“What of him?” The frost giant pointed a massive, square-shaped finger at my face.
“He’s my maid of honor,” Izumi said. “You can’t have him.”
“He has tarnished my honor!” the giant roared.
“You have to have honor to get it tarnished,” I said. “Besides, you’ve no claim against me; you’re not married yet.”
Kellyn quelled us with a glance. “The stranger is my daughter’s guest. Guest rights apply. Touch him and you touch my honor. Whatever grievance you imagine you have, settle it outside my court.”
The frost giant glowered, eyes ablaze. “Oh, that I will.”
There were thudding feet in the outside hall followed by banging on the door.
“Now what?” Kellyn raised her voice, “Enter!”
A guard rushed in, hastily bowing. “My Queen, the treasury has been despoiled by thieves.”
She looked calmly at the guard. He froze over and shattered in little pieces, many of them the color of blood. She spoke mildly, “You should not have let that happen.”
“I doubt he will repeat the mistake,” I said.
The giant was back to pointing his finger at me again. “There’s your thief. It must be him.”
“I’ve been here under guard,” I said, “but you can certainly look through my things. Of course, if you really want to find your thief, I have a spell for that.”
Kellyn gave me a nod to continue.
My mid-back tat burned like hell on a Saturday night. The crawling, peeling sensation almost convinced me my skin was blackening from internal heat. Using Dragon Vision, I saw the flow of magic within the room. Kellyn was a pyre of silver-blue magic. Izumi looked like her, but not nearly as bright. The frost giant was a muddy indigo, his fierce aura tainted by the necklace I’d palmed off on him.
I put a look of surprise on my face and did some pointing of my own. “There! He’s got something on him. Check his pocket.” I powered down my magic, saving my strength in case this didn’t work and I had to fight for my life.
Leaping to his feet, Aybran yelled, “Lying cur!” The fury in his voice caused several guards to enter the room, faces set in grim masks.
Kellyn looked at me. “You had best be right. Such an accusation, proved false, will strip you of my protection.”
“Turn out his pockets,” I said. “You’ll see.”
“I will not suffer this indignity,” Aybran said.
“You will,” Kellyn said. “Or the Wilde Hunt will drive you from this land, or to your death, depending on how fast you run.”
He paled, swallowing any further protests. Apparently, the greatest terror of the fey legend was not unknown to him.
Aybran dug in his pockets and turned them out. The necklace I’d stolen fell to the floor. The necklace’s stone shone like a small blue moon. The giant’s face showed shock and surprise. He stared at the necklace, stuttering his indignation, not actually forming any words.
Queen Kellyn cut him off mid-bluster. She did this with a sword like the one she’d earlier threatened me with. Its point pierced the giant’s chest and his heart. “I hate a thief,” she said.
I wisely failed to mention that most of the things in her treasure room, like mine back home, were stolen from other people.
A thick silence settled as the giant slumped and sprawled on the floor, covering the necklace with his corpse.
Izumi cleared her throat. “So, does that mean the wedding is off?”
TWENTY-ONE
“Blood, death, and chaos …
my work here is done.”
—Caine Deathwalker
Kellyn had the frost giant rolled on his side so she could retrieve the necklace. The guards then dragged him away. They closed the door behind them, leaving me and Izumi alone with her mom.
Kellyn said, “I didn’t see you plant the necklace downstairs. You have good hands, human, but poor sense, releasing the dragon ghost. Who knows where he will have taken the Red Moon relic by now. It may take me centuries to track him down again. You were a bad boy.”
Yeah, keep looking for that ghost. Don’t even suspect I’ve got your treasure tattooed to my arm.
Kellyn wandered over to me, stopping inches away. “In one thing, you’ve done me a favor. With this, the frost giant elders will be inclined to grant concessions; their honor is at stake. Of course, their king could restart the war anyway, sharing the pain of his grief with us all.”
Izumi looked stormy, eyeing the small distance between her mom and me. “I don’t care. I want what I want, and that sack of shit was in my way.”
