Worth Your While

by Connie Suttle

  Cassie

  "Well, at least I only have to pack a few extras," I sighed, staring at the pile of clothes I'd laid on the bed.

  "Parke wants Gramma Kate and me to go back to Seattle," Destiny sat in a chair near the bed and grumbled.

  "Honey, things may not be so safe around here," I said. The feeling of eyes on us when I walked out of Doctor Chalmers' building still haunted me. I didn't want any of that to touch Destiny, Kate or anyone else for that matter.

  Destiny had enough trauma from Ross and his bunch trying to kill her. She didn't need to see the horror that Shakkor Agdah could create.

  "You think you can really fix the motor home?"

  "With Yosuke's help, maybe. I can seal the gash so it won't leak air all the time, anyway. It won't be pretty, but it'll do."

  "What if you die for real?" Destiny asked the question that troubled both of us.

  "Honey, nobody knows what tomorrow will bring. Just remember that I'll do everything I can to stay alive—and keep the others alive, too."

  Cassie! Yosuke's mental shout made me jump and shriek. Come quickly, he added.

  With barely a thought in his direction, I relocated next to him, just as another grenade was tossed onto the grounds from across the road.

  I knew what Yosuke wanted before he said anything else; he transported us across the road where the fool tossing grenades stood beside a car, pulling the pin on another one.

  The fireball I tossed at him exploded as the heat set off the bomb in his hand. A neighbor had already called the police; in the distance, a siren sounded.

  We must go, Yosuke reminded me as I glared angrily at the furiously burning vehicle and the blasted remains next to it. He transported us to the garages at the side of the house.

  "What the hell?" Parke stomped out of the house, already going prelim. Two vamps, with Cliff and Kent helping, were putting out a blaze around the small crater a grenade created in the front yard. Somehow, this didn't sound like Shakkor Agdah. The fool who did this had no idea what he could be facing by doing something so stupid.

  Parke, you and Cliff need to talk to the police. That means you have to be human, I reminded him.

  Sirens were coming closer, and three neighbors were already surrounding the burning car—from a safe distance, of course.

  Come, Yosuke gripped my arm. We should go inside and let the Chancellor and Grand Master handle this.

  Parke

  Cliff presented his ID to the police officer asking questions, while a firetruck and other emergency vehicles parked alongside the road and eventually doused the burning vehicle.

  "He was lobbing small bombs or Molotov cocktails from across the road," Cliff explained while the officer took notes. "We were already out here, trying to put the fire out when the perp exploded."

  "A device may have detonated in his hand," the officer snorted. "Any idea why he would target this house?"

  "None," Cliff replied. "We rented this house for six months, and only moved in five days ago."

  "Any enemies who'd do this sort of thing?"

  "None to speak of."

  I wanted to laugh but didn't.

  "Did you get a good look at the car or the attacker?"

  "We were too focused on putting out the fire he'd caused, and it was too far away to see anything clearly."

  "Officer ah, Santos," Trey approached and addressed the policeman. "If you need more information, contact my superior at this number." He handed Santos a card. The officer's eyes widened, while his mouth opened to say something.

  "We're investigating the death of the Lieutenant Governor from Alabama. The trail led us here, but I doubt we'll stay. You'll keep that last part to yourself," he laid compulsion.

  "Damn," Santos swore, staring at the card.

  "You'll keep us informed on the case and give us the identity of this attacker when you have it," Trey placed more compulsion.

  "Yes. Of course."

  "That will be all," Trey finished.

  "Yessir."

  Officer Santos walked toward his colleagues across the road. They'd be here for a while, picking up pieces of the body to haul away, taking photographs and removing the vehicle for forensics to examine.

  "Well, we'll have to hire somebody to fix the lawn and the damaged sprinklers," I sighed.

  "I'll have somebody on that tomorrow. We need to get out of here soon," Trey said. "First, the attack in Douglasville. Then the spy, and now this. I don't like where this is going, Chancellor."

