God Hammer: A novel of the Demon Accords

by John Conroe

  “Why?” Arkady asked.

  “Because we sent un-coded evidence to law enforcement that Cuttle had engineered assassinations of US citizens on US soil,” I said. “And anything we do is monitored by Anvil. Cuttle was, in essence, a terrorist.”

  “And by doing it in this manner, there was a high likelihood of us being blamed. That would hide Anvil and could damage us,” Tanya said.

  “We have to reframe this to show it was military hardware, not something we would have access to,” Lydia said.

  “But we could easily buy the weapons,” Arkady objected. “If not here, then elsewhere in the world.”

  “The public might not believe that, and especially if we can use the drone angle. Most drone missile attacks are associated with the US military in the public’s mind,” Lydia said. “Associating it with the Tomahawk misfire could be useful.”

  “Shit!” Josh said. He looked up from his tablet, his face fearful.

  “What now?” Lydia asked.

  “He posted another video,” Josh said.

  “Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. The enemy is legion and filled with evil in all its many forms. Those that prey upon us and claim to protect us from the false one employ the false one’s own. My faithful have provided me with additional information on John’s death. This wasn’t an ordinary murder, even a professional murder, but one that employed powers and abilities beyond mortal men.

  “Leviticus 20:27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.

  “The enemy employs sorcerers and witches and this young man is key among them.”

  The photo Castille held up was Declan’s, taken outside Demidova Tower and showed him frowning.

  “This one is going viral, too,” Josh said.

  “Josh, call Darion. Get him and his full team here, now. Lydia, call the Board members. Tell them I’m convening an emergency meeting. When you speak to Wade Pitcairn, tell him to bring his contact list; we’re going to need expert counter opinions. Nika, bring in the PR agency that handled the Angel Flight campaign. We’re shifting to full crisis mode,” Tanya said.

  “I’ll tell Katrina to retrieve Declan and his pal,” Lydia said. “This place is going to be mobbed with protestors in no time.”

  “Yes, Lydia. Bring our warlock home,” Tanya said. “And someone figure out how Castille found out about Declan.”

  I opened Tanya’s laptop and signed into my e-mail. Nothing useful. Then I signed into the e-mail account we used with the investigator, Mark. A second message was in the inbox. Labeled Final Report. I read it.

  “Ah, Tanya. Guys. I think I have an idea. I think we need to put together our own YouTube video. But first read this,” I said, sending the e-mail to the big monitor.

  The others read in silence, then turned to me one by one as they each finished. “Oh, yeah. We can work with that,” Lydia said. “In fact, the PR team already has a bunch of footage that’s perfect with a few cuts.”

  “Nice, zayka,” Tanya said with a nod and a tight smile.

  Even Arkady smiled. “Is showtime, ya?”

  “Ya,” I said.

  Chapter 38 – Declan

  I think I officially won the best roommate award within ten minutes of arriving at Plasma.

  First, we pulled up in a chauffeured SUV, right by the front door to the club. The line waiting to get in was more than a block long and we were escorted right by them all, the vampire and human bouncers pulling back the velvet ropes and whisking us inside like we were celebrities. Actually, we walked past a number of celebrities.

  Then Mack saw the tables of elite club goers, the hot girls dancing with abandon, and the guest band of the night, whose current album was near the top of the charts.

  “Dude, I’m without words,” he said, head swiveling to check out three giggling beauties who in turn were checking us out. Well, mostly him. Mack’s a good-looking guy and girls like him.

  “Not shabby, huh?” I asked as we were shown to a VIP table overlooking the dance floor and just to the side of the stage.

  A vampire waitress I didn’t know appeared at our table, lots of smooth pale skin on display, short dark hair and dark brown eyes. She frowned when we just asked for soda.

  “Oh we can do better than that. How about an Arizona Sunset, a Millionaire Sour, or a Mexican Limeade?” she asked, challenging us.

  “How about all three?” I shot back, earning us a smile and a nod.

  “Coming right up,” she said. “I’m Sherry, by the way. Just say my name if you need anything.” Then she was gone, disappeared into the swirl of dancers and drinkers.

  “Those sounded alcoholic,” Mack said.

  “No, I guarantee that every vampire in this club has been told in no uncertain terms not to give us alcohol. Tanya was really pissed the other night when the interns got shitfaced,” I said.

  “Now that’s what I call a dirty blonde,” Mack said appreciatively. He was looking at a really attractive girl in a short, short silver metallic dress that clung to her rather spectacular curves in all kinds of interesting ways. It was so distracting that I didn’t realize she was headed our way till she was standing next to our table and then I realized I even knew her name. Mitzi.

  “Hi Declan. Fancy meeting you here,” she said with a sly smile. Two more girls came up alongside her and a glimpse with my Sight showed that they were both witches, too.

  “Jeez D, aren’t you going to introduce me?” Mack said. I was frozen in place, wrestling with flight or fight.