Kellyn graced her daughter with an approving look. “Spoken like a pure-blood fey.” The queen returned her attention to me. “I, too, take what I lust after.”
“He’s mine,” Izumi said.
“Here, a rental fee.” Kellyn tossed the necklace to her.
Izumi caught it in cupped hands. She left the bauble on the bed, standing, coming over to join us. “As I said, he’s mine, and we have urgent business elsewhere.”
Kellyn shook her head. “No, Nieve, you will stay here. Izumi is no more. No more running away. You must learn the duties of a future queen.”
I might be heartless and self-serving, but I stand by my friends, when convenient. Still, I had no rights in Winter Court. I was out powered and outnumbered, which was why I’d been relying on stealth. I had no right to object, but when had I ever let such things bother me?
Besides I need Izumi’s muscle backing me, and I’d hate to lose a hell of a lay.
An idea hit me. I just needed Izumi to be quick on the uptake and play along.
I stepped in front of her, cutting off her view of her mom and gave her a quick wink. “Your mom is totally right.” I took her hands in mine. “Duty is very important. We must always sacrifice to meet our obligations. It is the path of honor.” The expression of surprise on her face was so fleeting, I could have imagined it. She knew I didn’t believe in personal sacrifice. Let others die for their causes, I’d kill for mine. “I’ll say goodbye now, if you want to open up a gateway back to L.A. for me.”
She stared into my eyes. “If you think it’s for the best.”
She gestured. An oval plane of dark green, edged with white-gold energy, swirled open. We were only a few feet away from escape, but I had to make sure no one would be sent to drag Izumi back here once we were gone.
I nodded solemnly. “I will miss you terribly. Sure it was a burden, taking you into my own home, feeding you, clothing you, cleaning up after your messes. The incredible sex barely made up for the inconvenience, but still, a certain price must be paid to befriend a committed party girl.”
I saw the light of understanding blaze in her eyes. She threw herself into my arms with a theatrical sob, clutching me desperately. “Oh, Caine, I can never thank you enough. I owe you so much!”
“Nieve, be silent!” Kellyn’s shocked voice lashed out, but it was too late.
I smiled. “Yes, you do, a debt that will take years to repay.”
Turning, I faced Kellyn. I saw defeat in her face. She knew as well as I did that fey law required even royalty to pay an acknowledged debt. Izumi had no choice now except to come with me.
“Relinquish your debt-right,” Kellyn said. “I will ransom her with a gift of magic or treasure. I will even pleasure you enthusiastically amid silken sheets until you lose desire for anyone else.”
“Yeah, you’ll throw a glamour on me so I’ll think I’m having the best sex ever, and I’ll wind up the one enslaved. Sorry. I’ve got other plans.” I walked toward the open dimensional gate. “Come on, Izumi.”
I didn’t have to look back to know she was following.
Kellyn sighed. “I can afford to wait a few years. Fey are long lived. Eventually, I will have my way.”
At the edge of the gate, I turned back to see Izumi hugging her mother. They broke apart and both approached me. I pulled out one of my cards and handed it to Kellyn. Often what I lust after makes its way t
o me.
“We will always have room in our bed for you.” My bed is spell-proof and glamour proof.
She smiled. “Be careful what you ask for. You just might get it.”
Izumi smacked me in the arm. “Really, stop hitting on my mom; it’s weird.”
“Hey, I’d be doing her a favor. An ice queen needs defrosting now and then, like everybody else.”
“Ass,” Izumi said.
I smiled. “My favorite feature, or so I’ve been told.”
As we plunged into the silken depths of the gate, the chill of the palace peeled away. Currents of chaos pried at the shimmering rings that formed our path, jostling them out of perfect alignment. Magic whisked us through the hunter green space, but it seemed as if we hung in stillness while the rings zipped past us.
