“Just finished,” Red said. “The luggage has been taken up to the room, and I have the key card.”
“Good. I’ll let you settle in, and look you up later. Maybe we can have dinner together.”
“Great!” Julia said. “I hear this place has some wonderful restaurants.”
I walked them over to the elevators and stopped them from leaving right away. I beckoned across the lobby at one of my people.
The demon sauntered over. He smelled of cloves and cinnamon, a nature-magic demon with eyes the creamy red of Fuji apples. “Yeah, boss?”
“This is my friend Red. And in case you haven’t met her before,” I pointed at Julia, “this is my daughter Julia.”
Adopted daughter. Daughter of the heart, my inner dragon said.
I said, “She is under our clan’s protection. I expect all of you to die for her if needed.”
The security man said, “I will make sure word is spread that the demon princess is among us.” He bowed in honor of her.
“I’m a demon princess?” she asked.
“A princess three times over,” I said. “A demon princess, princess to a fey kingdom, and a princess now of the Golden Dragon Clan. Try to stay off the covers of the preternatural tabloids.” They’d made my life hell, growing up.
Red pushed the call button for the elevator. It opened at once. I got on with him and Julia. The door closed. We pushed buttons for our floors.
“Julia, I have news for you. You’re a big sister now. You have a younger brother.”
She spun toward me. “What!”
Red said, “Someone finally caught you with a paternity test?”
I smiled at him. “Shut up and die.”
“Who’s the mother?” Julia asked.
I think she was still making up her mind about liking a new sibling or not.
“Selene, The Red Lady. That means he’s like you, half dragon. And half god as well.”
“Which half?” she asked, chewing a thumbnail.
“Be a good sister to him,” Red said. “Considering his father, he’ll need all the help he can get.”
“I’m not changing diapers,” she said.
“Technically, he isn’t born yet,” I said, “but he pops in now and again, time-travelling from the future. When you see him, he’ll be about nine years old.”
“Weird,” Red said.
“That’s my son.”
The doors dinged open. They got off. Julia waved energetically at me until the doors closed, cutting us off. I rode up to my own floor and travelled down the hall to my suite. A pair of guards stood outside. More would show up once Imari discovered I was back. I was in no rush to tell her. The guards were in human disguise, but from the size of their muscular bodies, the black suits, and their mean eyes, you knew they were security. They put out that vibe that said: Please, give me an excuse to hurt you.
“Anyone inside?” I asked.
The one on the right smelled of ozone, a storm demon. His eyes were electric blue, probably not part of a disguise. He said Izumi was here a while, waiting, but the were-cats came by and dragged her off to get some dinner out on the strip.”
I needed to steer clear of Izumi for a while. My fey ice queen harbored jealousy over Selene’s recent triumph. Izumi was determined to be the next one in my harem to get knocked up. If she got a hold of me, I’d likely be tied to my bed for the rest of the night and I’d be exhausted by morning, and barely alive.
Solitude’s good. I should be able to get some work done.
I told them, “My friend Red and my daughter Julia will probably be around in a while. You can admit them when they get here.”
The second guard smiled. He smelled strongly of vapor, a water demon. That explained his perpetually damp hair, a common trait of his kind. “The princess! Good. I haven’t seen her since our war with the Blue Star Goddess. Her pinky did eventually grow back, right?”
I nodded. “Yep, getting it bit off by the bad guys was what got her interested in firearms. She’s packing a magically concealed .22. You can let her keep it.”
The storm demon said, “Just a .22? That won’t stop shit. And you’ve got to be close, or very good.”
“Not a lot of stopping power,” I agreed. “But she is a crack shot. We go to the landfill in L.A. sometimes and target practice on the rats. If she can see it, she can hit it.”
My chest swelled with fatherly pride as I used the card reader to let myself into the suite, leaving the guards the card in case they needed fast access to me.
Kicking in doors is fun, but can get expensive.
