Dare Me

by Parker Blue

  YOU HURT MY HUMAN, Princess said, growling at Sharra.

  Let me handle this, Shade told Princess.

  Sharra stared at the hellhound in surprise. “I know. I’m so, so sorry. I screwed up.”

  “Yes, you did,” Shade said. He wasn’t going to let her off the hook too easily.

  Her eyes filled with tears. “I was stupid, looking for someone to blame, and you were handy.” She wiped away a tear. “But it wasn’t your fault. It was that damned Paladin’s fault, for bringing Dad in, making him face that judgment ritual.”

  Shade sighed. It would be easy to blame Diesel, easy to blame anyone else, except for the one person truly responsible. “No, my memories are so new, they’re crystal clear. It wasn’t Diesel’s fault. It wasn’t yours, either,” he said, understanding Sharra probably felt guilty herself. “It was Dad’s.”

  Sharra shook her head. “No—”

  “Yes,” he insisted. “Dad is the one who lost his temper when Mom tried to leave him. Dad is the one who let a demon through into this world. Dad is the one to blame for what happened to him, no one else.”

  Sharra choked back a sob. “You can’t say that,” she whispered through her tears.

  “I can,” Shade said softly. “Because it’s true. That’s why he was always bugging us to control our emotions, remember? So we wouldn’t lose it and do the same thing he did.”

  “I know. But I still blame the Paladin for bringing him in.”

  “Diesel yes, but all Paladins? Sharra, you know better,” Shade said softly. He didn’t want any artificial barriers between Val and Sharra.

  She looked at him and sniffed. “You mean Val, don’t you? What is she to you? She’s more than a friend, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, she is. Or rather, she has been. Whether she is in the future remains to be seen.”

  GEE, CAN YOU BE ANY MORE WISHY-WASHY WUSSY? Fang asked.

  Shut up, Shade snapped mentally. You have no idea what I’m going through.

  ACTUALLY, DUDE, I DO, Fang said. I CAN READ YOUR MIND, REMEMBER? I FEEL FOR YOU, I REALLY DO. BUT YOU NEED TO POOP OR GET OFF THE POT. YOU’RE KILLING VAL WITH YOUR INDECISION.

  I know, I know. Sighing, Shade told Sharra, “You can’t blame Val for the actions of another Paladin. And Diesel was only doing his job. It’s not healthy to blame everyone else.”

  POT, MEET KETTLE, Fang taunted him.

  Shade winced. Fang was right, and that was the key. Shade couldn’t blame everyone else either. His reactions to what had happened to him in the past had colored how he felt in the present in a visceral way, even when he couldn’t remember that past. Obviously, he couldn’t change what had already happened, but he could change how he reacted to it. He could actually think about things instead of reacting instinctively. Starting now.

  “Maybe,” Sharra said. “But what are we going to do to find the shadow demon hunter?”

  “All of us here at the penthouse are working on it.”

  “How can I help?”

  “I’ll talk to the others, see what they suggest.”

  “Okay, great.” She came over to sit next to Shade and give him a hug. “I’m so glad the Dynamic Duo are back together. Shadow Boy and Sunshine Girl make an unbeatable team.”

  Shade smiled at her but made no comment. He still loved his sister, true, but could he trust her? That remained to be seen.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Val

  AFTER SHADE AND Sharra disappeared into his bedroom, I worried over the argument we’d just had. Though it had burst out of me like a popped zit, I didn’t regret a word of it. It had to be said, and I was glad I’d finally let it out.

  When they finally emerged from Shade’s room, I asked Fang privately, Is his sister telling the truth about why she’s here?

  YEP. SHE’S REALLY ANXIOUS TO DO THE FAMILY THING WITH SHADE.

  Well, that was something I could understand. And how does Shade feel about that?

  WHY DON’T YOU ASK HIM? Fang paused, then added, OH, RIGHT. BECAUSE YOU WANT ME TO READ HIS MIND AND BARE THE DEPTHS OF HIS SOUL FOR YOU. AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN, BABE. I HAVE SOME PRINCIPLES, Y’KNOW.

