Embrace the Darkness (23 page)

“We will not discuss this in public like squabbling trolls. I expected better of you, my old companion in arms.”

Viper took a threatening step forward. “Perhaps if I didn't have a knife stuck in my back you would have gotten better. You have broken our treaty and proclaimed yourself an enemy of my clan.”

There was a sudden stir in the shadows and five large vampires moved forward with fluid speed. Like Styx they were covered in heavy black robes, although they had their hoods up making it impossible to determine more than the fact that they were big.

Very big.

Viper prepared to confront the charging vampires even as he felt a flare of relief. The Ravens had remained, which meant that they had yet to detect that their prey was slipping from their grasp. Pulling out his daggers Viper tensed for the attack. If he died, he died, but he intended to take more than a few with him.

The vampires, however, were brought to a sharp halt as Styx gave a lift of his hand.

“Hold,” he commanded, his gaze remaining on Viper's furious expression. “I am here at the command of my master, which places me above treaties as you well know. Still, there is no reason we cannot deal reasonably together.”

“Reasonably?” Viper sneered. “I'm well past reasonable. If you wish a dignified discussion, then we will return to Dante's and we can put an end to this there.”

Astonishingly, something that might have been a smile touched the golden features.

“As charming as I am certain Dante's new mate might be I have no wish to share tea with the Phoenix.” The smile vanished as swiftly as it had arrived and the stark somberness returned. With a motion of his slender hand Styx commanded the hovering vampires to surround them. “Forgive me, old friend, but the time grows short. Call for your companion or I will put her in the hands of my Ravens.”

The soft words hung in the air and Viper's fingers instinctively tightened around the hilt of the daggers. It was barely a twitch. A movement that would have gone unnoticed by most. But not Styx. The trained warrior was instantly pointing toward one of the hovering vampires.

“DeAngelo, bring me the Shalott,” he rasped.

There was the soft swish of fabric as the vampire moved behind the barrels, and then the sharp sound of the grate being pulled from the entrance to the drainage pipe. Within the blink of an eye the vampire had returned holding Shay's sweatshirt in his hand.

“The demon escaped down a tunnel,” he intoned. “Shall I follow her?”

Styx regarded Viper with frozen fury. “No. She will not get far. Viper possesses the amulet that will call her to his side.”

Viper narrowed his gaze. “I will never call her.”

“You will call her, or you will die. The choice is yours.”

 

Levet was wise enough to hover above the narrow streets. There were all sorts of nasty piles of rotting food, rotting clothes, rotting junk, and rotting things that he didn't want to look at, let alone touch. It wasn't the first slums he had ventured into. He was a three-foot gargoyle. He had spent most of his life hiding among the filth and squalor just to survive.

Still, he had come to America in the hope of bettering his lot. There were far fewer demons to plague him here, and enough space to find a bit of land and live in peace.

Or that had been his intention. Of course, his good intentions inevitably led him to some sort of disaster or another, he acknowledged with a sigh.

Following behind Dante he gave a shudder as the stench swirled upward in a stray breeze.

“Such smells,” he muttered in disgust. “How do humans bear it?”

The vampire shot him an impatient glance. Dante had argued fiercely against Levet coming with him to track Viper and Shay. For some reason he had been convinced that Levet would prove to be more a help than a hindrance.

Stupid vampire.

It had only been Levet's threat to follow him on his own that had at last brought an end to the short, ugly battle.

“Despair always possesses a stench whether it is human or demon,” he at last said.

Levet regarded him in surprise. Attired in black with two swords crossed over his back, a handgun on his hip, and at least one dagger hidden beneath his clothing, he looked ready to take on a small army.

“I thought Viper was the philosopher and you the warrior?”

Bending low Dante sniffed the air like a bloodhound.

“For the past three hundred years I was held prisoner to a clan of witches. Being a slave gives you a considerable insight into despair.”

“Yes.” Levet gave another shudder. His time with Evor was not forgotten. It would never be truly forgotten. “Yes, it does.”

Astonishingly Dante straightened and reached up to touch his arm.

“Slaves no longer.”

Levet met the steady gaze and gave a nod. “And never again.”

They shared a brief moment of remembered pain, and then Dante was once again on the scent as they weaved their way through the increasingly narrow streets.

Narrow, stinky streets.

Levet found his fear for Shay growing with every block they traveled. Did Viper have no wits at all? It was bad enough that they were fleeing trolls and hellhounds. Did he have to drag her through the dregs of the demon world as well? Stewing with resentment toward the silver-haired vampire Levet was caught off guard when Dante reached up to bar his path.

“Wait,” he hissed.

Levet gave an angry twitch of his tail. “
Sacrebleu,
why do we wait? We are at last gaining on them.”

The irritating vamp gave a lift of one dark brow. “You sound anxious, gargoyle. I didn't know you cared.”

