Blood Bargain

by Maria Lima

  The sound of a siren dopplered in, cutting off as the ambulance pulled in.

  "I'll go talk to them,” Carlton said, standing. “Thanks for all your help. Please, lock up, Keira. I'll have one of my guys drive by later to make sure things are okay. You all go on to the ranch or Bea's house."

  "Thanks, Carlton."

  Niko, Tucker and I got up and headed out to the front as the EMTs loaded Ignacio into the ambulance. Carlton got into his SUV and took off.

  "Senorita.” Ignacio's weak voice came from the back of the ambulance. “Por favor, antes de que me lleven. El senor Pete dijo algo muy extrano. Algo como ‘viviendo con los angeles'."

  Niko translated. “He says before he leaves ... he remembers that Pete said something ... strange. Something about living with the angels."

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  "We have to go back there,” I said to Tucker and Niko as the ambulance drove off. “'Living with the angels’ is cryptic, but what if he meant La Angel? We should go back."

  Niko interrupted. “I want to go check on Adam. Perhaps I can figure out how to help him out of the coma. I'm afraid going back to the cemetery with you would be fruitless. Besides, sunrise is due in an hour or so."

  Tucker shared a warm smile with Niko. “Go, take care of him. We'll go see if we can find Bea. Why don't you send John and his son? Have them meet us at the cemetery. Tell them to bring weapons. If Pete's got Bea at gunpoint, I want a way to overpower him before he can harm her."

  I leaned against my brother. “You know, this is one time I'd love for the Kelly clan to be here in full force. Pete Garza wouldn't stand a chance against the combined might of The Kelly."

  "That's a fact.” Tucker smiled softly and gave me a quick squeeze. “Let's go, sis. Niko..."

  The two men exchanged a private look. I interpreted it to mean “take care of yourself and let's come out of this safely.” I could go with that. Safe was the one way I wanted to finish up: all of us, including Bea.

  "I phoned for a driver earlier,” Niko said. “Go along, find your friend. Take good care."

  The return drive seemed interminably long, seconds like thousands of lifetimes for me to worry Pete Garza would slip over the edge from crazy to bugfuck and shoot Bea straight out.

  "Hang in there, sis,” Tucker said. “He didn't shoot her in the house, nor did he kill Ignacio. That's a good sign."

  Better than the alternative, I supposed. “Tucker,” I began.

  "Yes?"

  "I don't think I want to do this the human way."

  Tucker remained silent as I left the main road and drove up what was once the drive to the cemetery, now long since overgrown. I flipped off the headlights, slowed the car, letting it come to a stop on its own, without brake lights. We were still about a half mile away and on the other side of a small rise. No longer full dark, the slow lightening of the sky heralded the sunrise.

  "Okay,” Tucker said as he opened the car door. “We'll do it your way."

  We each picked up a Maglite and headed toward the path. “Don't use the light, yet,” Tucker said quietly. “I don't know how far a human can see a bright light. It's still dark enough for a light to be conspicuous. I don't want to take any chances."

  I nodded. “I'm fine, there's enough light for me."

  The quiet enveloped us, broken by the chirp of crickets, the rustlings of small night predators scurrying to their daytime burrows. My eyes adjusted easily, more so than I expected. Despite the growing daylight, it was still pretty gloomy here. My brother nodded toward the narrow winding path that led up to the overhang.

  "It's further, but I think we'll be better off than trying to sneak through the cemetery proper. Too much underbrush and such."

  "Agreed,” I said.

  He handed me his Maglite and stripped, folding his clothes and leaving them under a tree at the fork of the path. “Remember where I parked these."

  I smiled as he took one step and then another, morphing from human shape to wolf in a brief blink of an eye. This is how shapeshifting was supposed to happen, I thought. Not a forced occurrence, but the natural state of being one, then the other. In the night, he was most definitely in his element. I let him take the lead and I followed close behind.

  As we approached the overhang, I could hear music, something ... some sort of song? Tucker paused and tilted his head, listening. A truly wolfish grin appeared. Definitely Pete. I dropped to the ground, tucked the two flashlights in the back of my jeans and crawled side by side with my brother. A few minutes later, we'd reached the point where we could see over the edge, close enough to figure out Pete was most definitely down there, but far enough so he couldn't see us.