  I sighed. It’s just that . . . we had a fight. I let Fang read what had happened in my mind.

  WELL, I’M GLAD YOU FINALLY LAID IT ON THE LINE AND I FEEL FOR YA, BUT YOU TWO HAVE TO WORK THIS OUT ON YOUR OWN.

  Crap. No help there.

  Getting back to the issue at hand, I somehow managed to muster a few ideas to put together the semblance of a plan as Shade read the encyclopedia, and we had Sharra researching the Internet to find out what was going on in New Mexico.

  And as for Austin . . . I glanced at him.

  He held up his phone. “Alejandro has been keeping me posted on what’s going on in the Movement while I’m with you.”

  “Oh, if you need to go back and join them, I’ll understand,” I said hastily.

  Fang snorted mentally. SUBTLE, YOU’RE NOT.

  Austin gave me a half smile. “You can’t get rid of me that easily. They’re reporting acts of random violence on people in the Movement, somewhat similar to what Micah has been reporting.”

  “You think they’re related?”

  “Maybe. Two men tried attacking Rosa. Big mistake.”

  I grinned. Yeah, I wouldn’t mess with that chica either. “What happened?”

  “They got handed their heads.”

  “Literally?” I wouldn’t put it past her.

  “No, but she scared them off. She did get a good look at them, though.”

  “And?”

  “They seem to meet the same description as the ones who attacked us. Male, Hispanic with religious tattoos.”

  “But the ones who attacked us were looking for shadow demons. What good does it do to kill vampires—or other demons, for that matter?”

  Austin shrugged. “No idea. Religious mania, maybe?”

  “You mean they think all paranormal beings are evil, no matter what the origin.”

  “Yes.”

  I thought for a moment. “I still don’t see why they would look for one specific kind of demon at his home, then randomly target other demons and vamps. It doesn’t make sense. Maybe they’re not related.”

  “Maybe not,” he said. “But there’s one way to find out.”

  “You mean, become targets ourselves?”

  “Exactly.”

  So, we checked Austin’s intel, trying to figure out where the hunters would attack next. It wasn’t real clear, but they seemed to be aiming for the most well-known spots where vamps and demons hung out.

  “They weren’t at Club Purgatory earlier, or we would have been attacked then,” Austin said.

  “That doesn’t mean they’re not there now,” I said, feeling contrary.

  “That’s true. Where would you like to start, ma’am?”

  That was the second time he’d called me that. “Stop calling me that,” I snapped, more annoyed because he was throwing this on me than because of what he’d called me.

  “All right, then. Where should we start . . . darlin’?”

  Fang chuckled in my mind.

  I winced. Me and my big mouth. Deciding that ignoring him and Fang was probably the wisest thing at this point, I said, “Let’s check out all the blood banks. They’re the most visible targets.”

  “Good idea.”

  It made me a little nervous to go with Austin, but he seemed to be behaving himself, for the most part. Maybe he was finally getting a clue.

  OR MAYBE HE’S TRYING TO SOFTEN YOU UP, Fang said, CATCH YOU OFF GUARD, LOWER YOUR DEFENSES.

  I glanced down at him. Oh, thanks so much. I hadn’t thought of that.

  I LIVE TO SERVE, the hellhound said humbly.

  I
snorted, and Austin raised an eyebrow.

  “Something Fang said,” I told him. I glanced down at the terrier. “You coming with us?”

  YES, I THINK PRINCESS CAN DO WITHOUT ME FOR A WHILE, he said.

  Besides, you’re getting antsy, aren’t you?

  MAYBE A LITTLE, he said. But the bounce in his step and the gleam in his eyes betrayed his excitement as we took the elevator down to the ground floor of the blood bank.

  “We’re taking one of the fleet,” Austin said, waving his hand at one of Alejandro’s many black luxury sedans.

  “No way. I want my bike.” I felt more nimble on the Valkyrie, more in control and alive.

  PLUS YOU DON’T HAVE TO TALK TO AUSTIN THAT WAY, Fang pointed out.

