Night Bites (4 page)

“It has only been a couple hours and I have a new shadow that likes to be in constant contact. I think I will get over a little squeamishness in order to prevent future insanity.”

“Oh, I have no doubt you will eventually do it, but this might take you a day or two to accept the idea. It requires a fluid exchange. As great as blood is for these types of things, the kind of bond you had needs just a little extra boost. So, while you are both enjoying cocktail hour, he is going to need to inject you with his man fluid, if you get my drift,” he says in what I imagine is supposed to be a cryptic way. Too bad, I understand the meaning right off.

“We have to have sex,” I say summing up his rambling.

“While feeding, yes. It would seem your vampire beau will be the lucky one to take your troublesome virginity.”

He is right about me going to need to take a second or two to think this over. Eventually, I will do it, but you know the saying about being as nervous as a virgin on prom night. It looks like this virgin's prom is right around the corner.

I sigh taking in a big gulp of air. “Okay. I can do that. I should probably head back and tell him the good news. I did have one question before I go, though.”

“Ask your question, but I also have a gift I want you to take with you when you go,” he responds.

“What happened with the witch?” I ask curious to know how that turned out.

“Aw. Helen. Pesky woman that one. Tried to pull one over on me. Sold her soul and then tried to detach herself from it. She has spent decades trying very hard not to think about me and you just happen to walk in her shop one day. The little bit of her soul intact rang like a church bell on Holy Sunday when she got a look at the mark you bear,” he pauses to laugh about the woman's misfortune.

“Helen is finding that I don't like to be toyed with. For now, she is working as my slave. I have been away from home quite a bit recently and it needs some tidying. Her other responsibilities bring me to my gift,” he says just before an object appears in his lap. “I have tasked her with making sure my pets are properly fed. A fun task for anyone who isn’t their master.”

As the object straightens up a little, I can see it is actually a little puppy. It is light gray, with very loose wrinkly skin.

“Pepa and Hermes just had their first litter together. Hmm. Do you still call it a litter if they only have one puppy? That is all Hellhounds have at a time. Anyway, this little guy is now fully weaned and I would like his forever home to be with you,” he tells me.

I look back down at the little guy and decide he is kind of cute, but I don't know the first thing about taking care of him. “Does he come with an iron?” I ask trying to make a joke.

“No. The wrinkles are a sign of his great breeding. The more wrinkles, the better for a little guy like him.”

“Do I have a choice in accepting this gift?”

“Now you are hurting his feelings,” he says and sure enough, I look at the little guy and if his face wasn't pathetic before, it is now. All the wrinkles make him look extra sad.

“Fine. What does he eat and how often will I need to let him out?” I ask giving up before really even starting the fight.

“Raw meat is his primary diet. I don't think he has settled in with a favorite variety, yet. You should probably walk him twice a day. I am sure it won't be too big of a hassle. You have all those servants to do things like this for you.”

“By servants, I suppose you mean my guards. I doubt my werewolf guards will enjoy walking a Hellhound puppy. I will oversee his care myself,” I stand up to walk over and retrieve my pet. “Is there anything else or can we get back to reality now?”

I pick up the little guy and he immediately licks my face. I guess that means he likes me. His breath reeks of sulfur. How exciting for me. I wonder if he will like breath mints.

“Nope, off you go. I will stop in soon to see how you two are getting along. Sometimes the baby pups have difficulty adjusting to their new environments.”

When the environment is filled with bigger dogs, I can imagine there is going to be a lot of issues with this development. It is too bad the little guy is so cute. I might have been able to say no. I bet Ben trained him to give me those sad puppy dog eyes.

Just looking down into them again, I am afraid this pup already has me wrapped around his little finger, or paw in his case.

Chapter 5

Fire is not a curtain’s best friend

I am startled awake, back in reality, by some serious little growls. I feel Sebastian with his arm around me caressing my stomach.

“I don't see how a baby Hellhound is going to reconnect us,” he says gripping me a little tighter.

