by Shah, Karin
“I don’t think it’s fair to preempt Thalia when she’s never failed.” George put both hands on the table and leaned over the table toward Heath. “If she fails, then someone else can take over.”
“If she fails, there may not be anyone left to take over.”
Thalia craned her neck trying to estimate how many people stood around her, hands cupped around sweating drinks, voices raised to be heard over the din. The bar was full to the rafters.
Thalia didn’t think she’d ever seen so many people at the Bell, Book, and Candle. The newspaper coverage seemed to have had a reverse effect from what she had thought it would. Far from frightening people away, it seemed to have brought new customers out of the woodwork.
The stools at both bars were occupied, as were the tables. It was standing room only for everyone else. The dance floor was so packed she didn’t see how anyone could dance.
The female vampire Gideon was speaking with ran a hand down his arm, dark eyes glinting beneath raven lashes. She was practically devouring him. Thalia turned away. Really, did they have no shame? It was embarrassing.
She waved a stiff paper coaster in front of her flushed face. Heavens, it was hot. Was the air conditioning even running? The heat of so many bodies was almost overwhelming.
She took a sip of her ginger ale. The ice had melted, making it watery, but it was wet, and she took another swallow while she surveyed the room. A haze of cigarette smoke hung over the crowd, thicker on the eastern side of the bar. The vampire half. Witches rarely smoked. After all, they weren’t already dead. She didn’t have to ask how the vampires got away with breaking the ban.
It was likely that somewhere in this noisy throng was the creature who’d stolen Lily’s life, and those of at least two others.
And he would strike again. From what Gideon had told her, the rogue had no other choice. A weighty sense of doom settled over her, pressing against her chest, squeezing the air out of her lungs. Three women dead already. Women whose only crime was their relationship with her.
Relationships that, at least in the case of the last two victims, were tenuous at best.
Because the list of Thalia’s non-witch acquaintances was small, she and Gideon had planned to keep an eye on any of the human pettys that also frequented the bar, but with such a crowd... How could she even know who to watch? Nor did she know how the vampire knew her connection with the victims, when even she hadn’t been aware she knew the second victim.
She closed her eyes against the pain and guilt. She couldn’t sit here any longer. She set down her drink and jumped off of her stool. “I’m going to the ladies’ room.”
The restrooms at the Bell, Book, and Candle were simply labeled “Women” and “Men,” but someone had long ago written “witches” and “mages” crudely above each sign.
Vampires didn’t need bathrooms, although the females sometimes used the mirrors to primp. Some human habits died hard.
The ladies’ room had an antechamber for just that purpose. A sort of lounge decorated in twenties-era style with a large gilt mirror, flowered wallpaper, and a pink velvet settee guarded by two stuffed chairs. For all Thalia knew it had been decorated in the Twenties. It’d looked the same for as long as she could remember.
Three young witches, two brunettes and a blonde, were using that part of the restroom, brushing their hair and applying lipstick in front of the mirror.
They didn’t look up as Thalia slipped past them, through the arch, into the back room that contained the stalls. Out of their view, their chatter, merely background noise in her ears, she splashed water on her face and ran some over her wrists. She turned off the faucet and took a paper towel from the dispenser, drying her face.
“...the Champion.” Hearing her title, she froze.
“I know we’re not supposed to look at them, but oh my God he’s handsome! I wouldn’t mind investigating something with him,” one of the women said suggestively. The other two tittered in response.
“Do you remember Jana? She dated a vampire.” Scandalized gasps met this confession. Thalia thought about ducking out, but something wouldn’t let her leave. “She really liked him and,” the speaker lowered her voice slightly for a moment, “apparently the sex was unbelievable.” Her volume rose. “But they couldn’t go anywhere together, and she said he got really frustrated that he couldn’t take her blood. What finally split them up, though, was that Jana got a gray hair.”
“That’s shallow.”