  His truck was parked directly outside the cemetery gate, headlights on and the radio blaring some heavy country wailing “she done me wrong” ballad. Tucker crept out a little further, all stalker awareness. I sidled up next to him and, as best I could, crawled a little further forward. The truck headlights barely illuminated the area behind the Angel, but Pete had one of those big square heavy-duty lantern flashlights propped up next to him on a rock.

  He'd dragged Bea through the opening Tucker and I had made earlier, propped her up against the outside wall of the cave entrance. Bea was trussed up like Penelope Pitstop, except Bea wasn't sighing melodramatically. Her eyes were open, wider than I'd ever seen them. Some sort of gag was tied across her mouth, preventing her from speaking.

  Pete hummed along to the song, a snatch or two of the lyrics escaping from his mouth as he worked. At first, from this angle, I couldn't tell what he was doing, but as I crept a wee bit more, I could make it out. Shovel. Dirt. Hole. Pete Garza was digging Bea's grave.

  I didn't have to look at Tucker to know what we were going to do next. We tensed, ready to jump off the cliff and land square on Pete. As I silently counted to three with my fingers, so Tucker and I could jump simultaneously, Bea struggled a little, whimpered. At the sound, Pete stopped shoveling, dropped the shovel onto the dirt and pulled a pistol out of the back of his pants.

  "If you don't stop whining, woman, I'll have to whip you upside the head with this.” He brandished the pistol in Bea's face. With a greasy chuckle, he slid the barrel down Bea's cheek in a grotesque caress. “I don't want to fuck up that face of yours ‘fore I get me a piece of you.” With a twisted smirk, he tucked the pistol back into his waistband and smacked Bea across the face with his hand. “That's a taste. Don't make me do it again. You gotta be sweet so I can have you ‘fore I kill you."

  His grin widened as her eyes shut tight. With a chuckle, he began to hum again as he picked the shovel back up. The moment he'd bent back down, shovel to dirt, we sprang.

  Pete never saw us coming.

  "Stop, Tucker—don't—” Bea gasped as I tore the filthy cloth from her mouth.

  Tucker had Pete on the ground, all his weight pinning the man so he couldn't move. With a low growl, Tucker's mouth twisted into mean snarl. At Bea's plea, he looked at her, nodded briefly, then looked back down at Pete Garza and growled louder. Pete began to whimper. A drop or two of saliva dropped from Tucker's mouth onto the man's face. Pete closed his eyes and keened.

  Good, I thought. Be afraid. We are your worst nightmare.

  "You okay, chica?"

  Bea nodded. “Mostly.” I tugged at the knots of rope, trying to loosen her bindings. “I'm not having any luck here. Damn it."

  "There's a knife. A pocketknife,” Bea said. “Over there.” She inclined her head to the left.

  I looked around and saw a fancy Swiss Army knife on top of some coiled rope.

  "He used it to cut the rope. Had too much.” Bea's weak chuckle quickly turned into a ragged sob. “Oh, Keira, oh, my god, you found me."

  "Hush, sweetie,” I said, cutting into the ropes around her arms and torso. “You know I will always find you.” The knife made short work of the bindings.

  Bea rubbed her wrists and ankles. As soon as I saw she was okay, I gave her the now closed knife and walked over to Pete
Garza. He'd opened his eyes again and was staring at me as I approached. His eyes widened as he saw my face. Somewhere between cutting the last piece of rope off Bea and walking the few feet to where my brother had Pete Garza pinned, I let all of the rage I'd held inside, all of the sheer predator ferocity that was in my nature seep through to the surface. This was the part of me I'd always had; whether it was the Faery half or the Kelly half, I didn't know, but it was the part that would do anything to find justice for family. Bea was family.

  "You killed Alex Robles,” I said to Pete. I kept my voice low and steady, quiet enough to satisfy even the pickiest librarian. “You hurt Ignacio Robles.” I stepped closer. “You threatened my family, kidnapped my best friend and now, you will pay."

  "No, please.” Pete begged, his voice tight and high. “Don't."

