Hidden Spark (Dark Magic Enforcer Book 6) (14 page)

"Oh, Faz, that's so incredibly sad. What can I do?" Kate was in tears, but she was being strong, for me.

"You can put the kettle on and wait inside for us. We won't be long. It isn't going to be a very big hole, Kate, there isn't much left of them."

"Faz, I'll do it."

"No. I have to do it. It's my fault."

"What? How is it your fault?"

"Because I have unleashed a monster and now the Dragon's out for blood." I left Kate looking bewildered and confused and went to dig a grave.

It was not the most enjoyable of first days back at work. Normally you get eased back in, right?

A New Housemate

After we finished burying the gremlins, and with Macdubhgall still unconscious, we went up to the house.

What a nightmare! Was it always like this? I had to remind myself that no, it wasn't, but also that it wasn't exactly a quiet life that I'd signed back up for.

We put the trembling gremlin in a basket lined with a thick blanket, and I made a fire in the living room hearth then put it close enough so it would be nice and snug before retreating to the kitchen where Kate and Mithnite were sipping scalding tea—it smelled delicious and was just what I needed.

Kate poured me a cup and set it down in front of me. I turned to Mithnite and asked, "You okay? It's been a hell of a day."

"I'm okay. A bit sleepy. Is this how it usually is?"

"No, but it's one of the reasons why I left for so long. This is not a friendly world you're a part of, Mithnite, so think long and hard before you go any further down the rabbit hole."

"I've already done that. After what happened to my friends it gave me plenty of time to think, but it's all I know. It's who I am. No going back now."

I could have been looking at myself, although, of course, I had better dress sense, but Mithnite was resolute, and if he hadn't changed his mind after the day we'd had then I guessed he never would.

"Okay, just be sure." I turned to Kate and asked, "Is it okay for him to stay with us for a while? You heard what happened to his friends, how the old man lost the plot?"

"Of course. I'll set up the spare room. You're welcome to stay, Mithnite, but no girls, and no parties," she warned.

"I should be so lucky. The closest I've come to a party was when Master forgot to lock his drinks cabinet and we stole some peach Schnapps."

"Haha. Then no problem." Kate mouthed a silent, "You okay?" and I nodded wearily, so she went off to make up the bed for Mithnite.

"Okay, listen up, and listen good. Kate will be back in a minute but we need to talk about something first. And I don't want any arguments."

"I'm listening."

"Tomorrow will be a rough day, you can count on that, so I want you to say here. You have to—"

"But, I don't want to stay and—"

"I said no arguments. Just listen. Look, it will get crazy for a while. This is a serious business and will only get worse. You are a great kid, and I know you have a bright future, but you have to understand that at your age you have limitations. I know you've got your ink, and I know you've learned a lot and are almost a true wizard, but I will not be responsible for you getting hurt. So, tomorrow you stay here, help Kate around the place, and earn your keep. Do I make myself clear?" Damn, I felt like some stuck-in-the-mud old-fashioned parent, but this was for his own good. I don't think I'd cope with his death on my hands.

"Okay, if you really want me to. And thanks for letting me stay."

"Oh, damn, what about your stuff?"

Mithnite shrugged. "Haven't got much, just some clothes, odds and ends. I put them in a lock-up at the train station, just to keep them safe."

"Fine, good idea. I have spare clothes you can use, and for god's sake have a shower before you get into bed. We'll pick up your things tomorrow, maybe in the evening, but until I say so you stay right here. Do I make myself clear?"

"Damn, Spark, what happened to me being one of the guys?"

"You'll be one of the guys when I know you aren't going to get hurt and when I know you can follow orders."

"Okay. Thanks. Do you think you'll find who did that to the gremlins? Why would anyone do that?"

"I think they'll find me, and as for why, well, I'll be sure to ask, before I kill him."

"Your room's ready whenever you want it," said Kate as she came back into the kitchen. "You two okay? Gonna tell me about it?"

"I'll hit the shower if that's okay? I'm beat."

"Sure," I said. "I'll put clothes outside the bathroom door." I showed him upstairs, sorted out clothes for him, and then went back downstairs.