  "I don't like it, either. How quickly can we put things in place and get out of here?"

  "I say it's time to put our wizards to work and bypass normal travel."

  "Where to? I doubt we can take over the Gulf Tides house, yet."

  "Why not? It's empty. I think I can smooth things over if there are complaints."

  "What about furniture?"

  "Leave that to me."

  "Damn, you really can move mountains when you have to," I shook my head at Trey.

  "When I have to, I can call in help through the Council. I can have furniture delivered tonight as long as they can get into the house, and I'll see they get in. Do you know where the sprite is right now?"

  "In the house, I suppose."

  "Let's have a conversation with him, then."

  "The money was wired shortly after you agreed to accept the location," Rob told us. "We technically own it; there's only paperwork to sign and keys to collect from the realtor."

  "Money talks, and cash yells loudest," Trey nodded. "We need to ask the wizards to transport us out of here by tomorrow morning."

  "I'm sure they'll agree. I'll go ask," Rob said and turned to leave my makeshift office.

  "Do you think I ought to send Jon back with Destiny and my mother?" I asked Trey.

  "Up to you," Trey shrugged.

  "I'll think about that for a couple of hours, then. Right now, I need to talk to Cassie."

  "I'd say that right now, she and Yosuke have been our best protectors here," Trey pointed out. "Without their help, things could be a lot worse."

  "As wizards go, so far I don't hate him," I said. "Cassie is getting along with him, too, and that's a big plus. He has also pledged not to harm any of us."

  "Good to know. What about Will?"

  "He says he'll never consider harming Cassie again. He'd better be telling the truth."

  "Since we're not that familiar with wizards and their ways, I can't predict one way or another. I will say that I have been and intend to continue watching him closely."

  "Same here."

  Zedarius

  I cannot explain it, Yosuke admitted. No other demon, in my long memory, has been able to do what Cassie has done since her near-death. None can relocate. None can make themselves larger than they previously were in their full-demon form. As for releasing fireballs with this much accuracy, it astounds me.

  Humans have tales of a few of their kind recovering from near-death experiences with extraordinary abilities. Do you suppose this could be similar?

  No fire demon has ever survived the spell we've laid to destroy Shakkor Agdah. There are no records to read and discuss, as this is an anomaly—a singularity in all of demon history.

  "The Chancellor wants to leave by morning, and has asked that you provide transport," Rob found Yosuke and me having our silent discussion in the kitchen.

  "To the new location?" I asked.

  "Yes."

  "I suggest we take people first, then bags and belongings," Yosuke said.

  "Fine with me, as long as we get away from this place. Something is going on here—do you feel it?"

  "I feel uncomfortable, but it has a lesser quality to it than Shakkor Agdah," I replied. "I have no idea what that means at the moment—perhaps we'll know more when we learn the latest one's identity."

  "When will the first ones be ready to evacuate?" Yosuke asked.

  "I'd say in an hour or so, but Parke and Trey will decide the order of relocation."

  "We
will be ready," Yosuke told him.

  "Good. I'll inform the others." Rob walked out of the kitchen.

  Should we discuss these new events with Cassie? Yosuke asked.

  You can discuss them with her; I doubt she'll talk to me about it.

  I think I'll wait a few days; perhaps she'll come to me instead.

  I hope you're right, I said. This is a puzzle, and I dislike something I cannot explain.

  Patience, Zedarius.

  Sure.

  Cassie

  Kate insisted, so she and Destiny were going with us to Gulf Tides for a week, unless things became dangerous there. If that happened, Parke was prepared to send them to Seattle.

  Gemma and Beverly packed; Beverly called her sister, who asked if she and her husband could come along to help us.

  Parke took less than five minutes to hire Beverly's brother-in-law away from his security position with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, or MARTA. Parke offered more money, better benefits, and the likelihood of more danger, but that didn't deter Benjamin Stokes, werewolf, from jumping at a chance to work for the Chancellor.

