Amy, Serena, and I rode up on the elevator, listening to a muzak version of “Born to Run.” We watched the numbers slowly peel by.
“So,” Serena started. “What's the rules of these meetings?”
I shrugged. “The Council is actually fairly democratic. You two are my guests, for lack of a better term. I'll be held responsible for your actions at the meeting, but you can contribute to the conversation.”
“Eric's duties as knight leave him in an odd position. He has a non-voting seat on the ruling council. He can propose actions, as well as give his input on them.” Amy explained further.
“Right. So he's like Puerto Rico.” Serena chimed in.
“That's about the gist of it. Puerto Rico that's called in to clean up after the other fifty states when they screw up.” I sighed.
I actually dressed nice for the Council Meeting. I didn't give a crap about what Finnegan thought of me, but now that I had just received my first check for my services rendered as Knight of the Bay, I figured I should actually look like I wanted to keep the job. I wore a dark blue suit and a red tie for the event. Amy was dressed in a simple blue blouse and slacks, while Serena wore jeans and a leather jacket over her faded tee.
When I had asked Serena about her choice of outfit, she had shrugged and told me, “All my best stuff's still in Bakersfield.”
I took it, and I didn't mind attending a meeting with Serena as back up and muscle. Truth be told, I had an idea for her.
When we got off on the fifteenth floor, we emptied out into the reception area for Nimbus, a small room with a desk and several doors, leading to different parts of the business.
The receptionist behind the desk had a very androgynous look, with a smooth face and thin lips. “Welcome to Nimbus, Sir Eric, Miss Laurent, Miss Amy.” His voice was smooth, rolled across my body. I recognized the sensation. It was the Red Angel's own brand of magic, one that I could identify just by feel. “I'm Chris. Catherine's waiting for you.”
I had never met a male Red Angel before. It was interesting, to say the least. “Thank you. So, where are they meeting?”
“You'll be meeting in our staff room. There's coffee and other refreshments already there.” He stood from behind the desk. He wore a blue shirt tucked into jeans, the cut of which spoke of a high end brand. The shirt was unbuttoned perhaps a button too far, showing off his collarbone and a smooth long neck.
He walked towards one of the doors and led us through. We came out into an office that looked like the epitome of a Bay Area start up. There were some desks, though none of them had a desktop on it. A few were working at their desks on tablets or laptops, but more were scattered around the room on couches or chairs. There were a group of three Red Angels at a white board, bouncing ideas off each other.
I heard Serena pipe up first. “There is way too much sexy in this room.” She murmured.
I turned back to her. I could feel the magic rolling off them all, like little waves of warm feelings. Did Reds just do that without thinking? “Yeah. Agreed.” I said, and was really glad I did not have Teresa watching that. “Uh, Chris, lead on.”
We walked across the office to a white door with a frosted glass window and the words “Meeting Room: No Negative Nancies” on the door. Chris opened up the door for us, and we all filed in.
The meeting room had a circular table situated in the middle of the room. On it was coffee, a little array of bagels and fruit, and various silverware. Catherine and Finnegan were already at the table. Catherine sat at the far end of the circle, in front of a large wall-mounted monitor.
Catherine Salvai was a beautiful woman, but that was obvious enough. She wasn't a succubus queen for nothing, after all. Her smile could make hearts melt. She didn't look like a new media magnate. She had soft features, with violet eyes that looked like they could hypnotize. To complete the look, she wore a green sundress, showing off her toned biceps and a little tattoo of runic script on her right shoulder.
Finnegan, however, looked like he was the epitome of everyone who wasn't a morning person, bless his heart. He wore a blue suit that looked like it belonged in the last century. “Carpenter, Amy. New Girl.” He growled.
“Finnegan,” Amy just nodded and gave him an icy stare as she sat down and gathered some fruit onto a little plate.
Serena took the lead. “I'm Serena Laurent, vampire and associate of Eric.”
“I could smell the vamp on you.” He said, and he shook his head.
