Dead by Midnight

by Kelex

  “You’re welcome,” Adriel said, trying to downplay his offense. He jumped from the bed, fearful he’d be touched again and moved to one of the windows.

  Waving his arm and chanting an incantation, the window turned into a view inside his study. He saw almost his entire king’s guard inside, along with Varian. Varian? Why is he there? Adriel turned to Noah. “We should go.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” Noah said before leaning in to caress Eilam’s face. “Be well, my brother bear.”

  They kissed briefly, but it was enough to send a wave of jealousy through Adriel. He fought back the sensation before lifting his hand to create a portal Noah could move through.

  The second they exited the portal, a half dozen shifters were ready to pounce.

  Chapter Six

  Jeph searched the field, looking for any sign that they had been there. Any clue as to why… anything that would lead them back to wherever they’d been. His head ached, a massive headache had hit him when they’d neared this place. Was it the location doing it to him or was his internal search to blame?

  A name suddenly whispered in his mind.

  Heinrick.

  Jeph frowned, trying to figure out who Heinrick was. Nothing came to him…

  And then he heard the whistle of a train in the distance.

  The train…

  Jeph searched the area, looking for signs of rails or a train. He stood there silently a moment, waiting to hear something again.

  No sounds came to him. He scanned the area again. No birds. No animals… I haven’t seen any wildlife, or heard sounds of scattering. Something’s not right here.

  Griffin and Nick made their way over as the sun began to lower, both with irritation on their faces.

  “There’s nothing here,” Nick spat. “It’s been over an hour. We’re wasting our time.”

  Jeph shook his head. “We’re not. Something’s here, I can feel it.”

  “I don’t know, Jeph… I think I have to agree with Nick. I don’t know that we’ll find answers here.”

  “Then where do we go?” Jeph demanded.

  “I don’t know,” Griffin answered. “How do we know we weren’t just dumped here? Whoever had us might be a million miles away.”

  Jeph heard a train whistle in the distance again, and the hairs on his arms and neck stood up. “Do you hear that?”

  “Hear what?” Nick asked, cocking a brow.

  “The train.”

  Both Griffin and Nick frowned at him. “What train?” Griffin asked, but then his eyes widened.

  “Heinrick, Heinrick, Heinrick,” Griffin suddenly bellowed.

  A man in a conductor’s uniform appeared before them… man might’ve been an over-explanation… as it appeared he was no longer living.

  Jeph took a step back, his eyes widening.

  The ghost lifted his stare and shoved his timepiece back into his waistcoat. “What is it with you mortals? I have a job to do, and you keep pulling me from it.”

  Keep pulling me from it? “What job?” Jeph asked.

  The ghost frowned. “Conducting the train to Midnight, of course. Are you daft?”

  Midnight.

  “Can you take us there?” Griffin asked.

  Heinrick looked between the three of them… he frowned. “You’ve been wiped, haven’t you?” The ghost stepped back, as if he was afraid of them. “I shouldn’t be talking to you. Send me back where you yanked me from.”

  “How do we do that?”

  “Same way you sent me back last time,” Heinrick spat. “And hurry it up. I’ve got tickets to check.” The ghost pulled out his pocket watch again and looked at the time. “I’m late!”

  “I don’t know how to send you back,” Griffin said.

  Heinrick sighed. “Well, how’d you get me here?”

  “I said Heinrick, Heinrick, Heinrick an—”

  The ghost disappeared, silencing Griffin.

  Nick laughed. “Who knew Beetlejuice got it right?” He spun and started walking towards their rental car.

  Jeph eyed Nick and then Griffin. “We’re staying.”

  “Oh, you’re fucking right we are,” Nick said. “I need to get some equipment from the car.”

  * * * *

  After receiving a call, Valen stormed into Portal Station Four. He scanned the terminal, looking for signs of trouble, but all seemed to be flowing smoothly. Matioc, the supervisor of the station, began walking his way. The beaver shifter had been trapped mid-shift many years before by an angry witch, from what Valen had heard. Because of that, Matioc appeared to be both man and beast at the same time.