  “Aw no worries, handsome warlock. We’re just here to have fun and saw you come in. We’re regulars. I’m Mitzi. This is Aleah and this is Malene,” she said, then she went ahead and sat down, right between Mack and myself.

  Despite the allure of three very attractive girls draped in slinky dresses, Mack was astute enough to sense my anxiety. He looked at me, frowning.

  “Local circle, Mack,” I explained. His interest and attraction snapped off like a switch.

  Mitzi frowned. “Don’t get all paranoid, dude. We come here a lot. I’m friends with Stacia, remember? And that’s our favorite band.”

  There wasn’t really any way for them to know I would be going to Plasma that night. Even Divination would’t necessarily predict our arrival, not with the wards I had over Demidova Tower blocking us from the Sight. And this was only my third time at the club. The first was when I warded it up, the second with the ill-fated intern night out.

  “Sorry. I’m a little gun shy,” I said.

  “Poor baby has every witch in sight vying for his attention and that’s such a horrible thing?” she asked with a sarcastic pout.

  “Whoa there, witchy-locks. A number of my fans are borderline sociopaths and their approach has been just shy of kidnapping,” I said.

  “Witchy-locks?” Mitzi asked.

  “Because you’re going to tell me that you are just right,” I said.

  Her friend, Aleah, a brunette in a blue dress, snickered, earning herself a mock glare from Mitzi, who held it for a second before laughing, too.

  “Clever. And yes, I know just who you mean. That Einin stayed with me, and she’s a major bitch,” Mitzi said. “Same for her mom and twice that for her grandmother.”

  Her other friend, a very pretty black girl, hadn’t paid any attention to the joking, instead fixing me with an intense stare. I turned to her and raised an eyebrow. Keeping her eyes on me, she spoke to Mitzi. “Him champion?”

  “Truth,” Mitzi said with a smile. “Malene is from Jamaica. Recently joined our circle along with her mother and little sister.”

  That, at least, was interesting. I wanted to ask her about her Craft and how it differed, but then suddenly Sherry was back, setting down three drinks each in front of Mack and me. She gave us a quick smile, which disappeared when she turned to the three witches.

  Mitzi ordered Cosmopolitans for all of them.<
br />
  “Wristbands?” Sherry asked. The girls held up their florescent red wristbands that indicated they were at least twenty-one. “Right. Coming up,” and then she was gone.

  “She seems friendly,” Mitzi said sarcastically.

  “Protective,” Mack said. All three girls looked at him quizzically. “They’re all protective of him,” he said with a thumb in my direction. “There’s like six vampires near us at all times. They rotate, but there’s always more than four.”

  Leave it to Mack to spot bodyguards in orbit around us in the middle of a sea of partying people.

  Pretty Aleah was frowning, looking around the club, her head even tilting up to glance at the ceiling. “Who did all that? Not you?” She waved at the wards. “They set my teeth on edge.”

  “Actually, it was me. Took most of a day. Let me guess: you’re an Earth witch?” I asked.

  “Yeah, and how’d you guess that?” she asked.

  “The wards disrupt electrical fields, wi-fi, and the like. They’re grounded to Earth,” I said.

  “So you really do know the Irwin secrets, don’t you?” Aleah asked with a look of fascination. “And you saw that grimoire? The one every circle in the country was after?”

  “I do and I did,” I said back with a smile. Mitzi was frowning now, apparently not liking our personal byplay.

  “Are you really as strong as they say?” she asked now, earning herself a quick flicker of annoyance from Aleah.

  “Whoa. Let’s hold up right there,” Mack said, suddenly. “We all know about my boy here. Hell, your houseguests probably explained his pedigree in graphic detail. So, let’s just skip the questions about him and find out exactly what any of you can offer?”

  I looked at my buddy in disbelief. He flashed me a grin, which slid away as he turned back to the three witches, who were staring at him in disbelief.

  “You are pretty mouthy for a non-practitioner,” Mitzi said. “You must have an idea of what we could do to you.”

  “I go to school with some of the meanest witches around. Of course I know. I also know your limitations. None of you can really touch me,” he challenged, leaning back. “And when you try, it will count against you in negotiations.”

  “Negotiations?” I asked, even as the three young women narrowed their eyes.

  “Shhhh, dude. I got this,” he said. And I realized right then that he was in horse breeder heaven, wheeling and dealing for stud rights.

  “Really?” Aleah asked, leaning forward. Mitzi looked at her, then Mack, then myself, visibly coming to some decision. She leaned back while Aleah started to mutter under her breath, weaving the fingers of one hand. She cast whatever she’d been brewing up and then yelped when it twisted back on her, stinging the finger that cast it.

  “I’m warded,” Mack said. “And I’m basically sitting in his house,” he said with a thumb in first my direction and then up at the runes on the ceiling. First rule of witch fights is to never fight another witch in her own house.

  Realization hit Aleah as she sucked on her right index finger. Mitzi just smiled at me and Malene was starting a slow nod.