I closed the door and went across the orchid-purple carpet to the living room where the bright white leather furniture commanded attention. I noticed the door was open to my bedroom. Maid Service had been here, making the bed, cleaning up, and restocking the minibar in the kitchenette.
Needing my laptop, I went into the bedroom. The bed sat on a violet area rug. The rest of the bedroom floor was dark gray tiles extending to walls that were dusky blue and blue-gray. The ceiling and bedroom furniture were the same stark white as the padded headboard of the bed. Somehow, that bed had survived intensive use the last couple of days, showing little wear and tear.
I grabbed my laptop, returned to the sitting area, and dropped into an armchair. I put my feet up on the coffee table. Opening the laptop, I pressed on. As it booted up, I called the Old Man to touch base with him.
His voice boomed in my ear. “Caine? You’re still alive?”
“Why does that always seem to surprise everyone? You trained me, remember?”
“Was that me? I’m certain I’d rememberrrrr, oh my…!”
“Old Man, pay attention to the conversation. What are you doing anyway?”
“I’m uh, uh, oh, my Gawd!”
“Damn! Don’t tell me; you’re finally losing your virginity! You went out and got some hookers, right?”
I knew the prospect of marriage would begin to sink in soon.
Kinsey’s voice came over the phone. “He’ll call you back later. Much later.” The connection went dead.
I sat there, staring at the phone in my hand. Kinsey and the Old Man. They were getting an early start on the honeymoon. It sounded like a miracle. Kinsey was doing the wedding because the Dragon Emperor had ordered her to, and she didn’t want to challenge him to mortal combat to stop it. Like most dragons, she had a deep contempt for demons. I wondered how the Old Man finally won her over.
Well, it looks like I’ll have to look elsewhere for help with my research.
I made another call, this one to Sacramento. The connection went through and a soft female voice answered. “Hello?”
“Hi Kat, it’s Caine Deathwalker.”
“Really? No one’s killed you yet?”
“Not for lack of trying. Listen, how’d you like an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas including a stay in a luxury hotel?”
“Sounds too good to be true. What’s the catch?”
“Well, the were-kitties are here with me, and I know they’d like to see you and that boy toy of yours again. We’ve all come over here for my adoptive father’s wedding to my cousin. C’mon, it’ll be fun. What do you say?”
“What’s in it for you? Demon Lords are seldom the souls of generosity and virtue. Is it me or my were-liger husband you need?”
“Okay, it’s both. Look, Cleo and her human family are in deep trouble with the prides out here. I’m doing what I can for her, but you guys understand much better than me the issues involved. I know Cleo’s your good friend. I just thought you might care enough to help out.” I offered her a theatrical sigh. “Guess I was wrong.”
“If it’s Clee, I’ve got her back. I can get there by morning, maybe.”
“Pack your bags. Stay home for now,” I said. “I’ll get one of my magic-using clansmen to open a portal to pick you up. I’ll call you again when everything’s ready.”
If the Old Man—or Izumi my ice queen—stayed unavailable, Imari, my First
Sword would know somebody. I’d get this handled one way or another.
“Oh, Kat, two things you need to know: everybody around here’s stirred up over the Eyes of Bastet. I roughly know what they are, but additional information on the relics would be appreciated. Second—”
“Hold up! The Eyes of Bastet? They were lost in the desert in the 1800’s, either to a sand storm or an Indian massacre, depending on what source you reference. Some people say Bastet took them back and they are no longer in the human world.”
That sounded like a bummer. If they’re gone, how can I steal them?
“What do you think?” I asked her.
“I’ve got no idea. What else do we need to know?”
“Oh, there’s a three-clawed monster out in the Arizonian desert, eating people. It has a human form, too. Could be a giant demon sloth.”
“Just a second,” Kat said. “Josh wants to talk to you.”
“Caine? Did I hear you right? You’ve got a giant sloth-monster killing people?”
