Night World 1 (15 page)

“What do you mean, she's missing?” Phil said as soon as he was in the car.

James gunned the engine. “My cousin Ash has taken her someplace.”

“Who's Ash?”

“He's dead,” James said, and somehow Phillip knew he didn't mean Ash was one of the walking dead. He meant Ash was going to
be
dead, completely dead, at some point very soon.

“Well, where's he taken her?”

“I don't know,” James said through his teeth. “I have no idea.”

Phil stared a moment, then said, “Okay. Okay.” He didn't understand what was going on, but he could see one thing. James was too angry and too intent on revenge to think logically. He might
seem
rational, but it was stupid to drive around at fifty-five miles an hour through a residential zone with no idea of where to go.

It was strange that Phil felt comparatively calm—it seemed as if he'd spent the last week being wacko while James played the cool part. But having someone else be hysterical always made Phil go levelheaded.

“Okay, look,” he said. “Let's take this one step at a time. Slow down, okay? We might be going in exactly the wrong direction.” At that, James eased up on the gas pedal slightly.

“Okay, now tell me about Ash. Why's he taking Poppy somewhere? Did he kidnap her?”

“No. He talked her into it. He convinced her that it was dangerous for me if she stuck around here. It was the one thing guaranteed to make her go with him.” One hand on the wheel, James fished in his pocket and handed a folded piece of paper to Phil.

It was a page torn out of a book. Phillip read the note and swallowed. He glanced at James, who was staring straight ahead at the road.

Phil shifted, embarrassed at having intruded on private territory, embarrassed at the sting in his eyes.
Your soulmate, Poppy?
Well. Well.

“She loves you a lot,” he said finally, awkwardly. “And I'm glad she said goodbye to me.” He folded the note carefully and tucked it under the emergency brake handle. James picked it up and put it in his pocket again.

“Ash used her feelings to get her away. Nobody can push buttons and pull strings like he can.”

“But why would he want to?”

“First because he likes girls. He's a
real
Don Juan.” James glanced at Phil caustically. “And now he's got her alone. And second because he likes to play with things. Like a cat with a mouse. He'll fool around with her for a while, and then when he gets tired of her, he'll hand her over.”

Phillip went still. “Who
to
?”

“The Elders. Somebody in charge somewhere who'll realize she's a renegade vampire.”

“And then what?”

“And then they kill her.”

Phil grabbed the dashboard. “Wait a minute. You're telling me that a cousin of yours is going to hand Poppy over to be killed?”

“It's the law. Any good vampire would do the same. My own mother would do it, without a second thought.” His voice was bitter.

“And he's a vampire. Ash,” Phil said stupidly.

James gave him a look. “
All
my cousins are vampires,” he said with a short laugh. Then his expression changed, and he took his foot off the gas.

“What's the—hey, that was a stop sign!” Phil yelped.

James slammed on the brakes and swung into a U-turn in the middle of the street. He ran over somebody's lawn.

“What is it?” Phil said tightly, still braced against the dashboard.

James was looking almost dreamy. “I've just realized where they've gone. Where he'd take her. He told her someplace safe, where people wouldn't care what she was. But vampires
would
care.”

“So they're with humans?”

“No. Ash hates humans. He'd want to take her someplace in the Night World, someplace where he's a big man. And the nearest city that's controlled by the Night World is Las Vegas.”

Phil felt his jaw drop.
Las Vegas?
Controlled by the Night World? He had the sudden impulse to laugh. Sure, of course it would be. “And I always thought it was the Mafia,” he said.

“It is,” James said seriously, swerving onto a freeway on-ramp. “Just a different mafia.”

“But, look, wait. Las Vegas is a big city.”

“It's not, actually. But it doesn't matter anyway. I know where they are. Because all my cousins
aren't
vampires. Some of them are witches.”

Phil's forehead puckered. “Oh, yeah? And how did you arrange that?”

“I didn't. My great-grandparents did, about four hundred years ago. They did a blood-tie ceremony with a witch family. The witches aren't my
real
cousins; they're not related. They're cross-cousins. Adopted family. It probably won't even occur to them that Poppy might not be legal. And that's where Ash would go.”

“They're cross-kin,” Ash told Poppy. They were driving in the Rasmussens' gold Mercedes, which Ash insisted his aunt Maddy would want him to take. “They won't be suspicious of you. And witches don't know the signs of being a new vampire the way vampires do.”

Poppy just stared at the far horizon. It was evening now, and a lowering red sun was setting behind them. All around them was a weird alien landscape: not as brown as Poppy would have expected a desert to be. More gray-green, with clumps of green-gray. The Joshua trees were strangely beautiful, but also the closest thing to a plant made up of tentacles as she'd ever seen.

Most everything growing had spikes.

It was oddly fitting as a place to go into exile. Poppy felt as if she were leaving behind not only her old life, but everything she'd ever found familiar about the earth.