  “I’m an Air Affinity. Both parents were witches and I’m currently second in my Circle and most likely to replace the current first. I’m a native New Yorker, with a family support system and a solid career. And I will rock your world in bed,” Mitzi said to me, one eyebrow arched, a sly smile on her lips… which she licked.

  Mack was grinning, Aleah looked affronted, and Malene leaned back, blankfaced.

  “Well, she’s certainly had the practice,” another voice said and we all turned around. My heart did a stutter step in my chest, my jaw falling open all on its own.

  Stacia walked toward us, dressed for the club in a short, tight red dress that flowed along every curve of her body. Red high heels, long tan legs, white blonde hair, sparkling green eyes, and that dress. She may have had a purse. I’m not sure.

  “Whoa,” Mack breathed.

  The three witches recovered much faster than Mack or me. In the side of my vision, I had the impression that Mitzi may have crossed her arms, but honestly, it was hard to pay much attention and frankly. I was still thunderstruck. I’d never seen Stacia dressed to the nines in person. I’ve seen her naked, briefly, and I’ve seen her in all manner of business, casual, and workout gear. She was a natural stunner in anything or nothing and the LV virus had only enhanced her beauty. But dressed to kill? A guy might forget to keep breathing.

  “Bitch,” Mitzi said, her voice a touch catty.

  “Witch,” Stacia said, her own tone even.

  “Trolling for wolves? Looking for a furry romp? I haven’t seen any of your kind tonight,” Mitzi said.

  “Nope. Here to collect these two,” she said, not rising to the bait. “Chris is pulling you back. There’s been a development,” she directed at me.

  Three phones buzzed in three different handbags. Aleah and Malene pulled theirs but Mitzi just focused on Stacia.

  “We’re kind of involved here,” she said. “Maybe the restaurant next door has some bones to chew on while you wait.”

  “Plenty of bones right here. Bags of bones,” Stacia said, a deeper tone in her voice.

  Mitzi drew a breath but Aleah interrupted her by shoving her phone in front of her face. Annoyed, Mitzi pulled back but her glance at the phone turned into complete focus. Then she turned to me. “You’ve been outted. This changes everything.”

  Grabbing Aleah’s hand, she turned the phone so I could see a screen shot of a YouTube page. I recognized Castille and I certainly recognized the photo he held up to the camera in the picture. Me. Standing outside Demidova Tower.

  I looked at Stacia. She nodded. “There have been some developments. Chris and Tanya are pulling everyone in while they work up a response. That’s part of it.”

  “And you just happened to be in the area? Dressed for clubbing?” Mitzi asked, even as she and her two cronies got up and started to move away.

  “I was going clubbing when I got the call,” Stacia said with a shrug.

  “Except you usually go clubbing with me and you never answered my texts,” Mitzi said. “So I’m calling bullshit. Stay with your own kind, Reynolds.”

  “Come on. There’s a car outside,” Stacia said, ignoring Mitzi, who was moving away.

  “Bye, stud. Maybe this will all work out,” Mitzi said to me before the crowd swallowed her whole.

  Then I noticed how much attention we were getting. Granted, much of it was focused on Stacia, but some people were looking from phones to me. A screen of vampires was suddenly around us and then we were moving at speed through the club, up the stairs, and out the front door. One of the Mercedes vans was waiting, four of Deckert’s men standing watch, one at each corner of the vehicle. I followed Stacia into the van, Mack close behind, the four guards flowing in behind us, and then we were pulling away.

  Stacia explained the death of Cuttle and Castille’s YouTube videos, the last of which named me as a witch. It was enough to pull my thoughts away from the touch of her leg against mine and the smell of her perfume.

  “How bad is it?”

  “Well, it’s made every news network in the country. Chris said that they now think Castille filmed the videos on a plane. They think he’s headed here, to New York. There are already people and media surrounding the building. Darion’s group and the PR people expect a full-on shitstorm. We’re parking in the building next door and going through the tunnel,” she said.

  “I thought the tunnel was only for real emergencies?” I asked.

  “It is,” she said, patting my hand. “But we’ll figure it out. We always do.”

  I shared a look with Mack. So much for best roommate awards.

  Chapter 39 - Chris

  “Are they back?” I asked, dragging my attention away from the live news feed.

  “Yes, they came in a half hour ago. I sent Declan to Susskins to keep him occupied and away from the drama outside. Susskins wants to see what he c
an do with the topological insulators he’s been working with. He has a theory that Declan could cut nano-level circuits in Stanene. That could allow for room temperature superconduction,” Tanya replied.

  “Yes would have been fine. The rest of what you said was gibberish,” I said. She smiled and I forgot to be snide.

  “Just keeping him away from the crowds and Castille, if he shows up,” she said.

  “He’s here. Castille,” Lydia called out, obviously listening to us from across the big office turned war room. “Just pulled up out front in a big limo.”

  We moved over to the wall monitor, which was set on split-screen mode. The left-hand window was a security feed from the camera over the front door. The right hand was live coverage by a local news reporter stationed almost in the same spot.