It was an hour later before I'd told Kate what had happened, rushing through it because I was beat. She was fine with Mithnite staying and said it would be nice to have someone about the house and that I was kind for helping him out.

I didn't feel kind, I felt terrible as I knew the next day I would be bashing heads and others would definitely be trying to bash mine.

Finally, after checking on the poor gremlin that looked like it would be out cold for days—they aren't good with shock, something to do with how nervy they are—we went to bed. I could hear Mithnite snoring soundly in the other room. He was pretty tough to have coped with all that had happened; he had a bright future, if he managed to survive.

"Night, Kate. I love you."

"Night, Faz. And I love you, too."

I was asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.

An hour or so later I was awoken by my phone ringing. I knew it wouldn't be good news.

It wasn't. Oskari wanted to see me, right now, said a harried Dancer, and he didn't sound happy.

Oh, the joys of coming out of retirement.

Helping the Vampires

Sat in the kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee to clear the fog, it felt like a repeat of the night before. It was hard to believe that it was but a day ago that I'd sat, full of self-doubt, not knowing what to do with my life. Now here I was, wrapped up in all kinds of insanity—talk about a bad day to decide to get back into the game.

I took a long, hard look at myself then, and admitted the truth, terrible as it was. For all the horrors of the previous day, the killing, the fights, the cruelty inflicted on the gremlins, dwarves, and gold—hell, I'd forgotten about the gold, it was still in the car!—Dragon, and ogres, all of it, I knew it was the world I belonged to.

This madness, it made me feel alive. It heightened the senses, made your body tingle, made your head hurt, and your insides ready to explode, but it was true living. This was the reality, not Regular life where you sampled but a tiny slice of the preternatural pie, but experiencing life to the full with all its ups and downs, and yes, its sideways, too.

The fire was low in the living room, so I added several small split logs and adjusted the blanket for our furry lodger. The poor thing was still out of it, and I realized then that I had no idea what they liked to eat or what we were to do with it once it awoke. I'd ask Dancer to get in touch with some of the other gremlin communities, although chances are they were already on their way to investigate what had happened.

It was tied up with Dragon, I was certain of that.

With a note left for Kate, who still slept soundly most nights if I didn't disturb her, even though she was finding it increasingly difficult to rouse herself too early in the mornings as she became more vampire each and every day, I laced up my winklepickers, adjusted my tie, and checked myself in the hall mirror.

Knowing it would be a long one, I'd decided to dress extra snappy, kind of like a proper return to form now I was definitely back on the case. So much for a simple enforcer job, though. This was, as usual, way beyond what my remit was meant to be.

It didn't matter. Faz Pound was feeling surprisingly upbeat, so at peace with his acceptance of who he was that as he admired his Savile Row suit his vampire girlfriend had snapped up for a bargain from an online retro clothing store, he even smiled as he thought about himself in the third person.

I grabbed my keys, wallet, and phone, and closed the door quietly behind me. Half an hour later I pulled up outside vampire HQ and was rather surprised to be given a knowing nod from the goon at the gate and let straight in, no questions asked, not even any insults given.

Damn, it must be bad for the vamps to give such a welcome—normally it would be all fangs and angry stares. But that had been on Taavi's watch, and we all know how that worked out for him. Maybe Oskari ran things a little better and had taught his people some manners? Or maybe they'd all heard that I'd killed a vampire
earlier
. Then again, maybe not.

As I crunched over perfectly raked gravel, avoided the huge craters that somewhat spoiled the effect, and parked up next to a row of Rolls Royces and other expensive cars, I was surprised to see Dancer and Oskari standing side by side, seemingly waiting for me to arrive.

"You have a lot to answer for, Spark," snapped Oskari, looking less than pleased.

"And you need to get more sunshine. You look like a decorator that had an accident in a white paint factory," I replied, not in the mood for being chastised by him. "What's this about?" I asked Dancer. He looked angry, fed up, tired, and surprised, all at the same time.

"Tell him." Dancer turned to Oskari.