  “I asked for Theis to come,” Matioc spat.

  “He was busy and asked me.”

  “They’re back,” the beaver said with a sigh.

  “Who’s back?”

  “The humans! They’re out in the field just outside the terminal, milling around. I’ve got a line of people waiting to exit, but they can’t because those pesky humans are searching with their equipment and everyone’s afraid to leave and be seen.”

  Valen frowned. “Are these the ones who’d come with Reese and Hart?”

  Matioc rolled his eyes. “Yes. The final three are back. They’ve been mind-wiped twice now. I’ve never had to use the machine a third time, and I worry there might be permanent damage if we use it again.”

  “Would it be better for all of Midnight to be exposed?” Valen asked. Three meddlesome humans wouldn’t be the reason for the whole city’s demise. “You should’ve rounded them up and sent them to one of the prisons.”

  Matioc scoffed. “Above my pay grade, Valen. The king’s guardsmen handle anything outside the perimeter of the city.”

  That was before we were so short-handed. Valen sighed. “Get me three of your officers. We’ll go round them up.”

  “I’ve got my hands full in here,” Matioc growled. “Especially with the backup at the exit door. And the train is delayed for some reason—this place is a madhouse.”

  “Three officers and we can clear up that back-up,” Valen said firmly. “Now.”

  Matioc sighed before walking away, mumbling under his breath.

  Valen headed over to the walking portal as he waited. Pushing through the crowd of folks waiting to exit, he finally reached the edges of the magic. He pressed in close and watched what was happening outside.

  The sun had nearly set… he saw a couple of flashlights in the distance. And another with some sort of device, sweeping the field. They appeared to be searching for something. If they’d been mind-wiped twice already, there was no way they should be aware of the portal.

  Yet something had drawn them here—three times, apparently.

  There was more to their story. These were not typical humans.

  Could they have some role in the attacks against the king? Were the humans working with the vampires—here to distract the guardsmen so the king’s circle of protection was weaker? He couldn’t ignore the fact these humans had arrived just before a series of attacks. Reese—the first of the humans who’d arrived—had been found in a vampire lair.

  Had he not been a prisoner, after all?

  Perhaps they needed to toss all five humans into a Midnight prison until all could be investigated. Theis wouldn’t be happy to let go of his mate, but then, maybe Reese wasn’t who he made himself appear to be.

  Valen heard a scuffle behind him. A look over one shoulder showed him Matioc approached.

  “I’ve got your three officers. They’re not trained for work outside the city, so you’d best take care of my men.”

  “But of course,” Valen said before he instructed the three on what he expected them to do. Once ready, they marched out into the human world.

  In a matter of minutes, the officers had all three of the humans in cuffs. It had almost been too easy. Did they want to be arrested? Valen cocked a brow as the first two were marched into the portal. When the third one passed, a scent hit him in the gut.

  “Wait,” he spat before ma
rching over to the third and final human. He glared down at the man, the scent wrapping around him.

  Trickery. That’s all it is. I will find out how they’re doing this…

  Chapter Seven

  Noah shifted the instant they crossed the barrier. The king pushed himself between Noah and the shifters on the other side.

  “He’s with me!” the king roared.

  The animals were all decked out in golden armor, and as they shifted back into their human forms, Noah realized it was the king’s guard. Their armor shifts with them? Noah returned to his human form and was shocked to see his pants seemed to have the same magical ability. No more ripped and shredded clothing? The constant mending and purchasing of new clothing was a pain in the ass.

  “Varian,” the king murmured before stepping forward and hugging the man who looked very much like the ruler. “It’s so good to see you… but I requested your father.”

  Noah stared at Varian and saw the man’s smile fade some.