“That vampire tossed me to the wolves, or more precisely hellhounds.” Levet crossed his arms over his chest. “No one is allowed to kill him but me.”

A knowing smirk touched the pale features. “And that is all?”

He glared at his companion. Blood and smoke. If he didn't need the vamp to help rescue Shay, he would turn him to dust where he stood.

“And it could be that I have some small attachment to the Shalott,” he grudgingly acknowledged. “Very, very small, you understand?”

“Ah, yes, I understand.”

“So why have we stopped?”

“Trolls have passed by here.”

It was Levet's turn to smirk. “Surely you do not fear trolls?”

“Not these.” Dante smiled wryly. “They are all dead.”

“Shay,” Levet murmured with more than a bit of pride.

“Not alone, gargoyle,” Dante returned. “Viper stood at her side.”

Levet shrugged. “If the beasts are dead then let's go.”

He gave a shake of his head. “Trolls are not the only thing to have passed here. There have been vampires.”

Levet gave a growl deep in his throat. It would have to be vampires, of course. They seemed to be wading neck deep in them lately.

“How many?”

“Six.” There was a tense pause. “And none of our clan.”

“Not of your clan?” Levet's heart gave a painful squeeze. “That can only mean…”

Dante's pale face hardened to a stark mask. “They are here to kill Viper.”

Whatever their intention Shay was in danger, and that was all that mattered.

He was nothing if not focused.

“We cannot wait. We must go to them.”

“And be caught in the trap ourselves?” Dante was looking distinctly fangy as he scowled at Levet. “It will help no one.”

“And how will it help to hide in the shadows while they are slaughtered?”

The silver eyes flashed with frustrated fury. “Be quiet and let me think or I shall clip those wings of yours, gargoyle.”

Levet offered a raspberry as he flapped his wings to rise higher. “Fine, you cower in the shadows. I shall discover what is occurring.”

“Dammit, Levet…”

Too late the vampire made a grab toward Levet's dangling legs, his expression warning of dire retribution.

Levet blithely ignored his muttered curses as he lifted himself toward the nearby rooftops, careful to keep out of the stray light that might reveal his shadow. The one thing he did, and did well, was remain hidden from searching eyes.

Landing on the roof he moved in absolute silence to the brick edge and peered downward. He was no longer aware of the filth or stench. Or even the thick silence that cloaked the neighborhood. His attention was centered on the silver-haired Viper who was being slowly forced into a long black limo followed by a very large, very angry vampire.

Even from a distance Levet could sense that violence trembled in the air, but just as he was about to shout for Dante to rush to the rescue he watched as the limo pulled smoothly from the curb followed closely by a second limo.

Was Shay inside the limo? Surely she had to be. He might consider Viper a conceited ass, but he did know that the vampire would fight to the death to keep Shay safe. If he were allowing himself to be taken hostage it could only be because they had already captured Shay.

Watching the automobiles slide down the street he turned and flung himself off the building, landing next to Dante with a heavy thud. He had barely caught his balance, however, when he found himself hauled off his feet by a distinctly annoyed vampire.

“Next time you do that I'll have your heart for dinner, gargoyle,” Dante gritted.

Struggling to free himself Levet glared at his companion. “We do not have time for you to play bully. A very large vampire was forcing Viper into a car and driving away.”

“What of Shay?”

“I must presume they have her as well.”

“And he is allowing himself to be taken captive?”

“He does not look happy, but yes.”

Dante nodded, absently stroking the blade of his dagger as he considered Levet's words.

“He must realize that it is impossible to fight,” he muttered. “Or they have threatened to harm Shay. In either case, if we blunder in, we might very well make matters worse rather than better.”

“Unfortunately, I must agree.”

Dante gave an exaggerated blink. “It seems miracles do happen.”

Levet resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Vampire humor left a great deal to be desired.

“The limos were moving south. They are very large and very black.” He grimaced. “What is it with vampires and black?”

Dante regarded him steadily. “Do you have a point?”

“I will follow them and when they reach their destination I will return and give you directions.”

Levet was quite prepared for an argument. An argument he was determined to win. No one was going to stop him from rescuing Shay.

Astonishingly, Dante merely gave a nod of his head. “The vampires will be on their guard. One mistake and you will be killed.”

Levet gave a short, humorless laugh as he spread his arms wide. “Look at me. I am barely three feet tall. I am always on my guard, fool.”

Another nod. “I will gather the rest of the clan. We will be prepared when you return.”

“Make sure you include a lot of very large, very sharp weapons.”

With a surge Levet was once again airborne and on his way to track Shay.

“Bon chance, mon ami,”
Dante called softly.

Levet allowed himself a small smile. A vampire who could speak French. He couldn't be all bad.

Shay crawled from the manhole and sucked in a ragged breath of clean air. Well, the relatively clean air.

She was frozen, smelly, and half naked. Just as she had predicted, but amazingly there had been no hint of pursuit from the vampires. Perhaps not so amazingly, she acknowledged grimly, as she shivered in the sharp night air.

