Infamous (15 page)

Nekoda closed the window and brought Nick back to the present. “It’s amazing the things we never know about the people we share our lives with, isn’t it?”

Yeah, it was. “I had no idea she’d planned to give me up.” He wouldn’t have blamed her if she had.

Kody swallowed. “Life is about making decisions, Nick. Large and small. Every day and with every breath we take.”

And it was about family. Those you were born to, those born to you, and those you let into your heart. That was how Simi defined it. Ironic really when you thought about it. The best definition of family he’d ever heard, and the only one he agreed with had come out of the mouth of an orphaned demon.

And while Kody’s powers had shown him things about his mother he’d never suspected and confirmed his worst fear about himself, he had a newfound respect for his mother. Through everything she’d gone through, she had never lost her courage or her fire. Neither her dignity nor her ability to find the one bright spot on the dirtiest mirror in the room.

Menyara was right, his mother was a beautiful soul. And if she, a mere human mortal, a child no less, could stand and fight for him, then he stood a chance to become something more than his father.

As Kody said, life was about choices. And his choice was not to be a tool for evil.

He would
not
become Ambrose.

I am Nicholas Ambrosius Gautier. And I was conceived in violence to
fight
violence.

Ambrose had fought against it, but he, Nick, would fight harder.

And he would save his mother, even if he had to kill himself to do it.

*   *   *

In raven form, Caleb landed on the sill of Adarian’s cell. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, Adarian wasn’t in there. Not that he was surprised. This time of day …

The beast could be anywhere.

Caleb launched himself up toward the sky and circled around the yard, searching for him. It wasn’t until his second pass that he finally spotted his target, sitting on a table all by his fierce lonesome.

It was actually frightening how much Nick looked like his father. Give the boy a couple of years, and they’d be indistinguishable from each other.

Except for their personalities. Nick was most often amusing and, as much as Caleb hated admitting it, endearing, even fun at times. No matter how bad a situation was, Nick could find something amusing about it. On the other hand, Caleb had never once seen Adarian crack a single smile unless it was a cruel one. And the only thing the senior Malachai found humorous was torturing others.

Yeah, they were nothing alike.

Caleb swooped toward Adarian’s white picnic table. Because of Adarian’s murderous nature and cruel tendencies, he was kept isolated from the other inmates. Four guards, shotguns cradled at the ready, stood around Adarian’s area that was separated from the general prison population by a fence topped with razor wire.

Luckily, he could fly right over it and not get cut.

Caleb landed on the table behind Adarian and cawed to let him know he’d arrived.

Adarian released a breath of supreme annoyance. “What are you doing here, Malphas?” he asked in a low tone after he’d covered his mouth with his hand so that the guards wouldn’t hear or see him talking to a bird.

You’ve been found.

“By?”

No idea. Whoever they are, they tried to access Nick’s room. They didn’t get in. But if they found him …

Adarian cursed.

I think it would be best if you left here.

“I’m not going anywhere. They won’t find Nick. Even if they do, they won’t mistake that guttersnipe for me.”

Caleb scoffed.
You willing to risk your son’s life on that?

“No, but I’m willing to risk yours.”

Of course he was. Why not? If Caleb died, Adarian could always find another.
I will keep him safe.

“Oh, I have no doubt you will. You’ve seen what happens to creatures who disappoint me.”

He’d also seen what happened to people who helped him. Either way, Adarian screwed you.

“Now go and protect him.”

Yes, my lord and tormentor.

Adarian turned to watch Malphas leave. So something had located him. It wasn’t the first time. Five years ago, he’d come close to being captured by one of his enemies. Death had never been an option.

Not until Nick had hit puberty.

Now that brat could take his place as Malachai.

Kirast kiroza kirent.
Conceived in violence to do violence and to die violently. That was the promise written in the first language, on the Malachai symbol.

No sooner had that thought gone through his head than he felt his Malachai mark heat up. It was a warning that something from Azmodea was here.

A spark of electricity danced up his spine. Who or whatever it was, was watching him. Not that he cared.

