eyes lit up. “You have?”

  “Yes. He’s one of the most fearsome vampires to ever walk the earth and he’s going to arrive very soon, and then do you know what’s going to happen?”

  She shook her head, looking very much the eager child.

  Then he’s going to help me kill you. “Then we’re all going on a trip to the most beautiful place on earth.”

  “Where? I want to know now.”

  Tatiana sat back and waggled her finger. “No. I can’t tell you any more than that or you’ll ruin the surprise.”

  Lilith crossed her arms and hurled herself back in the chair. “I hate surprises.”

  “No, you don’t. You love them. Now be a good girl and let Mother get back to her planning.”

  But Lilith didn’t budge. “I’m tired of the Castus. I want to live here with you.”

  Fear burrowed into Tatiana’s gut like an icy worm. “And you will, but the house isn’t ready for you yet. Your room is still a nursery. Do you want to spend your daysleep in a crib?” She made herself smile. “I want everything to be just right for you. Because I love you so much.”

  “It’s taking too long. Kill one of the workers. That will speed the rest up.”

  “Yes, I suppose it would, but it might make the rest of them quit, too.” Time to change the subject. “Is that a new jacket? I don’t remember it the last time we visited.”

  “Yes.” She smiled. “I made it myself.”

  That explained the crude construction.

  Lilith spread her arms to give Tatiana a better look. “I skinned one of the Castus. He was always nagging me about taking too much blood from him.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “So. Boring.”

  “You… skinned one of the ancients.” Tatiana worked hard to keep the fear out of her eyes. “Did he hurt you when you were doing this? I don’t see a mark on you.” Surely the Castus fought back.

  Lilith laughed. “Hurt me? How could he hurt me when he was dead?” She laughed some more, like she’d never heard anything so funny.

  Tatiana realized her mouth was hanging open. She shut it and carefully sat back. Lilith had killed one of the Castus. In the more than five hundred years since she’d been sired, she’d never heard such a thing could be done.

  No wonder the Castus were scared of this little monster they’d created. Lilith was unlike any creature that had ever existed. A nightmare made flesh. With the mind of a child.

  Tatiana swallowed. The Castus expected her to provide them with the solution to their problem. She almost laughed. To think she was relying on Mal to help her. All she’d really done was sentence him to death.

  Maybe both of them.

  The sound of beating wings preceded Annika’s arrival. She dropped into step beside Creek as he walked patrol through the neighborhood around City Hall. “We’ve got another death.”

  “Another human?” Creek shook his head. “This is getting serious.”

  “No, this time it’s a vampire.” She tucked her wings into her jacket. “An employee at Seven. Pretty high up. A woman named Katsumi Tanaka.”

  “Who’d she kill?”

  “She was the victim.”

  His brows lifted. “Really? Someone must have had a serious issue to take her out. She’s Dominic’s right hand from what I know about her. Noble, too. He resired her a short time ago. Navitas or whatever they call it.”

  “Yes, navitas. She was the wife of a Yakuza boss when she was human and since coming to work for Dominic, she’s made a name for herself running fighters through the Pits and now heading his comarré operations. There are a lot of people who might want her dead.”

  “But not that many who could take on a noble vampire.”

  Annika nodded. “So let’s narrow it down.”

  “The mayor’s a possibility.” And he knew the KM were looking for a reason to remove her from office. “She’s noble now, so she has the strength and ability and being Paole means she has the advantage of stealth. Katsumi being involved in the comarré operation could mean the mayor might want to take her out as revenge for the death of her daughter, Julia.”

  “Good. Who else?”

  “This new vampire, Luciano. He’s Dominic’s nephew. He might see Katsumi as a threat to his succession at Seven. Plus, he’s a loose cannon. We don’t know much about him.”

  Annika scanned the streets as they walked. “Any others?”

  He thought for a moment, wondering how much leeway she’d give him. He had his suspicions, but the KM was a tight group. They tended to protect their own pretty strongly. He shrugged. “I’m sure there are.”