I look down to see the pup sitting in the concave area by my stomach that my current position creates. He is nipping at Sebastian’s hand trying to get him to remove it from my tummy.

“Stop that,” I scold causing him to focus on me. Upon getting my attention, he waddles up towards my face for another lick. Yuck. I need to get him a puppy toothbrush, real quick like.

“So, Ben decided you needed another level of protection by giving you, literally, a guard dog?”

“What? Not that I know of. He just said he was a gift,” I say petting the pup to get him to calm down.

“Gift my ass. Hellhounds have two jobs. They either collect souls for their masters or they are used as protection. Protection in the sense that no one is allowed near their master or mistress without being torn to shreds. We are lucky he is a puppy or I might be missing a few fingers,” Sebastian informs me.

“He would never do anything like that, would you my little babykins?” I ask making noises that I never thought would leave my lips.

“He may look all cute and cuddly now, but just you wait a few decades. When he grows in that second head, you will be playing a different tune,” he says releasing his grip on me and rolling over on his back. “Does the little guy have a name?” He sighs and seems to be coming to terms with the new addition.

Ben didn't mention a name, but I guess that is an important detail. “Of course, he has a name. He cannot be my pet without one. It's, umm, it's Clyde. That's it, his name is Clyde,” I say repeating the first name that came to my mind.

Upon hearing his new name, my little pup stands up and starts wiggling a whole bunch. He gives a little yip, I am guessing his approval, and a small flame erupts from his mouth.  Thankfully, it was really small and nothing flammable, or humanoid, was too close.

“Clyde, huh. Well, I guess that will do. At least you didn't say something girlie. You are going to have to work on not overexciting him it seems.”

“You have known me for how long, and in that time, have you ever thought to yourself 'oh that Nyx, she is so girlie'? Don't even think about bringing up how you have seen me in pink dresses. I was incognito, so that doesn't count,” I insist.

“If you say so, and you are correct, no one would for a second believe you are girlie. Aside from the new mutt, to add to our already growing collection, did you find out anything useful from his royal evilness?”

I am not really ready to divulge the whole plan, just yet. “He told me something he claims will work. It is nothing you would hesitate over, but I need just a day or two to wrap my mind around it,” I plead with him.

“Any hints at all?” he asks in return rolling to spoon behind me again, earning a growl from Clyde.

“It is something we will both probably thoroughly enjoy,” I say. That alone is most likely saying too much, but I want to give him something.

Clyde darts around trying to remove Sebastian’s fingers. He is such a silly little thing. I cradle him up closer to me to try to get him to calm down. He does, but his eyes turn an eerie red when he glares behind me.

“Your demon really thinks us sleeping together will create a new bond?” Sebastian asks after having thought about it for a few seconds.

Guess my clue was too obvious. “He thinks us having sex and feeding at the same time will pull our bond out of hibernation. He says it is still there, we just have to wake it up, and I plan to, I just need time to prepare.”

“If it is as simple as that, you can have all the time you need. I cannot believe there isn't something more that has to be done. Some kind of incantation at the very least.”

“All I know is what he told me. Knowing him, he will pop in sometime and tell us he forgot to mention the six chickens and a billy goat also needed for a sacrifice and that we have to say the alphabet three times backwards followed by counting to one thousand in a language no one has ever heard of. For now, we are just sticking with we are going to have to have sex, and on my end I am sticking with me wanting a few days to get used to the idea,” I state.

“Hmm. The chickens would be pretty easy to get a hold of, but billy goats are scarce around this city,” he says finding his sense of humor. “And you know, I am an expert linguist, so any words in any language are a non-issue. This gives me hope and I will settle for that until you are ready. Right this minute, though, I think we should take Clyde out for a walk because I believe he is trying to figure out a way to climb over you and take a piss on me.”

“Clyde would never do something like that,” I tell him, but then look down at the little devil and see him glaring at Sebastian. It certainly looks like he is admonishing him for telling on him. “Clyde,” I say to get his attention. When he looks over at me and wiggles his little hiney with happiness I continue. “I think it is time for us to take you out.”