I resisted the urge to just sling magic at Finnegan. I took a seat at the table, and looked to Catherine. “Has Teresa given us an ETA?”
“She should be here very soon,” Catherine said in a cool tone. “I would prefer to begin before she got here. At least, informally.” She looked between Finnegan, then me and my two partners. “Ishmael was the oldest of us three, by a far margin. That gave him a slight edge in politics. He was here first in San Francisco. He claimed the rulership of the County, and higher...powers affirmed him.”
I paused a moment. “You're talking about the King.”
“Yeah, Carpenter. The goddamned King.” Finnegan looked like he was going to spit at the floor. “Doesn't even live in this country.”
We had never formally talked about the King before. I knew that we were part of the Duchy that sat in Northern California. The Duke, who I hadn't met, resided from Sacramento. But it was just a smaller part of the Kingdom of the West. The King, I knew, ruled from south of the border.
“Does the King get a say in who's now ruling?” I asked.
Catherine and Finnegan looked between each other. “Only if the King decides.” Catherine's voice was soft, cautious. “I would hope that doesn't happen.”
“I'm guessing he's not a well-loved benevolent dictator.”
“She, actually.” Finnegan said. “Gender-neutral title. But the King doesn't get in unless she has to.”
“Why are we discussing the King?” Teresa's voice came from the door. All five of us in the room turned to face her. Teresa was dressed in a black pantsuit, and she was looking over us all with mild interest.
There was a pause for a moment before Serena answered. “Well, we're talking about what-ifs and what we don't want happening, I guess. Like higher powers getting involved in picking the new head vamp.”
Teresa was followed by Baron Vela. Vela had dressed in a light blue suit that mixed well with his Latino look. He had a genial, passive smile.
“Ladies, Gentlemen,” Vela nodded to the assembled people. “Let's get started.”
The two newly arrived vampires sat to the right side of the table. It put us with Amy, Serena, and I at one end, the two reigning nobles on the other, and the vampires to our right. “So,” I looked around them. “Who will moderate this?”
“Well, despite Mister Finnegan's dislike for it,” Catherine began. “I am the senior member of the Council.”
Finnegan let a sound that sounded close to a disappointed growl roll through his throat. “Aye. We have two candidates.”
Catherine gave him a pleasant smile. “Indeed we do. Teresa Crespo and Baron Vela. Both are well known to us. Baron, give us a short summary over why you believe you would be the appropriate choice.”
Vela poured himself a glass of water, then took a careful sip before beginning. He had a smooth voice, and he sounded genial. “Where to begin? Well, I have lived in San Francisco for forty years. I have been a contributing member to the vampire community for all that time. I'm a small business owner, as you know. I have a good relationship with all arcanes, not just the vampires, with whom I am well-respected.” He paused for a moment, then he looked to his right towards Teresa.
“I was Ishmael's heir-apparent.” She began. “I was made by Ishmael two hundred years ago. For most of that time, I have served him, and contributed to the safety and well-being of every holding he has controlled.” She looked to Catherine, then Finnegan. “I know the territory, I know my vampires, and I have worked with both of you in the past. I have the ex
perience.”
“Technically,” Vela said. “I outrank you, and would be the appropriate heir.”
“I was his sheriff.” She hissed. “I was above you.”
“A sheriff with no rank.” He clicked his tongue. “What did that say for his trust in you?”
Finnegan spoke up before Teresa could reply. “You know, my only problem with Teresa as a candidate doesn't lie with her. It lies with our Knight, Mister Carpenter.”
“What?” I had to restrain myself from shouting.
Catherine and Finnegan both looked at me, giving me a level look. Finnegan spoke, however. “I can smell Teresa all over you, witch.”
“Well, that's bullshit. I-”
Teresa cut me off. “Eric, please.” She only glanced back to me.
I could feel the anger bubbling up in me, and I wanted to shove a fireball down Finnegan's throat. “You didn't have a problem when she was the right-hand vamp of Ishmael's.” I said.