But his end was coming soon. No matter how hard he fought against it, he knew the truth. He could feel it deep inside his bones.

If he didn’t kill Nick soon and absorb his powers, he would have to die. And that he wasn’t about to do. Not now.

He could always breed another son. One more malleable than Nick. One he could control and then kill.

Bitterness rose in his throat as he considered the son he’d only seen a few times. Who would have ever dreamed his wilting waif of a mother would possess a core of strength that was so staggering? Cherise had always been full of surprises.

But then so had he.

One of his guards snapped his head toward Adarian in a manner that was as recognizable as it was ludicrous. Some spirit had possessed the man. Which told him all he needed to know about the pathetic creature watching him.

“Lower forms don’t scare me,” Adarian said to the demon. “Higher forms either. Go home and leave me before I pull your wings off and shove you in a specimen jar.”

The possessed guard glared at him. “You’re the one who’s going to be shoved into a jar. And then we’re going to tear your son apart. Right in front of you.”

Adarian laughed at the fool. “Bring it.”

The demon attacked.

Adarian caught him up against his chest and held him tight. He choked the demon as he spoke to him in their native tongue. “How do you know about my son?”

“Everyone knows. We’ve known about him for centuries.”

Adarian frowned. Centuries? Nick was barely a decade old. What was the imbecile talking about?

“Malachai! Let him go or we’ll shoot!”

Adarian glanced askance at the moron who was interrupting them. “How did you find out about him?” he asked the demon in his arms.

“It wasn’t easy. Zeus took away his emotions. His lack of hatred shielded him from us for a long time. But that ban is weakening and we now know he exists and where to find him. That was sneaky of you, Malachai. Impregnate a goddess. But it won’t work. You
will
die. If not by me, then by one of my brethren.”

The guards opened fire. Adarian shielded himself with the demon he held. The human part of the guard’s body screamed as bullets pummeled him and sank in deep. Once the guard was dead, the demon pulled out and vanished.

Disgusted, Adarian hissed at the sensation of bullets ripping through his flesh. They wouldn’t kill him. No mortal weapon could ever kill a Malachai. They just hurt.

One of the guards grabbed him and threw him to the ground. “You’re going to pay for that.”

Yeah, right. They had no idea. Any more than they had a way to cause him harm.

But as they handcuffed him on the ground, his thoughts turned to something he’d never suspected before. He had another son out there. One who was grown, who had the blood of two gods flowing through him.

While that son might not have the Malachai powers, he was a god and if Nick were to die.…

Adarian could infuse his other son with enough of Nick’s blood to combine all three.

Oh yeah, this was better than he’d ever dreamed.

Nick’s life was growing shorter by his heartbeat.

And it was time he paid his son a long overdue visit.

CHAPTER 7

Alone in his room, since Kody and Caleb had decided he was relatively safe for the time being, Nick yawned and checked his watch. He needed to go by Liza’s before she closed and pick up Rosa’s gift, then stop by Timeless Treasures to grab the present he’d put on layaway for her. If he left now, he’d get back in time to walk his mom home. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called.

“Sanctuary on Ursulines. Jasyn speaking. How can I help you?”

“Hi, Jasyn, it’s Nick. Is my mom around?”

“Oh hey, kid. Hang on and I’ll grab her for you.”

Nick waited until his mother picked up the phone.

“What do you need, Nick?” There was definitely ice in her tone, and it made him feel awful to have put it there.

“Hi, Mom. I—um—I need to go pick up something for Kyrian at Ms. Liza’s. It won’t take long and then I’ll be back to walk you home.”

“You don’t have to do that.” Yeah, she was still upset at him and it more than showed.

“I know, Ma. But I like walking you home … and I’m really sorry, okay?” He held his breath, waiting for her to respond in kind.

She didn’t.

Instead, he got more of her icy shoulder. “I’ll see you in a little while.” She hung up.

Now I feel like total rolled over crap.
She was probably thinking she should have signed the papers and tossed him to the nearest couple.

Trying not to think about it, he locked the door and left.

