Blood Wyne (28 page)
“Rare is right, and that skill usually takes a long time to master. If this was our suspect, he’d have to be a lot older than we think he is.” I dropped to the edge of the fountain, sitting on the snowy rim. Wade joined me.
“I talked to Erin at the bar tonight,” he said.
Glancing at him, I gave him a weary smile. I wasn’t physically tired, but the stress was catching up with me. “And?”
“She’ll move into Sassy’s mansion once we get it outfitted. Meanwhile, I’ve asked her to come over and help us turn it into the haven we need. With her experience running a business during life, she could be a damned good project manager. I guess I should have asked your permission first, but it just seemed—”
“Perfect. Which it is. That’s fine, I really hated seeing her waste her time cleaning the Wayfarer. You’ll send an escort with her to and from work each night? She’s still so unaccustomed to being out on her own.”
He nodded. “I understand. And yes, in fact, I think she and Brett might get along. Both misfits. He’s been a vampire for longer than I have, to be honest, so he’ll do just fine on helping her adjust.”
“Brett . . . he still on his superhero craze?” Brett was young when he was turned—in his early twenties. He’d been a comic book fan and had always wanted to be a superhero, so now he went around dressed as his alter ego, Vamp-Bat, looking for ways to use his life as a vampire to help people. He’d saved several women from being raped and a handful of citizens from being mugged, and he fed only on blood bank blood except when he couldn’t help it.
“Yeah, but it’s actually good for him. Keeps him on the straight and narrow. Just like having a job will help keep Erin focused. I truly believe one of Sassy’s problems was that she eschewed any real work. I tried to give her jobs within the VA, but she would get distracted. She never had to hold a job in her life, thanks to her parents’ money and then her late husband’s inheritance, and a vampire with too much time on his or her hands is a vampire headed for trouble.”
“You’re right. Erin’s smart. She needs to be occupied, and she knows it.” I glanced around. “So, no idea where our runner went?”
Wade shook his head. “No, but I’ll keep my eyes open on the way out. What are you doing here?”
I quickly ran down the events of the evening.
“Not Morio—he’s such a good guy. Crap. Well, I’ll see what I can find out about whoever was in the park tonight. I guess I’d better get moving. My thoughts are with your sister and her youkai.”
“I’d better get back.” Ivana wouldn’t wait forever, and I hoped I’d get back so she wouldn’t have to wait at all. The last thing I needed was for her to feel like I’d inconvenienced her. I brushed the snow off my shoulders. “Hey, Wade—”
He held up his hand, smiling. “It’s good to be talking again.”
“Yeah, I’ve missed it.”
“Me, too. Later.” And then he was gone.
I took another spin around the area and then headed back to the car. I’d barely reached the Jag when Ivana emerged from the tunnel in a cloud of sparkling dust. Her silver staff glowed like a light saber.
Silently, I handed her the second bag of beef. I didn’t have to ask if she’d gathered the spirits. The satisfied look on her face told me what I needed to know. I wanted to ask her if she’d seen anything indicating my serial killer down below, but that would entail yet another bargain. One thing I’d learned in my evening with Ivana was that the Elder Fae do nothing without payment.
I didn’t thank her, but instead, slowly backed away toward my Jag. Ivana started down the street, grocery bags in tow. Then, she paused, turning back to me.
“Dead girl!”
“Yeah?”
“You may call upon me again if you wish another bargain. Be cautious with yourself. Not all of the Elders are as discriminating as I am. Not all, as pleasant.” And then she vanished into the shadows.
I stared after her, wondering what condition she’d left the tunnel in. I wondered what she was going to do with the spirits and shadow men that she had carted off with her. Most of all, I wondered if the Elder Fae had all stayed Earthside or if some of them had followed to Otherworld during the Great Divide.
About to head below, I paused as my cell phone jangled. A glance at the Caller ID showed me it was Delilah on the other line.
“Yeah? What’s up? Any news on Morio?” I waited for her answer.
She spoke slowly. “He’s out of surgery. Now it’s a matter of time. Sharah thinks he’ll make it, but the next twenty-four hours will tell the tale. Camille’s a wreck. Trillian’s helping her keep it together. Morio’s liver was severely damaged, and he lost so much blood.”