  Faith, who'd worked as a legal assistant in the past, was hired on to help me with Princess duties. She'd be assisting Rob, but it wouldn't hurt to have a woman supporting me in this.

  Will and Yosuke took Parke to collect them after they'd packed.

  Things were happening almost too fast, in my estimation, but Parke and Trey had their minds made up already, so we were leaving. At least I hadn't had time to settle in too well, so it wasn't a wrench to let this house go.

  I was hopeful that we'd like the next one better; from what I'd seen so far, it was a fairy tale come to life. We were relying on Trey's vampire contacts to provide furniture and bedding. If beds weren't in place when we arrived, it could be a very long night.

  "I have the identity of the grenade bomber," Trey announced as he walked into the kitchen.

  "Who?" Parke, who'd come in to get a cup of coffee, turned toward the vampire.

  "Norville Pittman, age thirty-two. Has a record—arrests made for making bomb threats a time or two and possessing destructive devices."

  "Well, he didn't make threats this time—he just went ahead and did it," Parke grumbled. "You think he was paid—like the PI? And how did he get his hands on grenades?"

  "I imagine somebody sold some to him—from who knows where. With his record, it's apparent that he has a fetish for explosives. Don't worry, the FBI is now involved in the crime, along with the Georgia Bureau and the ATF. We'll get updates as the investigation progresses."

  "Good. I want to get to the bottom of this, and soon."

  "I worry that the next outbreak of the disease will follow our exit," Trey said quietly. "We killed a large army sent against us, then foiled two other attempts. It's only a matter of time, I think."

  "I've considered the same thing," I agreed. "Damn, we need to find the Kings, Gorham and Franks. They have contact information, and possibly a location, too. I want to know who we're fighting and where the hell they are this time. We didn't figure it out last time until it was almost too late."

  "I've sent information to my superiors that a woman may spread the disease this time, but if she can change her image like the sprite says, nobody may be safe."

  "I know we're sitting on top of a pressure cooker—stop making it worse," I said.

  Lilith

  "Pit's dead." Jinx's voice was flat. "He offered to check on the house and let me know if he saw anything afterward. His mom just called—police told her he threw a few bombs on the lawn, but the last one exploded in his hand."

  "Jinx," I hissed into my phone, "I thought you knew better than to get somebody else involved in this. The cops will investigate, and they'll be questioning his friends. That's you, you ignorant dope. If they find out who you are, and who your brother is, you can bet they'll be looking at everybody in that house, trying to figure out who the target was."

  "I'm leaving town, then. Let's see 'em find me." The call ended. I tried calling him back, but he didn't answer.

  Fuck. "Jinx, if I find you before the police do, I'll kill your ass myself," I breathed while searching for the television remote. Maybe the destruction Pit caused was on the news. Maybe I'd get a look at the real enemy in this.

  Gemma—this was all her fault, and I wanted her dead—now more than ever.

  There was breaking news on the television, but I stopped short before switching the channel, since it wasn't about the house in Atlanta.

  Deadly disease infects several truck drivers, the chyron announced. "Authorities in South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee are reporting evidence of a new outbreak. This same disease is responsible for thousands of deaths earlier in the year," the talking head reported. "The CDC warns everyone to take precautions and approach strangers with caution. Call authorities immediately if you see anyone with symptoms. Do not touch anyone suspected of having the disease, as it is so contagious it will infect another quickly."

  "Damn," I swore. If I could get my hands on a sample of that stuff, I'd risk my life just to hand it to Gemma myself.

  "In other news, a bombing outside a house in Temperance Acres has police baffled," the man continued. "Damage was done to the front lawn before the bomber accidentally killed himself with one of his own devices."

  "Pit graduated in the bottom third of his terrorist bombing class," I quipped. "Nothing to be done about it now. Jinx, you're a fucking idiot."