  I looked over my shoulder at Bea, who, instead of pleading with me to stop, was staring at me, eyes wide and frightened, nearly as scared as she'd been when Pete threatened her with the pistol. At that moment, I knew I'd done something that I might never be able to take back. I'd pulled back the veil and let the other part of me bleed through. In the thirty years she'd known me, Beatriz Ruiz had never seen it. From childhood on, I'd known that when in the company of humans, I had to appear and act human. It had become instinctive to be that way. That hidden part, the part that danced behind my eyes when I first started to Change last fall now sat on my face as if I'd ripped off the Keira mask and exposed something too vicious to look upon. Physically, I know I didn't look any different, but whatever Bea saw in my eyes scared her, and I realized I might never be able to fix it.

  I forced my attention back to our captive. Tucker held still, waiting for my cue. Before I could say another word, a soft voice spoke.

  "Keira, no."

  Daffyd stood at the mouth of the cave. In the dark of the Hill Country night, surrounded by the natural aura of the faery, he embodied the legend of the shining ones. Long hair flowed free, strands moving in the gentle breeze, his posture regal as that of a heroic statue. He was Strength and Light and Justice. Behind him, Greg Pursell stood, his hands clasped behind him in patient waiting.

  "I will take him,” Daffyd said. “You need not make that choice for yourself."

  I held still, clenching my fists as I forced myself back to what passed for normal. He was right. No doubt I could kill and dispose of Pete Garza and still be able to sleep at night. The man was less than a cockroach and deserved to be exterminated. But I couldn't do it in front of Bea. I couldn't let Tucker do it, either. She'd never forget, never forgive us. For that brief crazy moment, I understood the reason that Adam Walker quit drinking blood, why he'd stopped hunting. I returned my cousin's calm gaze and gave him a slight nod.

  Tucker, seeing my acquiescence, moved away from Pete, and came to stand next to me.

  "Go. You need to attend to Adam.” The Sidhe motioned gracefully with his hand. “Once you are gone, I will ward the cave again."

  "You'll keep your bargain?” I asked.

  "I will."

  "Good. Then we'll keep ours."

  With that, I reached to help Bea up and we left. As we reached my car, I heard Pete Garza scream.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  "We found her, Carlton, tied up and alone at the old cemetery,” I lied easily. “It was something Ignacio remembered that Pete said. When we got there, no sign of Pete, except for some rope and pieces of his shirt. We left it all there for you to look at."

  I hoped our ploy worked. Tucker had shifted back, got dressed and escorted Bea to the Rover while I dragged the rope and the rag he'd gagged Bea with, which turned out to be part of his shirt, out to the front of the Angel. We were taking the shovel with us. I made sure to stuff some more debris and branches in the hole, effectively blocking the way to the cave. I was sure after Daffyd reinforced his ward, no human would bother trying to get back there.

  "She's okay?” Carlton asked.

  "Yeah, mostly bruised and banged up. He slapped her pretty hard."

  Tucker, who was driving, said nothing and concentrated on holding Bea's hand. I'd had her sit in the passenger seat so I could keep an eye on her. I noticed she wasn't holding Tucker's hand in return, but letting hers lie limp on the console between them. She stared out the windshield and said nothing. Crap, I was afraid of that.

  Tonight, Beatriz Ruiz had seen the Kelly siblings in all their freakish glory. It was one thing to know, to be told about powers and shapeshifting and all the things that made us clan; another entirely to see it with your own human eyes and have it proven to you.

  "Does she know where Pete went?” Carlton's voice started to break up a little, get staticky.

  "She doesn't,” I answered. “She told me she was unconscious until right before we found her. Pete hit her, then told her he was going to rape, then kill her. He admitted to killing Alex Robles and burying him in front of the Angel."

  A burst of static was my answer, with only one word audible, “.... hospital."

  "He says we should take you to the hospital, Bea.” I leaned forward in the back seat, patting her shoulder. “I think that's a good idea. Where do you want to go? The clinic over up by Two Pesos?"

  "No.” Bea shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. “No hospital. I'm fine. I just want to go home."

  "Bea—” Tucker began.

  "No, dammit,” Bea said. “Take me home. Tia was a nurse. She'll watch out for me."