It was just starting to get dark. And that went a long way in cheering him. He loved this time of day the most, before the tourists started their heavy drinking, and when the Royal Street business owners began closing up for the night. They were always so cheerful as they left their premises and made their deposits. It was also that last few moments of the day before the real predators, the ones bullets and guns wouldn’t stop, came out to prey.

“Hey, Mrs. Clancy,” he said as the owner of the Masquerade store locked her door to leave.

“Evening, Nick. You headed the wrong way to get to your mama. You going to Bubba’s store? Tell me that boy ain’t holding any more of his zombie survival classes.”

Nick laughed. “I imagine he’ll be behaving himself tonight since
his
mama’s in town.”

“Oh good. My worst fear is he’ll start a fire in his store and it’ll burn all the way down to here.”

“Always a possibility with Bubba.” He grinned. “Good night, Mrs. Clancy.”

“’Night to you, too.”

Tucking his hands into his pockets, Nick headed toward the Cathedral.

He wasn’t far from Jackson Square when he heard someone call out his name. Since he was a regular in the Quarter and knew most of the people who worked and lived in it, he paused.

Nick was about to ignore it when he finally spied another kid his age just in front of him, down the street a little ways. It was Bristol from school.

“Yeah?” he asked.

“I was actually on my way to your house to see you. Can you come here for a sec?” he asked, motioning Nick into the alley that led to a closed clothing boutique. “I want to ask you something about school.”

His gut tightened and told him it wasn’t a good idea. But it was Bristol. He’d known him for years. What could be wrong with going to speak to an old friend for a minute?

Nick headed over. “What’s up?”

The moment he was deep inside the alley, Bristol shoved a piece of paper in his face. “What is this crap of bull?”

It took a second for his eyes to focus on the printout that listed him as a source, claiming Bristol was gay. It also said that he knew it for a fact as he was gay, too, and had partied with Bristol a few times.

Nick curled his lip. “I didn’t say that, crap.”

“Yeah, right. You told the same lie about Spence.”

“I didn’t say nothing to anyone. I don’t do things like that.”

“And I’m supposed to take the word of a piece of Cajun trash whose mom’s a stripper and whose dad is in jail for multiple murders? Really?”

Nick’s temper exploded and he ached to pulverize him. “I did not say that,” he reiterated, enunciating each word with the malice he felt.

“You’re a liar.” Bristol shoved him.

Don’t hit back.…
His mom wouldn’t be able to take two fights in one day. He’d never hear the end of that.

He thought about Wren walking away earlier in Sanctuary. Wren definitely possessed the power to rip out the throat of anyone who annoyed him.

You can walk away, too. No time to learn like the present.
Taking a deep breath, Nick turned to leave.

The moment he did, Bristol punched him in the back so hard, it knocked the wind out of him. “You don’t turn your back on me, punk. You’re the one who’s trash, not me.”

Yeah, right. But Nick wasn’t going to fight him. Not now. Not after the argument he’d had with his mom. “Look, Bristol—”

He punched him again. This time in the jaw.

Nick staggered back. He had to get out of here before he struck back. Turning around, he took two steps and then pain exploded through his skull.…

*   *   *

Kody? Is that you?”

Nekoda frowned at the panicked sound of Cherise Gautier’s voice on her phone. “Yes, ma’am. Can I help you?”

“Is Nick with you?”

“No, ma’am. Why?”

Cherise hesitated before she spoke again. “He was supposed to walk me home after he picked up something for Kyrian at Liza’s store. I got off work almost thirty minutes ago and he hasn’t shown up yet. When I called Liza, she said she hasn’t seen him, either. I know how upset he was earlier … you don’t think he’s done anything stupid, do you?”

No. The most likely scenario was something had gotten ahold of him and eaten him. “I don’t, Mrs. Gautier. He was feeling much better when I left. Let me make a few calls and see if anyone’s seen him.”

“I already called Bubba and Mark. They said he left with you.”

“I dropped him off at your house.” She left it at that since his mother frowned on anyone being in their apartment when she wasn’t home.

“I’ll stay here in case he’s just running late. Please let me know if you find out anything.”