“Twenty-four hours, huh? He’s youkai—demon. He should survive.” But the thought that he might not crossed my mind. “Delilah, if he slips . . . do you think Camille would want me to . . .” I couldn’t even say the words, but they had to be said. There had to be no recriminations later over what I did or did not do.
Delilah let out a little mew. “I don’t know. I’ll find out.” She hung up.
I paused, then punched in our home number. Iris answered.
“Vanzir there?”
But Iris wasn’t going to let me off the hook with being so abrupt. “Yes, he is, but you can just damned well get your ass back here and tell me what’s going on. Nerissa and I’ve been waiting and waiting for the phone to ring.”
Damn.
I should have told Delilah to call her when she got the chance. “I’m busy—”
I should have told Delilah to call her when she got the chance. “I’m busy—”
“It’s going on four in the morning. You may have a few hours left, but girl, you need to tell me what’s happening out there.”
I glanced at the tunnel. “Give me twenty minutes and I’ll be home. Meanwhile, sit tight.” I’d been thinking to ask Vanzir to come help me, but Iris’s mood kiboshed that. With one last longing glance, I left the manhole cover and jogged over to my car, speeding off to home.
Iris was waiting up. She looked exhausted but had stubbornly stayed up all night in order to keep watch. Bruce O’Shea, her leprechaun boyfriend, was on vacation visiting his family in Ireland, but Vanzir was sitting with her in the living room, and Shamas, our cousin, was there, too.
“Hey, cuz,” he said. “How’s Camille? How’s Morio doing?” He hadn’t fully integrated into our extended family but was doing his best to try.
“Camille will be a whole lot better tomorrow night.
If
Morio lives. Sharah’s giving him a sixty percent chance to make it; if he passes the twenty-four-hour mark, he should live.”
If
Morio lives. Sharah’s giving him a sixty percent chance to make it; if he passes the twenty-four-hour mark, he should live.”
Iris shook her head. “It boggles my mind how strong some spirits can become. I wonder if there’s a way to cleanse them from the area so you can go exploring without worry.”
“I . . . well . . . I’ve taken care of that. At least as far as the diner and the tunnels are concerned.” I hadn’t meant to say anything—at least not yet—but Iris had a way of making you feel like you were lying if you omitted telling her something.
“And how did you do that?” She gave me a piercing stare.
“I made a bargain with one of the Elder Fae—the Maiden of Karask. She cleared the spirits for twenty pounds of beef.”
Iris gasped, and her fingers fluttered to her lips. “Oh no, my girl. You didn’t. Please tell me you’re joking.”
Vanzir looked confused, but Shamas stared at me, his eyes wide. “Are you mad, girl? The Elder Fae? Even the Lords of Fae let them be. They are
our
Titans and—often—our enemies.”
our
Titans and—often—our enemies.”
I shrugged. “We needed to do something and I didn’t want Camille trying to take them on herself, especially with Morio so wounded. You know her—she’s going to feel it’s her duty to take care of this. I put a stop to that before it could begin.”
“But the Maiden of Karask? Girl, her history is terrifying. We have such like her in my own homeland, and the people and Fae give them a wide berth.” Iris stood, pacing. “She knows you now; she will study up on you. Once you bargain with the Elder Fae, they never forget you and always come sniffing for what else they can gain from you. You’ve bound yourself to her as certain as you are bound to the twilight hours. Do you realize what this means?”
I stared at her. “But the bargain was met and paid—”
“The bargain! The bargain
is
the connection. You merely paid the first installment. She has the right to contact you again. She has the right to touch you for more meat—the kind she longs for, not the kind you’re willing to pay. She has the right to ask a bargain of
you
, now. Don’t you understand? There
are no
bargains when it comes to Elder Fae. Only enslavement on an unwritten level.” She was seriously upset, and I began to realize I might have dived in over my head. “For the sake of the gods . . . you did not say ‘thank you’ or ‘I’m sorry’ to her at any time?”
is
the connection. You merely paid the first installment. She has the right to contact you again. She has the right to touch you for more meat—the kind she longs for, not the kind you’re willing to pay. She has the right to ask a bargain of
you
, now. Don’t you understand? There
are no
bargains when it comes to Elder Fae. Only enslavement on an unwritten level.” She was seriously upset, and I began to realize I might have dived in over my head. “For the sake of the gods . . . you did not say ‘thank you’ or ‘I’m sorry’ to her at any time?”