“He claimed her didn’t want to see her age because he knew he’d lose her.” The woman accented the “claimed” and sing-songed the rest, implying his words were probably a convenient lie. “Jana was so devastated she left the state.”
“Think Gideon and the Champion are sleeping together?” More laughter.
“Please! What would he see in her?”
A knot formed in Thalia’s stomach. Damn. She should’ve left when she’d had the chance.
“Hey, she really helped me out once!” Thalia suddenly recognized the speaker. It was the blonde, Ashley Trenton. And if that was so, the other two must be Maureen Smith and Kimmy Simpson. The three were always together, so much so they were referred to as the three musketeers.
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. Senior year I started to have these horrible dreams. I dreamt a monster was stalking me.”
“Ooh, Nightmare on Edgemere Drive.”
“Hey.”
Thalia heard the thump of a tiny slap.
“It was really scary! They got worse and worse until I couldn’t sleep at all. I was falling asleep at school. Do you remember when I overslept and missed the SAT’s? Finally, my mom took me to see Thalia. It was just after she became the Champion. She found out Kit Van Sant, you know that guy I wouldn’t date in high school, was manipulating my dreams to get back at me.”
“What a jerk! What happened?”
“She put a binding spell on him. He barely recognized me the next day. And then one time my older brother accidentally summoned that demon while attempting a spell.”
“Your brother is such a moron! Still, she’s not exactly on Gideon Damek’s level.”
“No one’s on his level. Anyway, I feel sorry for her...” A burst of music, the soft swish of the door, and the sudden quiet that followed told Thalia they’d left.
She studied her face in the mirror above the sink. Under the florescent lights, her features were taut and drawn, her mouth pinched.
Ashley felt sorry for her? The knot in her stomach swelled, doubling its size and another germinated in her throat. She preferred the others’ scorn. She could handle that.
She let a long sigh empty her lungs. They said eavesdroppers never heard anything good. It was amazing how often “they” were right. She took a small comb from her purse, brushed out her hair and put it back in her customary pony-tail, stalling to give the other women enough time to get away, then made her way back to the table.
She wished she were like Lily. Lily would have marched right out and made some witty comment. A virulent ache stung her throat.
As she sat down across from Gideon, she became abruptly aware of a malevolent energy present in her mind. It was subtle, a petty would never have noticed, but there nonetheless. She struggled to keep the strange entity ignorant of her discovery, focusing the surface of her thoughts on her grief, while at the same time scanning the crowd for the source.
Who, or what, was it? Was it the rogue or some new unknown threat? She took another sip of her drink, attempting to look oblivious. She didn’t dare try to get Gideon’s attention.
She shifted casually in her barstool, trying to get a look at the mirror behind the bar. She searched the faces of the patrons, all the time knowing it was probably useless. If it were the rogue and he was in the bar, he would cloak his appearance with an illusion of innocence, purity even.
She sent a tendril of magic into the room. A simple reveal spell intended to allow her to see through any glamour spells being used in the roo
m. She prayed it would work against vampires.
She rechecked the mirror. Several mages across the room no longer sported full heads of hair. Numerous witches had had a sudden weight gain. Almost every magic user on the west side of the bar was just a bit less attractive than he or she had seemed a few moments earlier. She had had no idea glamours were so casually used. Still, she supposed everyone wanted to look his or her best on a Friday night. She touched her mark. If she had been an ordinary witch, she might have spared the energy to sustain such a spell.
The malignant being hovering in her mind began to fade. In seconds it was gone. Had it left the building, as well? Was it even now following a potential victim?
Gideon, Thalia spoke telepathically. With so many vampires around, it would be impossible to keep their conversation secret. Gideon gave no outward sign he had heard, but he dismissed the predatory blonde, who stalked off with a pout. He turned to Thalia.
What is it?
I just felt something. I don’t know what it was, but it was definitely evil. It’s gone now. If it’s the vampire, I think it may have gone after a victim.
Gideon stood. Let’s go.