  A huge bonus, I agreed.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Austin began. “You—”

  But he couldn’t finish his sentence because a crossbow bolt suddenly sprouted from the side of his neck. What the heck?

  THERE ARE TWO OF THEM, Fang yelled. His eyes flashed purple, and he took a running leap for the woman on the left who was reloading the crossbow. I charged for the guy on the right. His eyes widened when he saw me coming at him—why? because I was female?—but it didn’t take him long to whip out a knife and wave it in my direction as a warning.

  A knife? Like that would stop me. I ducked, whirled and used a savate kick to send it spinning out of his hand. He looked surprised only for a moment, then lunged forward, clearly intending to get his meaty hands on me. With him inside Lola’s field, I hoped to be able to use her, still weak as she was, to call him off, but no go. He was being controlled, too, damn it. And if Lola wouldn’t work, neither would the amulet.

  He clamped his hands around my throat and squeezed. Crap. I tore at his hands, but he was too strong. Vampishly strong. Fast, too, if his reactions earlier were any judge. I tried to knee him in the ’nads, but he was too close. I couldn’t breathe, and my vision was suddenly filled with giant, randomly sized polka dots.

  Then suddenly, his hands let go, and Austin had him by the throat while Fang attacked his ankles. I leaned over, hands on my knees, and gasped for breath while the vampire and the hellhound saved me from the big bad vampire. Me, the Slayer, depending on other people to do my dirty work. Made me feel stupid, unnecessary . . . helpless.

  Austin strangled him until his eyes bulged out, and he fell limp, then he dropped him.

  TAKE THAT, YOU WORTHLESS PUPPY STEALERS, Fang said.

  I glanced over at the woman. She was obviously dead, a crossbow bolt sticking out of her eye. Effective.

  Austin pulled the bolt from his own neck with a grimace and dropped it to the ground. All kinds of vamps came pouring out of the blood bank then. A day late and a dollar short. The only one I knew was the bald vampire, Vincent.

  As they fussed about the bodies, and Vincent promised to take care of them for us, I turned to Austin. “You okay?”

  “I’ll live,” he said shortly. “I heal fast, and it didn’t hit anything vital.”

  I nodded, glad to hear it. “Thanks for the assist.”

  ASSIST? Fang repeated. DON’T YOU MEAN THANKS FOR SAVING YOUR LIFE?

  Ignoring him, I asked, “But since when did we graduate to killing them instead of questioning them?”

  “When they put your life and the lives of all the people inside in danger,” Austin said, his tone brooking no argument.

  Oooookay.

  “Your catch and release program isn’t working,” he bit out. “They aren’t talking, and they aren’t letting up. It’s best to exterminate vermin like this.”

  Well, I couldn’t argue with that, though I had hoped we could find at least one person who could be questioned. “You still think this place is safe?” I asked him.

  “Yes. Safer than anywhere the Underground has, anyway. They won’t be able to get past the blood bank employees without setting off an alarm, and won’t be able to go up the elevator without access at all.”

  “No place is foolproof.” I glanced at Fang and raised a questioning eyebrow.

  TRUE, the hellhound said. BUT THIS COMES PRETTY CLOSE.

  You feel safe leaving Princess and the pups here?

  Fang nodded. I DO.

  “Wait,” Vincent said. “I know this guy. He’s a new recruit.” Vincent stared accusingly up at Austin. “It’s Josef. You almost killed Josef.”

  “No, I didn’t,” Austin said. “He’s one of us. He’ll heal.”

  “Why did he attack me . . . and you?” I asked Austin.

  “I don’t know.”

  A woman let out a little screech when she saw the other body. “Cyndi!”

  “Is she a vamp, too?” I asked.

  “No,” the woman said. “She’s just a friend visiting me from Colorado.” She glared up at Austin. “You killed her.”

  Stunned surprise filled Austin’s expression. “Human?” he whispered disbelievingly. “I thought she was a new recruit, too. She was so strong, and she didn’t fit the profile.”

  Yeah, not Hispanic, no visible tattoos, and definitely not male. Again, I repeated, “They attacked us. How were we to know who they are?”