  Varian forced the smile back into place. “As it is good to see you, too, Cousin. I mean… Your Majesty.” Varian did a lopsided curtsy. “My father is… a little under the weather, so I came in his place.”

  Lie… Noah sensed it, and he hoped the king did, as well.

  “I need help. I hope you’re up to the task. It’ll be powerful magic in the spell I need.”

  Noah stepped to the back of the room and listened as the king repeated the story of the attacks. He watched the king’s guard, noting their rapt attention on him as they all waited with anticipation of another assassin. All were on edge. He could feel them all ready to attack at any second.

  And he was glad for it.

  He moved about the room, watchful. He didn’t care if he was barefoot and shirtless. Noah was ready to leap into action at any second.

  “How’s Eilam?” Theis whispered as he neared.

  “Awake.”

  Theis sighed. “That’s good to hear.”

  “It is.”

  They turned back to the discussion between the king and Varian.

  “If there’s any of the ash left, it could be helpful in the locator spell,” Varian said.

  Theis stepped forward. “We collected some for testing. I can get you a sample.”

  Varian smiled at Theis. “That would be wonderful.” He turned back to the king. “I don’t know how long it might take me to create the spell and get your answers. You’d best find somewhere safe to hide until I do.” Varian reached out and grasped the king’s arm. Noah tilted his head when he saw something shimmering in the air around the king’s arm and Varian’s hand.

  “What’s that?” Noah demanded.

  Everyone froze, and soon turned to stare in the same direction as Noah.

  “What?” Theis asked, frowning. “What do you see?”

  “That,” Noah pointed. “Shimmering on the king’s arm.”

  Theis squinted. “I don’t see anything.”

  The king lifted his arm and looked down. As soon as he whipped his head up, Varian vanished.

  “Damn him!” the king cried before lifting his hand and moving it over his arm.

  The glimmering stopped.

  “Was that a spell?” Noah asked, marching closer.

  “It was,” the king said. “A tracking spell.” He continued to move his hands, little glyphs illuminating in the air around him. Power churned in his hands before he released it in the direction Varian vanished. The spell glimmered before surging forward and then fading.

  “Him vanishing doesn’t bode well,” Theis said.

  “I just sent a tracking spell after him.” The king turned to Theis. A box materialized in his palm, which he handed to the guardsman. “You can use this to trail him.” Once Theis took the small box, a vial of some liquid appeared on the king’s palm. “Toss this spell on him and it will bind his powers for seven days and nights. Long enough that we can hopefully get answers.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  “I want him found,” the king said to Theis. “Send a team to find my uncle, too. We’ll return to Eilam and ensure he’s healthy.”

  “How will you know I’ve got Varian and your uncle?” Theis asked.

  The king pointed to the mirror. “Write the news on there with your finger. I’ll see it.”

  Theis nodded.

  The king turned to Noah. “Ready?”

  “I had hoped to reach out to my team,” Noah said.

  “We have no time right now. Give a message to Theis.”

  Noah turned to the guardsman. “Can you let Chris know I’m with Eilam? For them to keep up surveillance. Can you be the go between if they uncover anything big?”

  “Absolutely,” Theis answered.

  “Thanks,” Noah said, offering Theis a handshake.

  “Just keep them both safe—I’ll handle things here,” Theis said.

  The king moved his hands and created the portal back. Noah grabbed his arm before he walked through.

  Several of the guards gasped. Apparently, he was breaking some kind of royal etiquette, but Noah didn’t care. All of their safety was more important than etiquette.

  “You’re sure the spell’s gone? No one can track you back?” He needed to ensure the king’s safety. And Eilam’s.

  The king nodded. “We’re safe. I removed it.”

  He gazed at the man’s arm, searching for any of the glimmering, but saw nothing. Noah relaxed some and unhanded the king.

  “How did you see it?” the king asked, his voice hushed.

  “No idea,” Noah answered.

  The king walked backwards through the portal and held his gaze until the warlock disappeared through the magic.