He could feel the Butcher and the witch drawing closer. Perhaps his time had come?
He let the empty husk drop to the ground next to the corpse of her witch friend. These two he wouldn’t bother to move. They were well hidden among the trash bags and cans in the alley. Unless... An idea came to him. Yes, that would be perfect.
If he didn’t fulfill the prophecy tonight, he would come back later for one of the bodies.
He dragged the vast power of the Claiming from deep within and used it to cover himself in a cloak of invisibility.
This was going to be fun.
Gideon? Thalia asked as they stepped out onto the brick sidewalk. Do you feel that?
He nodded his head slowly. The sensation they were being observed by something powerful and evil crawled over him. He reached out with his mind, hunting for the source of the feeling. It seemed to be everywhere, and nowhere.
Layers of deception concealed the entity. He peeled back one putrid strata only to encounter more. He felt as if he were excavating a dung heap. Each descending level clung to him like an acidic web, burning and stinging. The strands throbbed with evil intent, tainting him, summoning the monster within, but still he worked.
Sweat bloomed on his forehead as he focused. His muscles strained in sympathy with his mind. Finally, he could discern a hint of the being’s true nature. It was a vampire. One of the most ancient and powerful he had ever encountered. A true adept, who, Gideon sensed, was toying with them at the moment. And he sensed something else.
“We’re too late. He’s already fed,” Gideon growled. Fury surged from deep within him. The demon inside savored the feeling even as it strained at its leash, fighting for release. Gideon drew strength from the raging monster within.
Thalia let out an audible sigh, a whisper full of sadness and resignation. She reached out to touch him, but he shook his head, warning her off.
Whoever this powerful ancient was, he was stalking them.
Gideon needed every scrap of concentration he could muster if they were to get out of this alive.
He pushed Thalia behind him. Go back into the bar, he ordered.
He knew from the complexity of the rogue’s defenses that this vampire was as old as he was and, enhanced by his recent Claiming, probably the most dangerous vampire he had ever fought. He had no choice.
As much as he hated for her to see his true self, he was going to let the demon have full rein.
Chapter 9
No. Thalia made her voice as resolute as she could. I’m the Champion. It was my cousin he murdered. I can take care of myself. I hope. She kept that final thought to herself.
Gideon turned back to her, black eyes flashing. I can’t afford to be distracted.
Maybe it will be you who distracts me? Did you ever think of that? Out of the corner of her eye, Thalia saw a faint blurry motion. She threw up a hand, muttering the last word of a potent shielding spell. A flash of blue light lit the area around them as something hit the shield, a huge misshapen blob Thalia couldn’t quite make out, and wasn’t sure she wanted to. It came with a foul odor and an aura so black and corrupt it seemed to stain the air it touched.
The thing reeled back from the force of the spell and howled, throwing back its bizarrely shaped head and raising unnaturally long arms in challenge. Thalia had never seen anything like it outside a horror movie. Spikes of black, pitted bone made up its skull and skeleton, which were all outside the body like an insect’s. It had glowing yellow eyes with flaming red pupils.
What is it? Thalia’s telepathic voice trembled with adrenaline as she struggled to maintain the energy flowing to the shield. Gideon shook his head. I don’t know. It’s not the vampire. I don’t feel any intelligence. Some sort of a golem, maybe.
The creature advanced on them again. With a horrible scream emitting from its beak-like mouth, it launched itself at Thalia and hit the shield. The shield flared blue at the impact. The creature was forced back, but not as far as the first time. As she weakened, so did the shield.
Thalia fed more power to the shield, but as the spell took its toll, her strength was fading fast. She sagged and put a hand on the pavement to stop from falling altogether.
Gideon placed a hand under Thalia’s arm and brought her to her feet, supporting her easily with his enormous strength. To control the golem, the vampire must be nearby. I just need a few more seconds to locate him. Can the shield take another hit?
Thalia nodded her head feebly, too exhausted to speak.