  “Why would they do that?” the woman cried. “Cyndi had no reason to hate anyone.”

  “Because she was probably being controlled by someone else,” I said soothingly, though I kept an eye on Austin. He looked shell-shocked.

  Josef stirred, and I said, “Maybe you can ask him why he tried to strangle me.”

  He stumbled to his feet and lurched for me again, murder in his eyes, but three vamps caught him and restrained them.

  “Josef, what are you doing?” Vincent asked.

  But the beefy bloodsucker acted as though he hadn’t even seen or heard him. He was too focused on getting his hands on me.

  “Get him down in the holding room, now,” Austin barked.

  And why was I not surprised they had such a thing on the property?

  For once, I didn’t argue. I really didn’t want to know about any secret vamp basements in the blood bank, and I wasn’t all that good at interrogation. I assumed Austin could torture the info out of the dude better if I wasn’t there kibitzing.

  “Okay,” I said, rubbing my throat.

  “Get Gwen to help you with that,” Austin ordered, and herded all of us back inside.

  What could she do? I ignored him and turned to Fang. Let’s call it a night.

  He hesitated for a moment, obviously disappointed, then he sighed. OKAY, BABE, BUT I GOTTA TELL YOU, YOU’RE RUINING MY FUN.

  Yeah, well, mine’s already ruined. I just need a good night’s sleep.

  After Austin used his mind mojo to make the humans from the blood bank forget all about the bloody fight in the street, I let him whisk me upstairs while he called Alejandro and Micah and warned them that this super vampire or puppet master or whatever you wanted to call him was controlling our own people and turning them against us.

  Crap. It was a game changer. How could we trust anyone anymore?

  Chapter Eighteen

  Austin

  STILL ANGRY WITH himself for killing a human, even accidentally, Austin tried to hide it by taking charge. He had Vincent and his helpers corral Josef in the special holding area downstairs. Alejandro had them installed in all the blood banks to hold members of the Movement who’d gone off the deep end after drinking demon blood.

  After Austin made sure Val and the others were safe upstairs, he went downstairs as well. Someone had brought the woman in from off the street, too. She lay on an examining table while her friend sat in a corner, looking stunned. At least the friend was no longer hysterical—Vincent had probably taken care of that with his own special brand of mojo.

  Now that the fight was over, and there was nothing left to do, Aust
in felt pain throbbing in his neck from where she’d shot him. No problem—he’d heal. But she wouldn’t. He gazed down at the woman—the very human, very dead woman.

  Agony stabbed through him, and it had nothing to with the hole in his neck. He hadn’t wanted this—he hadn’t wanted to kill anyone, let alone a human . . . a woman. He was responsible for her death, and he needed to ensure she was taken care of.

  The Movement could take care of a vampire, and the Underground would know what to do about a dead demon, but he hadn’t had to deal with a human dead by his own hand. There was only one person he knew who could help. He called Lieutenant Ramirez. “We have a situation here I’m not sure how to handle,” Austin told him.

  “What’s that?”

  “Val and I were attacked outside a blood bank a little while ago, and someone was killed—a human.”

  The lieutenant’s voice sharpened. “Vampire kill?”

  Yes, but not in the way he meant. “No, she and a member of the Movement attacked us, and she was killed in the scuffle. We think they were being controlled like the others.”

  “You mean she’s Hispanic, with scars and tattoos like the others?”

  “No,” Austin admitted. “But she did have the incredible strength and single-minded ferocity of the others. It isn’t quite like the rest of the pattern, but it’s similar.” He hesitated, then added, “She shot me with a crossbow bolt. When I tried to take it away from her, another bolt discharged into her eye.”

  “So it was an accident?”

  “Yes.” That was true as far as it went, but Austin knew he was still responsible. He should have been more careful, should have realized she wasn’t a vamp. “Do you need an investigation?”

  The lieutenant paused, then asked, “Val was there? She witnessed this?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’ll talk to her. We can’t afford to let the paranormal nature surrounding this death make the news—it’ll panic the population. I’ll take care of it and send someone to pick her up. Where is she?”