  Tucker nodded and turned at the next intersection.

  "Carlton, I'm having problems hearing you,” I said. “Bea wants to go home so we're taking her there."

  "'K ... plan. Sending crew ... daytime ... bones.” I interpreted that to mean he'd be sending in a crew in the daytime to the cemetery to look for Alex Robles’ remains.

  "Thanks, Carlton. Once we settle Bea in, we're heading home.” I shut the phone and tucked it into my pocket. “Hang in there, chica,” I said. “Almost there."

  * * * *

  Tio Richard met us at the door, Tia Petra two steps behind, wringing her hands. Both of them smiled from ear to ear when they saw Bea in the front seat.

  "You are okay, Beatriz. They found you!” Tia began to bawl.

  Tio stepped up and helped Bea out of the car. “All of you come inside. I will fix you something to eat."

  "No, Tio, please,” Bea said. “I...” For the first time since we'd rescued her, she looked me in the eye. “I'm sorry, but I want to get some sleep. I'm not up for company."

  My stomach roiled. Company.

  "I'm sorry, Keira,” Bea continued. “I need a little time, okay?"

  I forced a smile. “Yeah, sure, Bea. I understand."

  "Get some rest, Bea,” Tucker added. “Tio, Tia, please call us if you need us."

  "Si gracias, Tucker,” Tia said. “Muchisimas gracias a los dos. Thank you for bringing her back to us."

  I nodded and swiftly turned away, tears threatening to fall at any moment.

  Tucker put the car in gear and we headed to the Wild Moon. Neither of us spoke to the other until we got to Adam's house.

  * * * *

  In a mirror of our arrival at Bea's, Niko met us inside Adam's front hallway, well away from direct sunlight. The day had dawned bright and shiny, such a contrast to our moods.

  "No change,” Niko said quietly. Tucker pulled him in for a hug. Sensing my own need, he let Niko go and did the same to me. I sank into my brother's embrace, letting the tension, anxiety and sorrow melt away for a brief moment as I tallied up the count:

  Missing friend found safe and sound: Check. (Safe. But sound after everything that happened? I hoped so.)

  Missing kids found safe and sound: Check.

  Missing brother found safe and sound: Half-check. (Found, as in we knew what happened and eventually his remains will turn up. Definitely not safe, nor sound.)

  Bad guy caught and put away for life: Technically, check.

  Which left Adam, still in a coma and no signs of coming out of it, despite the fact
that the cause of the coma no longer existed. The cause that was here in Rio Seco because of me; taking the life energy from the one person I'd found that I could be myself with, no family politics, no need to hide my inhuman nature.

  "We need to go on in.” Tucker spoke gently, disentangling himself from me.

  I nodded and followed the two of them further into the house. I had to fix this.

  * * * *

  "You are not doing this, Keira,” Niko argued as he paced across the living room floor. “I told you, in this state, he won't stop, he can't. He'll drain you."

  "That's a risk I have to take, Niko. Tucker, please, explain it to him.” I curled up in the corner of the couch and closed my eyes.

  "Keira, I understand your need, but you won't find me arguing for it,” Tucker said. “I am not quite ready to let you sacrifice yourself."

  My eyes flew open and I stood to confront my brother, who was seated in an easy chair across from me. “Let, brother? There is no ‘let’ involved. If I choose..."

  Tucker exhaled sharply. “You invoke Choice, then?"

  Choice: the tenet that I learned at my aunts’ knees as I trained with them. Both healers, both committed to life, healing and happiness, they were the ones who taught me how to guide others to their deaths. In a clan of near immortals, one may choose the time and date of their final journey. It is our most sacred principle and none may deny it.

  I faced my brother solemnly. “I do."

  Niko stopped pacing and came to stand by Tucker. He didn't have to ask what we were talking about. Although vampires are made rather than born, they too can suffer the eventual ennui that comes from living centuries, millennia. I had never asked for details, but in a conversation one night over dinner, I had gathered the vampires had something similar.

  I swallowed drily. Shit, Keira, this is it then. “I need you to know, guys,” I said. “I'm going to depend on you to be there. I'm not saying I'm going to let him drain me dry if I can help it. I want you two to do your best to pull him off after he's conscious."