The tall, bronzed vampire simply known as Styx did not strike her as a particularly stupid man. Cold, ruthless, and inflexible. But not stupid.

Pausing only long enough to make sure the street was vampire-troll-hellhound free Shay slipped through the shadows, and began retracing her steps to Dante's sprawling mansion. She needed help and she needed it fast.

The thought had barely flashed through her mind when her sensitive nose caught a familiar scent. Coming to a halt she cast a startled glance toward the top of a nearby building, nearly missing the vague shadow that scampered along the roof.

Levet.

Thank God.

With a burst of speed she was across the street and down a narrow alley. The ladder that zigzagged its way up the side of the building was rusty and none too steady, but she barely noticed the drunken sway as she clambered up the steps and landed softly on the flat roof.

The tiny gargoyle had reached the edge of the building, but at the sound of her footfalls he abruptly whirled with his hands outstretched as if to toss a spell in her direction.

“No…Levet, it's me,” she hastily whispered.

“Shay?”

“Yes.”

“Holy mother of God. You nearly gave me a heart attack,” the gargoyle breathed as he swiftly waddled to join her. A few steps away he came to an abrupt halt, his nose wrinkled in disgust. “Gak. What is that stench? Where is your shirt? Did you…”

Shay lifted an impatient hand. “Shhh. Where is Dante?”

“He went charging off to gather the cavalry.” Levet planted his hands on his hips. “How did you get loose? I thought those vampires had you for sure.”

She shivered, and not just from the cold.

Vampires. Why did it have to be vampires?

“I used a drainage pipe to escape the warehouse, but Viper is still stuck in there.”

“Not any longer.”

She reached out to grasp his arm. “What do you mean?”

“They tossed him into a very long limo and took off.”

Her heart gave a painful jerk. Shit. It was precisely what she feared the most.

“Damn.” She licked her dry lips and battled back the flare of fear. Panic, bad. Thinking, good. “We have to go after him.”

Levet gave a twitch of his tail. “That's what I was in the process of doing when you came leaping behind me.”

“Fine, let's go.”

The gargoyle moved just enough to block her path, his expression concerned.

“Shay?”

“What?”

“Do you really think it's a good idea for you to come with me? It's you they're after. If you get anywhere close…”

Shay reached out to grasp his shoulder, shivering as a cold breeze brushed over her skin.

Damn. She needed to find some clothes.

And a cross.

And several very, very large stakes.

“I'm coming Levet.”

“Ouch. No need to pinch the wings.” Pulling free the gargoyle gave a flutter of his delicate wings. “If you want to plunge into danger and get the rest of us killed, then so be it.”

Shay wrapped her arms about herself. “I'm already in danger.”

“Not if you return to the Phoenix. There's not a demon around who would dare to piss her off.”

“Not even Abby can protect me now.”

“Of course she can. She's a goddess, isn't she?”

“Think, Levet,” she commanded. “They have Viper.”

“Are you drunk? I know they have Viper. I just told
you
that.”

Her teeth gritted as she resisted the urge to give him a good shake. “They have Viper and I'm Viper's slave. He holds my amulet.”

“And…oh.” The gray face managed to become downright white. “Oh. No, you truly must be drunk if you think Viper will deliberately call you into the hands of your enemies. I might think him an arrogant pain in the ass, but he would never allow you to be harmed.”

This time her shiver was not from the cold. “Not intentionally.”

Levet frowned. “Shay?”

She hunched her shoulders as old memories rose up like nasty bile.

“Levet, we have both been at the mercy of enemies. We know what it is to be tortured,” she said in raw tones. “All that blathering about glorious honor and loyalty is for fairy tales, not reality. In truth a person can be forced to do anything. Even if it goes against everything they hold dear.”

He flinched, as his hand instinctively lifted to touch the scars that marred his chest. The trolls had found it loads of fun to use a miniature gargoyle as target practice. At least until Shay had arrived and threatened to cut off their manhood. Amazing how that threat managed to transcend race, culture, and species.

“No.” Levet gave a shake of his head. “Not Viper. The amulet must be freely given and he will never do that.”

It was what she feared the most, she abruptly realized. Not that he would break beneath the torture, but that he wouldn't. Viper was just stubborn enough to allow himself to die before he would call her to his side.

It was a sacrifice that would break her as nothing else could.

“Then they will kill him and I will still be at their mercy,” she rasped.

Levet lifted his hands to rub his temples. “You are giving me a headache. What do you mean?”

“If they hold Evor then killing Viper will still force me into their clutches. I cannot escape the curse.”

Levet muttered a string of French curses as he at last understood her head was directly beneath the guillotine.

“
Sacrebleu,
when you tumble into a quagmire you really tumble, don't you?”

That was one way of putting it.

“We have to rescue him, Levet. And we have to do it now.”