“No, that I was mindful of.”
“Thank heavens for small favors. But girl, you opened a can of worms. The best we can hope for is that she forgets you. That you slid beneath her notice.” With a swish of her robe, Iris returned to the rocking chair and curled up in it.
I didn’t want to tell her, but given how grave she felt my error was, I thought I’d better. “When we parted, she said that I could contact her again.”
Iris let out a long sigh. “Then it is done. She will remember you. And you will have to deal with her in the future. Pray she’s distracted for some time.” Iris shook her head. “Don’t they teach you anything over in Otherworld? I’m sure some of the Elders crossed over during the Great Divide.”
Shamas cleared his throat. “Don’t be too hard on Menolly, Iris. We have Elder Fae over in OW, too, but they are usually left to themselves. In the city-states like Y’Elestrial, they are banned and do not have truck with most city folk.”
“I wanted to go back down in the tunnel tonight, while the ghosts are gone.” I told them what Ivana had done. Iris said nothing but stared at me, a grave expression on her face. Trying to avoid her gaze, I glanced at the clock. “It’s nearing five. I have two and a half hours that I could put to good use.”
“No.” Shamas crossed his arms. “Not unless you take me with you.”
“I can come,” Vanzir said.
At that moment, a sound caught my attention and I looked up to see Nerissa, rubbing her eyes, enter the room. She was wearing a long pale pink gown and her golden hair trailed down her shoulders. Without her makeup, without the skirt suit, she looked vulnerable, soft, and dewy. Breathless at her beauty, I crossed to her side and gathered her into my arms, pressing my lips to hers, drinking in deep the fragrance of sleep and perfume and the scent of her body. After a moment, I stood back.
“I love you. It’s that simple.
I love you.
”
I love you.
”
Nerissa stared at me, her mouth curving into a bow. Her eyes glittered. “I love you, too. Now tell me what’s going on? I heard some of it on the way in.”
“Great, ruin a romantic moment.” I sighed. “I apparently screwed up in trying to help out.” I explained what I’d done. “Have you ever heard of the Elder Fae?” I wasn’t sure if the Weres were aware of the differing flavors of the Fae race.
Nerissa frowned. “I don’t know. Venus the Moon Child would have known, but he didn’t talk about stuff like that much. Not before you guys opened the portals and came over. We knew the Fae existed, but they were still in the closet. It was hard to mingle when you never knew who your enemies were, or who might out you.”
I grinned. “Now you’re out in more than one way.”
“Check and mate. So are you sure you can get down in those tunnels and out before dawn? You don’t want to be caught out of your lair when the sun rises.” She ran one hand along my arm, and I caught my breath. Standing next to my half-naked girlfriend who was all softness and bed-headed made me want to forget all about the tunnels and the serial killer and spend some serious time exploring her mysteries.
With a sigh, I tore myself away. “I have to. Camille’s going to be out of it for a day or so, and Delilah will be exhausted by tomorrow from sitting up with her. Smoky and Roz are gone. I have Vanzir, Shamas—who also has to get up tomorrow and go to work—and Trillian. And Trillian won’t leave Camille’s side, not for this.”
“I’ll go with you.” Nerissa leaned down and kissed my lips, but I shook my head.
“No, you will not. You aren’t trained for fighting. You have your strengths, but babe, I can’t watch out for you and do what I need to do. You stay home with Iris and Shamas. Vanzir, it’s us again. I want to get down there before any other haunts take up residence.”
We headed for my Jag. I wasn’t tired in the least, and Vanzir looked down, but not out. I promised Iris we’d call her in an hour. Nerissa pouted her way back to bed, but I reluctantly slipped out the door.
“She makes it hard for you,” Vanzir said, smiling a little. “You two obviously have it going on. I’m glad you’re paying attention and not taking her for granted. It’s easy for vamps and demons to forget the niceties.”
I thought of Roman. “Not all vampires are like that. At least, not all forget to be generous, even if their emotions are in check.”
“Yeah, well, for a living/undead relationship, you two do pretty good.” He slid into the passenger seat and fastened his seat belt.
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