"Very well. That man you tried to abandon, Dragon, he did this."

"You mean the man you were practically falling over yourself to get your hands on? That man?"

Oskari frowned, and for the first time I got to see his eyes. He removed his sunglasses, and studied me with eyes that didn't do the rumors justice. They were such a pale blue as to be almost white, more like a delicate watercolor than a solid color. Like they'd been bleached by the sun although that was very doubtful. Or, maybe they had?

"How did your eyes get to be like that, Oskari?" Look, I know, I'm nosy and have a habit of asking the wrong questions at the wrong time.

"I got fed up with having to avoid the daylight, it's most inconvenient. So I went out in it, and I paid my dues. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes, it does." So that was how he was the only really old vampire I'd ever heard of that could be out in the day. He must have incredibly strong blood magic to have done that and survived. The sun must have bleached his eyes along with the rest of him, and that was why he could do what no other of his age could. Oskari went up a place on my "Look out, he's dangerous," list. The agony he must have endured, regeneration after regeneration to beat what the sun does to the old ones, didn't bear thinking about.

"If you two have quite finished?" asked Dancer with a sigh, in control even if he was exhausted. He looked the part, I have to say. He could have been Head for centuries. He wasn't intimidated by Oskari or the hordes of vampires milling about the grounds, many on high alert with vampire Doberman under tight control.

"You went and got Dragon, didn't you? You knew he was down there and you were waiting for someone, for me, to bring him back up."

"We knew it was him with the dwarves, yes. We have known for centuries, and when we heard they'd put in a call for you, well, we wanted to meet him, it's only natural."

"What happened, Oskari? It's too late for secrets now," said Dancer.

"Very well, but this... this alliance, if it is such, is purely so this man can be contained. Better yet, eradicated."

"You don't kill Dragon, you can't," Dancer replied.

Oskari turned to Dancer then, and held his gaze for so long I wondered if he'd forgotten where he was or what he was doing. Finally, he spoke. "You, Dancer, are not what you seem. I've often wondered about you over the years, but you are a ghost, impossible to trace. Who are you?"

"I'm the UK Hidden Head, and your boss, whether you like it or not. And before you say anything, yes, I know you don't want anything to do with the Council, but tough. Because if that were the case then why the hell are we here?"

"Fine, you have a point. Now, if I may continue?"

"Be my guest." Dancer kept his arms by his sides, but I had no doubt that if Oskari, or any of his henchman, tried anything he'd be slicing them to ribbons before they could open wide enough to bite him.

"I'll be frank, as I think we all know exactly who Dragon is. I wanted him here. Oh, the things he could teach us. He is the founder, you know? Of the vampires. True legend."

"We know," said Dancer.

"That surprises me. No matter. We picked him up where Spark left him, and he was more than happy to come along. But things, ah, went awry almost immediately. This thing, for he is no man, and certainly no true vampire, wanted to make certain changes I strongly disagreed with."

"Such as?" I prompted.

"Such as taking my position and eradicating all those that sleep through the centuries. He said it wasn't what he'd had in mind, not what he wanted, and that such old vampires were abominations. He called my brothers and sisters abominations! His own children. And he would not listen to sense."

"So what happened?" Dancer asked.

"He killed them, he killed them all. Over fifty vampires, many of them thousands of years old, some of whom have slept for centuries. He slaughtered them all, as if they meant nothing to him. And he said he had come back to our world to set things right, to eliminate all that is impure, all that goes against his vision of why he gave us magic in the first place."

"And you let him do that? Didn't you try to stop him?" I asked.

"Of course," Oskari snapped. "I personally tried, but he is not like us. He is unstoppable. We could not bite him, we could not touch him. He shook me off, and my strongest men, like we were nothing. No magic worked on him, nothing did. He simply wandered our crypts and tore off the lids and killed without stopping until he was satisfied."

Oskari's words brought back the possession I'd endured and the peek that gave me into the mind of Dragon. Just as he possessed me and my thoughts, my memories and emotions open to him, so his were to me. Problem being, most of it was too much for me to focus on, the life too long, too bizarre, for me to fully grasp.