“To be fair, Eric, we hadn't established a relationship, then.” Teresa said. “Though the matter has not been brought up since.” She looked back to Finnegan and Catherine. “Can I move that non-voting members be expelled from the room?”
Catherine and Finnegan looked to each other, then the Red Angel nodded. “I believe that might be best.” She turned to me and said. “You and your companions can leave.”
I wanted to protest it. Wanted to shout at Catherine and Finnegan. Hell, I wanted to slug Finnegan. That wasn't going to help anyone, though. Maybe myself.
I let out a frustrated groan, then I pushed myself up from my chair. “All right. We'll wait outside.”
We left the conference room and headed out into the office area. I felt someone touch my arm. It was Amy. “You must not let your emotions get out of control with Finnegan like that.”
“I know.” I looked down to Amy. She was smiling up at me. I shook my head, then I started towards a couch that was currently unoccupied. “I'm just...God, Finnegan is a jackass.”
Serena gave an indignant snort. “No kidding. I take it you two don't get along.” She found a chair and sprawled herself over it. “So, we just wait for them to make their decision?”
“I suppose so.” Amy was standing still, and I looked over to her. “We have a talk coming, Miss Amy.”
Amy frowned for a moment. “Yes, I suppose we do.” She walked to join me after I sat on the couch.
I waited until she was seated before I spoke. “You said that I could break you from your promise to me.”
Amy nodded. “When I negotiated with your mother for your guardianship, there was always that clause worked into the deal.”
I crossed my arms across my chest. “Well, all right. I want to give you that out. Because I've got an idea. And I need you to make this choice of your own free will.”
Amy's eyes flicked to mine, and she asked. “What are you thinking?”
“I think that the Bay is too big for just a knight.” I looked back to Serena. “Deputies would help.”
Amy frowned, and she considered it for a moment. “It is not without precedent. London has always had a Knight and several deputies. The practice has stretched for centuries.”
Serena thought about it for a second. “We'll get paid, right?”
“Most likely.” I shrugged. “I'll do my best to make sure you even...” I looked back to Amy. “Do vampires need dental?”
“Most likely.” Amy noted, then she looked back to me. “As for your offer, Eric, I would accept it, on one condition.”
“Name it.” I said.
Amy looked down for a moment. “It has been a very long time since I have been anything but a guardian. I would like some personal time, to figure out what I am apart from someone I guard and guide.”
“Just so long as you keep in touch.” I placed a hand on her shoulder. “Now, is there a ritual or anything?”
“No,” Amy shook her head. “Nothing so mundane. It is words, an agreement.”
“Words?” I asked.
“Words have a magic of their own, particularly with a witch.” She said. “Your words end the bargain I set with your mother.”
I thought about that for a second. “Amy, I release you from the bargain you made with my mother. You are no longer my guardian.”
I felt it there, a little weight that lifted off my shoulders. I had never noticed it was there before, but I could feel just a bit of magic rolling off of my body.
I looked between Amy and Serena. “Did...did you guys feel that?”
“I did.” Amy said. “My bargain was sealed with words, it was broken the same way.”
“What changes between us now?” I asked.
“I can no longer be summoned with just my name. That little trick is very specific to my charge.” She sighed. “My healing powers will also be much more limited.”
“But you're free to do what you want now.” I clarified.
She nodded. “I am free from the bargain.”
“That's what I wanted to hear.” I smiled, and I offered her my hand. “When you've figured out what you want to be doing, well, if you'd like to work with Serena and I, that door's open.”
Amy's growing smile was all I needed to know. Part of me wondered just what the bargain had been. My mother had put a woman in a bond for three decades to just protect me.
“You're free from the bond now.” I whispered. “Is there anything that you can tell me that you couldn't before?”
“Eric, I only met your mother once, and our business concluded quickly. It was only on your twenty-fifth birthday that I sought you out, with some minor checkups along the way.”