  “You’re thinking of a name. Who is it?”

  “One I shouldn’t say.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you won’t like it.”

  She paused, making him stop too. “Who?”

  Nothing about her expression said she was going to let this go. “Octavian.”

  She didn’t react. “Why would he kill Katsumi? It hasn’t been ordered.”

  “Katsumi was part of the crew that went into Corvinestri to bring the vampire baby back. If he was at Seven, she could have recognized him, could have threatened to blow his cover.”

  “But why? What would she have to gain?”

  He lifted one shoulder. “She’s known for her ambition. If she could make it work for her, she would.”

  Annika started walking again. “He wouldn’t kill her without an order to do so, and she’s done nothing out of line to cause that to happen.”

  “Then it wouldn’t hurt to ask him a few questions. I’m sure he’s got nothing to hide.” Actually, Creek thought Octavian had a lot to hide. Getting Annika’s okay to dig might help him prove that.

  “It’s not your place to question a superior.” She let out a gruff sigh. “Keep it casual, understood?”

  If casual meant no excessive force, he could do that. In theory. He nodded. “Understood.”

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Hi, Pete. Sorry, Chief Vernadetto. I know you’re here on official business.” Fi gave him a big smile, despite her nerves. Doc had briefed her on the ride home, so she’d been anticipating the chief’s questions since she’d arrived.

  “Good afternoon, Fiona. It’s okay if you call me Pete. We’re friends, right?” His smile didn’t quite erase the sadness in his eyes.

  “Absolutely we’re friends.” It was nice to know he still thought of her that way. She sat across from him, glad she’d been able to shower and change. There was something about an expensive dress and killer heels that gave her a real boost of confidence. Killer heels. She almost laughed. “How are you?”

  “Fine, fine.”

  “Are you?” She looked at him closely. “Have you thought any more about what we talked about? You know, I have a lot of othernatural friends. If you want, I could ask around, see if any of them might know what you—”

  “No, no, I’m good. I’m okay with not knowing too much, really.” He lined his stylus up parallel to his tablet, even though it was already parallel. �
��How are you with everything that’s going on?”

  She didn’t buy him being okay with not knowing his bloodlines, but for the moment she’d let it drop. “I’m dealing. I got a little freaked out when Remo attacked me, but other than that, I’m dealing.” She leaned in. “I know you’re here to talk to me about the fight with Heaven, but can we have a few moments off the record, just you and I?”

  He nodded, seemingly grateful for the chance to take his police hat off. “Sure, what’s on your mind?”

  “You know how I asked you to do a little digging on Remo? I was just curious if you found out anything about him.”

  Pete frowned. “Unfortunately, due to this case, I can’t say much about that.” He sighed and tapped the stylus on the table. “I can tell you that Remo’s record isn’t spotless.” He looked toward the door before going further. “He’s got a pretty long rap sheet of minor run-ins, most of which his father has made go away. All small stuff, though. Fights. A DUI. A possession charge. Disorderly conduct. The typical bad boy who likes to party.”

  “What about pride issues? Those wouldn’t be recorded in police records, would they?”

  “No. Pride law is a separate thing unless it involves a legal issue. And each pride keeps its own records. What are you thinking?”

  She held a hand up. “I’m not in any way trying to do your job—”

  “I know that.”

  “What about possession of powdered silver?”

  Pete went quiet, but kept tapping his stylus on the table. Then the tapping stopped. “Is that against pride rules?”

  “They treat it like a drug or a poison. Possessing more than an eighth of an ounce without a legitimate reason—which I don’t think there are any—is grounds for a small fine and seizure of the powder. Second and third offenses have much more serious consequences.”

  Pete seemed to be mulling something over. “You think he might have tainted that sand himself then?”

  She shrugged. “Not really, but he might have been involved in it.”

  “Why would he do that? Heaven was his sister.”

  “Whom he admitted he never got along with. Maybe he knew if Heaven was out of the way, it would open up a chance for him to come to the States.”