“I'll take care of you,” Ash said caressingly.

Poppy didn't even blink.

Phillip first saw Nevada as a line of lights in the darkness ahead. As they got closer to the state line, the lights resolved into signs with blinking, swarming, flashing neon messages. Whiskey Pete's, they announced. Buffalo Bill's. The Prima Donna.

Some guy with a reputation for being a Don Juan was taking Poppy in
this
direction?

“Go faster,” he told James as they left the lights behind and entered a dark and featureless desert. “Come on. This car can do ninety.”

“Here we are. Las Vegas,” Ash said as if making Poppy a present of the whole city. But Poppy didn't see a city, only a light in the clouds ahead like the rising moon. Then, as the freeway curved, she saw that it wasn't the moon, it was the reflection of city lights. Las Vegas was a glittering pool in a flat basin between the mountains.

Something stirred in Poppy despite herself. She'd always wanted to see the world. Faraway places. Exotic lands. And this would have been perfect—if only James had been with her.

Up close, though, the city wasn't quite the gem it looked from a distance. Ash got off the freeway, and Poppy was thrown into a world of color and light and movement—and of tawdry cheapness.

“The Strip,” Ash announced. “You know, where all the casinos are. There's no place like it.”

“I bet,” Poppy said, staring. On one side of her was a towering black pyramid hotel with a huge sphinx in front. Lasers were flashing out of the sphinx's eyes. On the other side was a sleazy motor inn with a sign saying “Rooms $18.”

“So this is the Night World,” she said, with a twinge of cynical amusement that made her feel very adult.

“Nah, this is for the tourists,” Ash said. “But it's good business and you can do some fairly serious partying. I'll show you the real Night World, though. First, I want to check in with my cousins.”

Poppy considered telling him that she didn't really care to have
him
show her the Night World. Something about Ash's manner was beginning to bother her. He was acting more as if they were out on a date than as if he were escorting her into exile.

But he's the only person I know here, she realized with a dismayed sinking in her stomach. And it's not as if I have any money or anything—not even eighteen dollars for that crummy motel.

There was something worse. She'd been hungry for some time now, and now she was starting to feel breathless. But she wasn't the dazed, unthinking animal she'd been last night. She didn't
want
to attack some human on the street.

“This is the place,” Ash said. It was a side street, dark and not crowded like the Strip. He pulled into an alley. “Okay, just let me see if they're in.”

On either side of them were high buildings with cinder-block walls. Above, tiers of power lines obscured the sky. Ash knocked at a door set in the cinder block—a door with no knob on the outside. There was no sign on the door, either, just some crudely spray-painted graffiti. It was a picture of a black dahlia.

Poppy stared at a Dumpster and tried to control her breathing. In, out. Slow and deep. It's okay, there's air. It may not feel like it, but there's air.

The door opened and Ash beckoned to her.

“This is Poppy,” Ash said, putting an arm around her as Poppy stumbled inside. The place looked like a shop—a shop with herbs and candles and crystals. And lots of other weird things that Poppy didn't recognize. Witchy-looking supplies.

“And these are my cousins. That's Blaise, and that's Thea.” Blaise was a striking girl with masses of dark hair and lots of curves. Thea was slimmer and blond. They both kept going out of focus as Poppy's vision blurred.

“Hi,” she said, the longest greeting she could manage.

“Ash, what's wrong with you? She's sick. What have you been doing to her?” Thea was looking at Poppy with sympathetic brown eyes.

“Huh? Nothing,” Ash said, looking surprised, as if noticing Poppy's state for the first time. Poppy guessed he wasn't the type to worry about other people's discomfort. “She's hungry, I guess. We'll have to run out and feed—”

“Oh, no, you don't. Not around here. Besides, she's not going to make it,” Thea said. “Come on, Poppy, I'll be a donor this once.”

She took Poppy by the arm and led her through a bead curtain into another room. Poppy let herself be towed. She couldn't think anymore—and her whole upper jaw was aching. Even the word
feed
sharpened her teeth.

I need…I have to…

But she didn't know how. She had a vision of her own face in the mirror, silvery eyes and savage canines. She didn't
want
to be an animal again and jump on Thea and rip her throat. And she couldn't ask how—that would give her away as a new vampire for sure. She stood, trembling, unable to move.

“
C
ome on, it's okay,” Thea said. She seemed to be about Poppy's age, but she had a gentle, sensible air that gave her authority. “Sit down. Here.” She set Poppy on a shabby couch and extended her wrist. Poppy stared at the wrist for an instant and then remembered.

James, giving her blood from his arm.
That
was how to do it. Friendly and civilized.

She could see pale blue veins under the skin. And that sight blasted away the last of her hesitation. Instinct took over and she grabbed Thea's arm. The next thing she knew she was drinking.