Gideon tore his eyes away from Thalia’s pale face. Her eyes were huge dark holes. Her arm felt like fine china beneath his grasp. Her body shook. She couldn’t take much more of this, nor did she have the energy to get back to the building.
He sent his mind scanning for the master vampire as the golem prepared to attack. The search proved unnecessary however, for as the golem made its attack, the vampire revealed himself, leaping at Gideon in the form of another golem. The shield disintegrated as it barely repelled the simultaneous assault.
Thalia fell to her knees, and Gideon was forced to release her. The two hideous creatures hesitated briefly, shaking off the effects of the shield and attacking again. Gideon moved with the speed of lightning, kicking out at the two monsters. They fell backward, and he was able to swiftly drag Thalia to the nominal protection of a recessed doorway.
Rage surged through him and he embraced it, allowing the monster free rein for the first time in centuries. He cried a challenge to the night sky as he raced back to engage the enemy. Despite the speed of his attack, the golem and the vampire had regained their feet. They switched places several times, perhaps trying to confuse him, but the evil intelligence directing the attack could not hide behind his puppet. The vampire’s vile nature could not be hidden by mere illusion.
“Come now,” Gideon said, fury pulsing through every vein. “Discard this weak disguise. Face me as your true self.”
The vampire didn’t answer. The creatures circled Gideon. He growled as they attacked without warning, and the demon inside him laughed. It was about to be fed.
His fangs descended. Razor-sharp claws formed on his fingertips.
Appendages tipped with deadly claws of their own flashed through the air, but Gideon dodged them, flowing away from each attack while striking out with his hands and feet, keeping the golem and its master at bay. The golem, a creature made from parts scavenged from a variety of dead things, was slow by comparison, but damn distracting. He concentrated on the vampire, waiting for his opportunity.
Gideon leapt over his foe. No longer encircled, he attacked, raking at the vampire with one powerful claw and opening a gaping wound in his side. The vampire screamed with pain and defiance. The wound swiftly disappeared inside the golem illusion, but Gideon knew it was there. He could smell it. Drops of blood spattered on the pavement. Th
e bloodlust welled up inside him. He reveled in the mindless hunger of it, savoring the exquisite pleasure of freedom unhampered by petty morality. He struck again.
The vampire slipped away, but not before landing a blow of his own. The sting of the shallow claw marks on Gideon’s arm, and the unique odor of his own blood, maddened him. He ducked the golem’s clumsy attack and lunged at the vampire, shape-shifting as he moved into the form of a massive tiger. He hit the vampire square in the chest with his immense weight, knocking the ancient to the ground.
Despite the huge mass of the golem illusion he wore, the vampire felt the size of an average man beneath Gideon’s huge paws. He flexed his claws, digging them into the vampire’s shoulders, piercing his flesh, and lowered his head to rip out the vampire’s throat. The vampire abandoned the golem illusion. Roaring, he shape shifted into a tiger of his own, twisting out of Gideon’s grasp. Without the vampire to direct it, the true golem fell to pieces on the pavement. The vampire roared again. The sound echoed off nearby buildings.
Gideon roared in return and two tigers faced each other in the dark Rochester street.
Gideon, someone’s coming,
Thalia’s words pierced the veil of fury enfolding him, and reason flooded back. He could hear a party of mayflies coming down a side street.
Can you hide us?
I don’t have the energy. I’m sorry.
Can you take energy from the things around you? Gideon evaded a slashing paw, rolling out of the way and lashing out with a counterattack.
Gideon, that would be...
The blow landed, the vampire staggered back. More blood decorated the road. The vampire growled and padded back and forth in front of Gideon, clearly weighing his options.
Vampirism Gideon finished for her. What if I could feed you some of my power?
Is it possible?
Damn, he hoped so. The giggling voices were getting nearer. Without taking his eyes away from the pacing vampire, Gideon sent a burst of energy along the route of their mental communication.