I pick him up and jump out of bed. I don't exactly have a leash for him, but I do have some rope. I place him on the floor and head to my closet with him tottling behind me.

I find the rope in my box of stuff I rarely ever need, but when needed it is really important. Sort of like now. I don't want Clyde to be running around loose in the city. Who knows what trouble he would get into?

“You want to come with us?” I ask Sebastian. I don't really know what time of day it is, but he said daylight is still okay with him.

“I wouldn't miss this little walk for the world. I imagine it will turn more heads than when you, me, and Alex strolled down the lane hand in hand,” he says standing to put on his pants.

“It's just a puppy. I am sure they have been into the human environments enough to know what one is,” I reply loosely making a little noose around the pup’s neck. I leave a long length of the rope to serve as his leash and then cut the rest of it off with a knife.

“Yes, I am sure everyone knows what a dog is, but with the high wolf population around here, there probably hasn't been the human companion version roaming the streets of Night Owl City since the Grand Collective took things over.” I guess he does have a bit of a point there. “I know not all paranorms are rocket scientists, but they will figure out what he is if he gets all red eyed around them.”

“Yeah, well they will just have to get used to him,” I say pulling on his leash. “Come on, Clyde. Let's go meet the rest of your new family.” This excites the little bugger and he gives another fire-loaded yip. I would hate to see a full on bark.

I can sense all the usual suspects in the living area. “Anyone close by the door will want to move away until he gets to know you a little better,” I alert Marcus, who is still at his post. He moves away, not far, but far enough Clyde shouldn't bite his ankles as we pass.

We make our way out to find everyone staring at us. “Who let the rat in?” Jake asks drawing a growling Clyde's attention.

Clyde, evidently sensing the words were derogatory towards him, starts lunging in Jake's general direction. Not content on being held back, he lets out a big boy bark. A river of fire shooting out of his mouth accompanies it. The flames stay away from the other people in the room, but the curtains catch fire. Jonas quickly rushes to find an extinguisher and takes care of the blaze.

“Bad Clyde,” I say scolding the pup. “No breathing fire in the house.”

“You know that leash isn't going to do much to hold him,” Alex states eying my makeshift work.

“No, but until I can get the leather spike collar and matching leash I want ordered, it will have to do,” I reply. “For now, he needs to go potty and it is going to be hard enough to find him some grass to water in this city.” Granted there is a mess of woods not far, but the majority of it is Collective land and I don’t think it is a good idea to let my Hellhound just amble around on it. The city proper is just building upon building. I am sure Clyde is looking for a real jungle not a concrete one.

“Green space for pets to do their business wasn't high on the city council's priorities when the town was restructured. I am sure we will find a place for him, though,” Sebastian says while gently grabbing my forearm to lead me from the room. Clyde just eyes him warily. We must be making progress.

“Well, we might as well make this a full family outing. The sun is setting so I don’t think anyone will get burned. With him in tow,” Alex says gesturing towards Clyde, “I don’t think there will be any issues of security, but I like the idea of us all being there. Hellhounds in this realm are unheard of, unless they are snatching a soul, so people are going to wonder about us having a demon somewhere in our back pocket.”

“Would it be okay if I sit this one out?” Smitty asks. “I haven’t fed for a couple of days with everything that is going on, and being in dusk level light doesn’t appeal to me at the moment.”

“Of course,” Sebastian says turning towards Marcus with a questioning glare.

“I am with you, my liege.” Being spared his life has really turned Marcus into a little puppet. I am going to have to work on him.

“Great. Let’s go,” I announce dragging my pet past the guys towards the elevator. Clyde gives a little growl to everyone he passes to assert his place in the hierarchy. Sadly, the little fellow is a bit confused on his size.

We get down to the ground level and I am not sure where to go. Clyde seems to have it figured out and he drags me along with beaus and guards following close behind.

While he leads us around, I decide it would probably be a good idea to have a silent talk with Alex about Ben’s idea for relinking me and Sebby.