This kind of travel wasn’t anything new, but Izumi reached out from behind me and her arms wrapped around me. It was a little late for post sexual cuddling, but I didn’t mind, until we emerged in her front yard and her leg tangled mine. She rode me down to the ground, laughing. My face sank into the grass as I absorbed the impact with my arms.
Sitting on me, Izumi lowered her boobs to my back, taking me by the shoulders as she whispered in my ear. “That’s for hitting on my mom.” She shoved off my back, getting to her feet.
I noticed the gate hadn’t closed. “Are you just going to leave that thing running?”
“For a while. Now that I know mom can’t keep me against my will, I’d like to go back and catch up on all the time we missed—for a while at least. I need to pack a few bags.” She headed for her house, and the way she swung her hips told me she knew I was watching, with great enjoyment. She called over her shoulder, “See you in a few weeks.”
“Wait a second,” I stood and brushed myself off. “You were going to tell me something about my new tattoo?”
“Oh, yeah, never go into its altered space alone. A sacrificed soul is required, or it’s a one way trip.”
“Good to know,” I said.
She continued on. I wasn’t going to ask her to stay and help me out. She’d charge me by the hour. I went to my own yard and made my way to the front porch. Leona sat on its edge, watching me. She bared clenched teeth in that Gawd-awful grin of hers as I passed.
“Enjoy the show?” I asked.
“Always a pleasure to watch you eat dirt.”
Go catch a mouse.”
I went inside. The TV blared. Someone’s talk show was in full swing. Apparently, someone had slept with her sister’s husband and had gotten pregnant, but a jealous ex-boyfriend was insisting that he was the real daddy and a DNA test was pending—“Right after a word from our sponsors!” A woman appeared on-screen holding a tube of gel. “Ever wanted product that would both whiten your teeth and bring soothing relief from vaginal itching? Well, Toof-Fer-One is for you!”
“Sometimes, I think I’m already in hell.” I headed toward the office-bar for a well-deserved drink, and to look for Old Man. I knew he was going to bust my chops about all the time I was spending not searching for Haruka, even though we’d needed an answer to Sarah’s weird-ass transforming necklace first.
As I pushed through the door, I pulled my phone and checked the calendar and weather. New Moon tonight and clear skies. Good night for unleashing old magic. I had a feeling a rescue in the nick of time lurked in the wings. I’ll hit the Mission again after sunset. Meanwhile…
Going into battle sober didn’t seem a good idea. I proceeded to make my own version of a top-shelf AMF (Adios Mother-Fucker!). This involved Captain Morgan rum from a one-use barrel for maximum flavor, a shot of French vodka, a shot of Karma tequila, a shot of aged gin, a shot of Crown whisky, two shots of Blue Curacao, two shots of sour mix, two shots of 7up, and a 151 Bacardi top layer. Instead of attacking this the usual way with a straw, I poured it all in a blender and gave it a whirl.
The challenge of the drink is to try not to die before finishing the first cup. I didn’t die. Barely. Nursing my second cup, I drifted off to my room to check my guns and ammo clips, adding them to the special combat harness I intended to wear over my night suit, an all-black second skin that simplified going over fences and hiding in shadows. I laid everything out on the bed, adding the long coat I’d been wearing. Later, it would keep my weaponry concealed until I reached the battlefield.
I finished my second drink, shed the rest of my clothes to the floor, and staggered off to the bathroom for a shower. The world slid sideways. Next thing I knew, the floor rushed up to greet me.
I don’t know how much time passed, but the darkness eventually released me. My head rocked to the side. Old Man bent over me, slapping my face.
Stretched out on the tiled floor, I squinted against the glare of the bathroom lights. He must have turned me over. My head hurt. I needed another drink.
He hit me again.
“You can stop that now,” I said. “I’m awake.”
“But it’s so much fun.” He walked away and started the shower. I listened to the hiss of water as I struggled to sit, and climb to my feet.
“Clean yourself up,” he said, “then join Hiro and me in the office. There’s news. Bad news.” He walked away.