  Noah followed him, praying to the shifter gods they were safe.

  * * * *

  The need to urinate grew stronger each minute Eilam lay in the bed. He’d waited as long as possible, unsure if his feet would get him where he needed to go without a little assistance. When it was obvious Noah and the king weren’t coming back in enough time to help, he forced himself to a seated position.

  Once the world stopped spinning, he placed his feet on the floor and did his best to lift himself. He stumbled and nearly fell… but luckily he reached the dresser before he did a full face plant on the floor. With the help of the furniture, he crossed the room and made it to the toilet where he did a very non-masculine pee sitting down. It was either that or he was gonna fall over.

  As soon as his bowels were empty and he felt confident enough to get back on his feet, he rose and shuffled back out to the bedroom. He held on to one dresser and then reached for an armoire. Stopping, he leaned against the armoire and took a few deep breaths.

  The second he rose to his full height, the door of the armoire opened a crack and Eilam saw fingers through the gap. Stumbling back, he nearly fell again.

  “Come out,” he growled, his voice still raw.

  The person inside the armoire didn’t move an inch. After a few more seconds, Eilam rushed in and shoved the door wide open. A man was shoved inside the armoire. Is he dead?

  Eilam turned the man’s head.

  And came face to face with… himself.

  Eyes popped open and the thing inside the armoire rose to full height. Eilam backed away as the man stretched before turning around to fully face him. The imposter was naked, and almost immediately grew hard.

  What the fuck?

  “Who are you?”

  “Eilam,” the man said without emotion.

  “No… I’m Eilam. Who are you?”

  “No, I’m Eilam,” the thing parroted. “Who are you?”

  Just then, a portal opened into the room. The king backed in… followed by Noah.

  Noah glanced at the bed—and when he apparently didn’t see Eilam—he then turned to see two of them. Noah frowned, freezing where he stood.

  “What is it?” the king asked before turning to see what Noah stared at.

  “A better question for you,” Eilam said, his voice soundi
ng like gravel. “What is it?”

  The Eilam clone crossed the room and grabbed the king. Noah and Eilam both jumped forward—Noah a bit more spritely—but Eilam paused as he watched the clone kiss the king’s neck.

  As the clone tried to take the king’s shirt off.

  “Stop! Stop!” the king cried, his voice sounding panicked.

  The clone stopped mid-movement, its eyes closing.

  “Return to your cupboard,” the king said. “And then power down.”

  Eilam watched his twin turn and return to the armoire he’d found the thing inside. It climbed inside, appeared to shut off, and then the king swept over to slam the door shut. Eilam stumbled a few steps before Noah moved in to help. Once he was seated back on the bed, he looked at the king. “What is that?”

  “What are you doing out of bed?” the king asked instead of answering.

  “I had to piss,” Eilam said, his throat burning, but he didn’t care. He needed answers. “What is that?”

  “Nothing for you to worry about,” the king cried.

  “He’s a sex toy,” Noah murmured, a broad smile growing on his face. “That’s how he’s been able to deny us this long. He has his own personal Eilam to fuck whenever he wants.”

  The king turned scarlet as Eilam watched. “No… that’s not what he is.”

  “Then what is he?” Eilam demanded, pinning the king with a glare.

  The king was silent a moment. He lifted his chin arrogantly and gazed at Eilam. “I am beholden to no one. I need not answer your questions.”

  Noah moved closer to the king and drew the warlock into his arms. Without a word, Noah captured their mate’s lips. The king pushed against Noah’s chest and tried to pull his head away.

  At first.

  But soon, his hands slid along Noah’s bare flesh, his lips eagerly returning the kiss. Noah lifted the king slightly, rocking his hips against the man.

  Eilam was weakened, but not so much that the sight of his brother bear kissing their mate didn’t have an effect on him. He felt his cock thickening; the need that had been assaulting him for months so thick in his blood that he felt his control vanish.