“Eating them too,” I said. “It might be too much for your were-liger. When you change, you’re only twenty-five hundred pounds of fuzzy death, so if you want to pass on fighting this thing I’ll certainly understand. No one will think any less of you.”
“Caine, I see through you. You can’t threaten my manly pride to make me do your dirty work.”
“I thought it was worth a shot. Besides, you actually like people. I thought you’d care about them dying.”
“I do. That’s why I’m going to help you kill this monster. Just one condition.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Name it.”
“I get the pelt. I need a new rug for my man-cave in the basement.”
“Deal,” I said.
Ending the call, I accessed the room’s WIFI and went on the internet to start my research. If anyone knew about a three-clawed sloth—possibly demonic, possibly prehistoric—it was Wikipedia.
FOUR
“Love and hate are both dragons, hiding
in darkness, waiting to pounce.”
—Caine Deathwalker
Julia and Red showed up after a while. We left the suite together. I told the guards, “We’ll be at the Japanese Steak House in the food court. If you see the were-kitties, you can send them to me, or have them wait here. I need to see them en mass, tonight. Pass that along to Imari. Tell her I want to see her within the hour.”
I wanted to touch base on hotel security, to hear relevant details on the up-coming wedding, and to have her meet Red. Julia, she already knew.
Storm Demon Guy said, “Yes, Sir.”
Water Demon Dude took out his phone and punched in a number. I could have made the call, but then Imari would have tried to handle me by phone, since that was convenient to her. I found it necessary sometimes to remind subordinates that that’s what they were.
It is good to be king.
Julia grabbed my arm, walking in step with me. We went past the elevators, staying on the same floor, moving from one wing to the next. The Food Court and many shops were at the back of the hotel, away from the main entrance. We’d descend to our target via the great escalator. It was fun to ride. I thought Julia would like it.
“The Old Man will be happy you’ve made it for his wedding,” I said.
“I don’t know what to get him and Kinsey,” Julia said. “Any ideas?”
“Kinsey is a rapier user. A sword cleaning kit with clove oil might work. For the Old Man, he’s fond of Greek wine and anything expensive.”
“What are you getting him?” Red asked.
“The Moody Blues Greatest Hits CD. The band isn’t really blue, but he is, and he likes classic rock.”
Red said, “I thought I’d give them both gift certificates good for any design in my tattoo shop. They can get something matching, maybe a gold dragon for her and a blue squid for him.”
“Only problem with that,” I said, “is that the Old Man is already thickly covered with either ancient Atlantean magical tatts, or hot-iron branding. I don’t know how much open skin he still has under the collar. Guy’s got more ink than a Yakuza gangster.”
“Hmmm,” Red said. “I was hoping not to have to spend actual money.”
“Stop pinching your pennies so tightly,” I said. “Lincoln needs to breath.”
Julia laughed at that.
“So,” Red said, “what are we going to do about your lost tatts?”
“Nothing,” I said.
He stopped me in the hallway, a hand on my shoulder, turning me to face him.
I explained it to him. “I want word to get out that they’re gone, magically stripped away. People will think I’m vulnerable.”
“You will be,” Red said. “Doing magic from scratch is a lot slower without a pre-formed pattern to invoke.”
Julia rolled up the shirtsleeve closest to her, finding the dragon and lotus tattoo. “This one’s still here.”
“That’s one Selene gave me to link me to her Red Moon. It’s a transportation spell.” I have that and the Demon Wings on my upper back. Red’s tatts are the ones I lost. Listen guys, I need you to keep a secret.”
Julia’s eyes got big as I demonstrated my trust in her. “Cross my heart.” She actually used two fingertips to make a cross over her flat chest.
“I’ve been keeping your secrets for years,” Red said.
I rolled down the sleeve Julia had lifted, and rolled up the sleeve on my left arm to show them bare skin. Seeing no ink gave me the weird sensation that the arm wasn’t really my own.
I showed them some shadow magic, making darkness pool in my left palm, taking the shape of a miniature dragon. It flicked its tail, clawed the air, and breathed out more shadow that was ragged like flame.