I made it to the shower and added more hot water. Standing under the spray, I wondered what had hit the fan now. Torn by curiosity, I hurried things along and soon emerged a little more awake. I shaved, gelled my hair, and returned to my bedroom. The light coming in the window was dimming. Sunset wasn’t far off. I needed to dress for battle, but my stuff was no longer on the bed.
Off to the side, a martial arts head and torso on a stand had been brought in. The limbless rubber dude was usually used to practice pressure point attacks where clearly marked. This guy had been turned into a clotheshorse of sorts. My night suit, weapons harness, and long coat were settled over it. The gear looked better on me, but I was glad to have the dummy. It spruced up the place nicely and gave me someone to talk to for intelligent conversation.
Speaking of which, I was running late. Dressed, I ran across the house, seeing no sign of Leona. I entered the bar and swerved toward the fireplace and the furniture there. The chair William had destroyed had been replaced by a wingback chair with crimson leather and brass tacks. Hiro sat there. Old Man stood at the fireplace, his back to me.
I walked over and dropped on the couch.
Hiro look tired and years older.
“What is it this time?” I asked.
“They’ve found Haruka’s friend Jessie. Her body’s in Japan.”
TWENTY-TWO
It hurts to kill; it never lasts long enough.”
—Caine Deathwalker
I frowned. “The succubus took the girls to Japan and killed one of them?”
Old Man turned from the fireplace. He smoldered with rage. There were actual blue flames leaping out, obscuring his eyeballs. “Jessie’s been dead for at least three weeks.”
“Damn, I really need a drink.” I felt like I’d been sucker punched. “Hey, why didn’t we see it, Old Man, why didn’t we sense that the Jessie we met was a demon?”
He locked his hands behind his back. The flames of his eyes settled down, becoming sapphire coals as he went introspective. “Probably a doppelganger spell; lets you look and feel like someone else, but it’s tricky to keep it going and harder to mask it from people like us. It’s why the succubus needs Sarah.”
I said, “Okay, this sucks, but at least now I only have one person to get back.” I turned toward Hiro. “Did you speak about us in front of Jessie?”
He nodded sharply, eyes widening. Claw like hands gripped the armrests of his chair. “Yes, every time I spoke about the situation, she was there with Haruka.”
“How much did you tell her?”
“I told Haruka she would be safe”
“Did you tell her our clan name?”
A name like a smear of shadow in the mists of legend, a name respected far and wide in the preternatural communities.
He said, “Ye
s.”
“No wonder we were attacked as soon as we hit the scene.” I thought of the Catholic Mission where Sarah had been mucking about. The place offered power to anyone able to corrupt the holy site. “Well, at least we know where the ritual will be taking place. I need to head out.”
“I’m coming along,” Old Man said.
“Me too,” Leona added.
I jolted in place, half drawing one of my PPKs. “Where the hell did you come from?”
She snorted in amusement. “I’m a spirit beast, remember. Fading in and out is what I do.”
I scowled at her and holstered my gun.
“I’m coming too,” Hiro said.
I glared at him. “I’ll kill you myself before I let you breach our contract by getting yourself killed.”
Hiro cast a glance at Old Man, a silent appeal.
Old Man shook his head. “Sorry, my friend. The pup is right. Your battles are fought in boardrooms. If we have to divide our attention to keep you safe during a rescue, it puts Haruka in greater danger.”
Hiro sighed and nodded. “I understand. I will wait here.”
The rest of us headed out to my car. Old Man could have opened a demon gate, but the magic might set off alarms where we were going. As I started the engine, Izumi’s computer simulated voice came out of the speakers, greeting me warmly.
Old Man raised an eyebrow at me.
“What?” I said.
He looked forward again, saying nothing.
We didn’t talk much while I drove to the Mission. Once in the neighborhood, the air grew heavy, dead with foreboding. Old Man studied the church as we parked across the street. Leona did the same. The church looked closed, but I could feel an aura of old magic peeling off it in cold, clammy waves.
Red Moon Demon (Demon Lord) Page 16