“Why?” Serena asked. “What did Eric's mom offer you that you would agree to it?”
“Witches need to survive.” Amy replied. “Victoria Torres knew that. I did.”
“You didn't do this just out of some charity.” I said. “You nearly died for me when we first met.”
“She offered me information, information that I deeply wanted.” Amy looked down towards the ground. “It was a trade, and one I gladly made for my own protection.”
I frowned. Who the hell had my mother been?
The conversation was cut by the opening of the conference room door. I saw Vela storming out, and that was all I needed to know. “Come on,” I said, looking to Amy and Serena. “Let's go get you two jobs. I have a feeling at least one council member will go for the idea.”
Chapter 28
As it turned out, both Catherine and Teresa, new Countess of the Bay, went for the idea. The triumvirate would start looking into locations for an office for the Knight and his deputies, and I was left with a new vampire to take care of.
If someone had told me a year ago that I'd be at a pharmacy picking up Plas for the vampire living with me, as well as for the vampire I was dating, I probably would have asked what crazy pills I was on.
Plas had come out a few years ago. A big local biotech company had come up with the stuff. While not a true substitute for human blood, it was a holdover, and it provided a good fix for any vampire.
The only problem was that there was a whole rack of them, and I had no idea what to buy.
“Can I offer a suggestion?” Oh, that son of a gun.
I turned around and saw Nick had been standing just behind and to the right of me. His sleek, suit-clad body was distracting. I looked up to his eyes, a deep chocolate brown, which were lit with amusement.
“Amy doesn't use that little trick for fun.” I remarked.
“No, she certainly doesn't.” He walked to the rack, and pulled off a brand that read “SangVit.” The six pack were in plastic bottles with childproof caps. He tossed them into my basket. “We need to have a talk.”
“I'm starting to think that you come out to California just to have fun with me.” I shot back. “What's up?”
“If the classified reports I read were correct, you were witness to the first daemonic incursion in America in over a century.”
I nodded. “Ye
ah. Breanna Harper killed Ishmael, and used his body as a host for the daemon.”
Nick considered that for a moment. “So how did you stop it?”
“I burned his body.” My voice grew quiet. “I was able to summon fire.”
At that moment, Nick just froze, looking at me. “You...you really used witch's fire to kill it?” He asked.
“I stuck a knife in his heart for good measure. I honestly don't know how you kill a daemon.”
“You don't.” He said, almost plainly. “They just lose their hold on this realm. It's back on the Other Side now. Witch's fire is one of the few true ways to hurt a daemon. It's made the two species rather natural enemies.”
I nodded, and watched as he stepped closer. I looked up at him, and I asked. “Why hasn't one come over in a hundred years?”
“My Marshals help. They're here to keep the realm safe. Other countries might have been a little more lax, but they also haven't had a lot of reason. It might be that the Reveal is making some of them more bold. Using Faerie blood for narcotics is a new trick. They're trying to raise capital, for whatever reason.”
“If my fire can hurt daemons, this means you're going to want me more, isn't it?”
Nick's normally calm demeanor hardened for a moment. “My people are about prevention. We do our best. However, there may come a day when a car stops by your door. They'll show you a badge, they will play a message to you from me. You'll get in the car, you'll go wherever it takes you, and you will drive a daemon from this world.”
“Jesus,” I whispered. “You're honestly scared of them, aren't you?”
“A daemon is no laughing matter.” His voice was quiet, but I didn't need to strain it. His voice was still perfectly clear. “And I hope you never have to get plucked out of your life because it will mean a lot of good people died.”
I nodded, feeling all of a sudden like I was part of a much larger world. Or maybe I just felt a lot smaller. “I'll do what I can.” I promised.
“Keep fostering those abilities.” He said. “From what I've been hearing, Miss Laurent is quite the fighter. Train her well, and I think she'll be a good partner.”
Blood Sport (The American Arcane Book 2) Page 21