  Cassie

  I helped Beverly, Gemma and Faith put food from the refrigerator into a cooler, while bags, both plastic and paper, contained everything we'd placed in the pantry recently. If we didn't take it, some of it would go bad. I didn't want to throw it out and announce to the garbage collectors that we'd left town.

  The fewer people who knew that, the better off we'd be. The owners better have good insurance on the property; there was a decent chance it wouldn't survive.

  There was also the question in my mind as to why the man throwing bombs at us hadn't tossed them farther than the first ten feet of lawn. He was a poor bomber, in my opinion—Destiny could have hit the house from that distance with her eyes shut.

  I'd save that question for Rob or Yosuke, later. In the past, I'd have asked Will, but that would be my last option from now on.

  "Parke wants the ladies transported first, with a couple of guards," Yosuke entered the kitchen and studied the cooler and bags of groceries.

  "Who's coming with us?" I asked.

  "Jerry and Benjamin volunteered. I believe Will and I together can transport all of you at once."

  As he spoke, Jerry herded Kate and Destiny into the kitchen, followed by Benjamin Stokes, Faith's werewolf husband.

  "Are we ready?" I turned toward Beverly.

  "I suspect we are," she smiled. Just as I thought—Beverly ought to be nominated for sainthood. She'd taken all this in stride, as if it were any other day.

  "We're ready," I turned back to Yosuke. Will walked into the kitchen, then, giving me a nod without speaking.

  In moments, we found ourselves in the kitchen of the Gulf Tides house, which was larger than the one we'd just left.

  "This is nice," Faith touched the massive island at the center. "I don't suppose we'll ever know how they just moved us?" She blinked at Yosuke as she asked her question.

  "It's something we can do," he shrugged. "We have to go back for the others, now." We watched as he and Will disappeared.

  "Don't that beat all," Beverly's right fist was on her hip as she shook her head. I had no idea I'd find humor in her statement, but I did.

  Parke

  Trey insisted that Will and Yosuke take our bags and belongings before he and I left the house in Atlanta. Trey was on the phone most of the time while we waited, as vampires hauled in two trucks with beds and bedding, plus other furniture and supplies.

  "We have connections to a furniture store in Pensacola. It's an hour drive, plus loading time," he told me. "
At least the kitchen appliances were already here, plus the ones in the laundry room."

  Once the bags of groceries and the cooler of food had been transported, Beverly, Cassie and the others were busy putting things away until the trucks arrived. Then, they'd started putting sheets on beds and towels in bathrooms.

  "Thank you for mobilizing the vamps for us. Moving furniture is so much easier with their help."

  "It's no trouble. Call it payback for what you and Cassie did for us last time."

  Trey's phone rang again, only this time, the news was different. Our female enemy had managed to infect several truck drivers with the disease, and now we had a new outbreak to deal with. In addition to that news, Trey's department had backtracked on the drivers' activity, and all of it led to a truck stop in Birmingham.

  Agents had already taken steps to shut the place down and quarantine anyone working there, in addition to tracking everyone who'd been there in the past three days. Truckers were in isolation wards in hospitals in at least four states, and we had questions to ask before they died.

  Chapter 9

  Gulf Tides, Alabama

  Cassie

  I stood behind a set of French doors at the back of the house, sipping a cup of coffee after a short night of bad sleep. The sun sparkled on water ripples in the lagoon behind us, and I watched as two kayakers paddled by.

  "Princess, the Chancellor has called a meeting," Rob stepped up beside me, a large mug of coffee in his hand.

  I knew about the outbreak that started at a truck stop on the western edge of Birmingham. Even exhaustion couldn't give me good sleep after that news the night before. We still didn't have cable hooked up to the house, so we couldn't watch the latest news that way. Parke had likely been awake and talking to dozens of people before dawn, when Trey and the other vamps had to find shelter and a bed for the day.

  "Do they have security images, yet?" I turned to Rob.

  "Yeah. Parke has them on his laptop," Rob replied. "She's taunting us by using the same disguise she used last time."