Julia gasped in wonder. “That’s so cute. I want one.”
“Nice,” Red said, “but what’s the point.”
I smiled. “Watch.” The small dragon in my palm flattened into the skin. Two-dimensional, it moved realistically, responding to my thoughts. The beast wiggled, flowing like a liquid over my wrist, up my left forearm. Once there, I reshaped it. “Recognize the pattern?” I asked Red.
“That’s the original pattern I designed for your old force-field.”
I nodded. “The one I stopped using because it was incompatible with my developing golden dragon magic. Drawing the tatt in shadow, instead of ink and dragon blood, I can use it again. What about this?” I imagined another pattern. The shadow on my skin reformed.
“That’s the pattern for your dragon fire,” Red said.
I pooled a little raw, golden dragon magic into the tatt. My left arm tingled, then burst into flame. I closed down the tatt before the hallway smoke detectors went crazy and caused a commotion.
I rolled my sleeve back down. “From now on, people will think I’m stripped of my magic. What they don’t know will definitely hurt them.”
“So, basically, I’m fired,” Red said.
“Not completely.” I started everyone moving toward the escalator again. “I’m still going to need you to design new spells for me to memorize. I just won’t be getting them needled on.”
We reached the place where the hall opened up to a great open space. The escalator carried us down toward the food court. The tinted wall of glass that was the side of the building threw our reflections back at us. At ground level, there was an indoor fountain, benches, and a door to the outside. We got off before getting that far. I led us past several options, to the Japanese Steak House, pushing through the heavy golden oak doors.
Inside, the tan carpet had a blackthorn print on it. Sections of the wall were framed in more of the golden oak, filled in by rice-paper squares. Between these sections, the walls were painted a burnt orange that worked well in the subdued lighting of paper lanterns.
Ventilation hoods hung over chefs in cooking whites, with fluffy white hats, that stood between front-and-back grills. Outside the twin grills, there were long black counters where customers sat in red lacquer chai
rs to watch food prepared with great showmanship. Spatulas rang off the grills, herding chopped vegetables and assorted pieces of meat. One chef built a volcano out of raw onion rings, squirting oil inside, setting the cone on fire.
Flames danced over multiple grills. The place was popular. We stood waiting a minute until a hostess arrived in an actual kimono, brown with red and gold leaves blown across it for a pattern. A metallic bronze obi wound around her thin waist. The girl’s face was western, however. The redhead had a dusting of freckles across her nose, and olive green eyes.
She gathered menus from her station. “Hi, table for three, or do you want seats at one of the grills?”
“Grill,” Julia said.
“Grill it is,” I said.
The hostess moved toward the heart of the restaurant. “This way, please.”
We followed and were quickly seated at a counter and grill where no chef was yet in attendance. There were no customers seated across from us yet, either.
The hostess said, “A waitress will be along to get your drink order and a chef will be with you soon. Please enjoy your visit.”
Fortunately, the light coming down from the ventilation hood was stronger than that from the paper lanterns, letting us actually read the menus. The waitress came by and we told her what we wanted. By the time drinks arrived, our chef was with us.
I said, “Seafood trio.” It came with mini-crab cake appetizers. Actually, most items on the menu did.
“The teriyaki chicken stir fry.” Red looked at Julia. “The children’s plate looks good.”
She sneered at his suggestion. “Not a big fan of stuffed mushrooms. I’ll have the Tori Niku.”
Sizzling shrimp entrée, teriyaki chicken, and a house desert. Good choice.
Red grimaced. I guessed he was trying to keep expenses down.
Julia looked at him and said, “You know I’m worth it.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “It’s on me Red.”
He grimaced again. “Now you tell me. I could have ordered the Kobe beef and lobster.”
The chef was doing his thing, squirting oil and flaming up the grill.
Moonstone Shifter (Demon Lord Book 8) Page 3