Warm salty-sweetness. Life. Relief from pain. It was so good that Poppy could almost cry. No wonder vampires hated humans, she thought dimly. Humans didn't have to hunt for this marvelous stuff; they were full of it already.

But, another part of her mind pointed out, Thea wasn't a human. She was a witch. Strange, because her blood tasted exactly the same. Poppy's every sense confirmed it.

So witches are just humans, but humans with special powers, Poppy thought. Interesting.

It took an effort to control herself, to know when to stop. But she did stop. She let go of Thea's wrist and sat back, a little embarrassed, licking her lips and teeth. She didn't want to meet Thea's brown eyes.

It was only then that she realized she'd been keeping her thoughts shielded during the entire process. There had been no mental connection as there had been when she shared blood with James. So she'd mastered one vampire power already. Faster than James or Ash had expected.

And she felt good now. Energetic enough to do the Netherlands skippy dance. Confident enough to smile at Thea.

“Thank you,” she said.

Thea smiled back, as if she found Poppy odd or quaint, but nice. She didn't seem suspicious. “It's okay,” she said, flexing her wrist and grimacing gently.

For the first time Poppy was able to look around her. This room was more like a living room than part of a shop. Besides the couch there was a TV and several chairs. At the far end was a large table with candles and incense burning.

“This is the teaching room,” Thea said. “Grandma does spells here and lets the students hang out.”

“And the other part is a store,” Poppy said, cautiously because she didn't know what she was supposed to know.

Thea didn't look surprised. “Yes. I know you wouldn't think there'd be enough witches around here to keep us in business, but actually they come from all over the country. Grandma's famous. And her students buy a lot.”

Poppy nodded, looking properly impressed. She didn't dare ask more questions, but her chilly heart had warmed just a tiny bit. All Night People weren't harsh and evil. She had the feeling she could be friends with this girl if given the chance. Maybe she could make it in the Night World after all.

“Well, thanks again,” she murmured softly.

“Don't mention it. But don't let Ash get you run down like that, either. He's so
irresponsible.
”

“You wound me, Thea. You really do,” Ash said. He was standing in the doorway, holding the bead curtain open with one hand. “But come to think of it, I'm feeling a little run down myself….” He raised his eyebrows insinuatingly.

“Go jump in Lake Mead, Ash,” Thea said sweetly.

Ash looked innocent and yearning. “Just a little bite. A nibble. A nip,” he said. “You have such a pretty white throat….”

“Who does?” Blaise said, pushing her way through the other half of the bead curtain. Poppy had the feeling she was only speaking to focus attention on herself. She stood in the center of the room and shook back her long black hair with the air of a girl used to attention.

“You both do,” Ash said gallantly. Then he seemed to remember Poppy. “And, of course, this little dreamer has a pretty white everything.”

Blaise, who had been smiling, now looked sour. She stared at Poppy long and hard. With dislike—and something else.

Suspicion. Dawning suspicion.

Poppy could
feel
it. Blaise's thoughts were bright and sharp and malicious, like jagged glass.

Then suddenly Blaise smiled again. She looked at Ash, “I suppose you've come for the party,” she said.

“No. What party?”

Blaise sighed in a way that emphasized her low-cut blouse. “The Solstice party, of course. Thierry's giving a big one.
Everybody
will be there.”

Ash looked tempted. In the dim light of the teaching room his eyes gleamed dark. Then he shook his head.

“No, can't make it. Sorry. I'm going to show Poppy the town.”

“Well, you can do that and still come to the party later. It won't really get going until after midnight.” Blaise was staring at Ash with an odd insistence. Ash bit his lip, then shook his head again, smiling.

“Well, maybe,” he said. “I'll see how things go.”

Poppy knew he was saying more than that. Some unspoken message seemed to be passing between him and Blaise. But it wasn't telepathic, and Poppy couldn't pick it up.

“Well, have a good time,” Thea said, and gave Poppy a quick smile as Ash piloted her away.

Ash peered ahead at the Strip. “If we hurry we can watch the volcano erupting,” he said. Poppy gave him a look, but didn't ask.

Instead, she said, “What's a Solstice party?”

“Summer solstice. The longest day of the year. It's a holiday for the Night People. Like Groundhog Day for humans.”

“Why?”

“Oh, it always has been. It's very magical, you know. I'd take you to the party, but it would be too dangerous. Thierry's a vampire Elder.” Then he said, “Here's the volcano.”

It was a volcano. In front of a hotel. Waterfalls crashed down its sides, and red lights shone from the cone. Ash double-parked across the street.

“You see, we've got a great view right here,” he said. “All the comforts of home.”

The volcano was emitting rumbling sounds. As Poppy watched in disbelief, a pillar of fire shot out of the top. Real fire. Then the waterfalls caught fire. Red and gold flames spread down the sides of the black rock until the entire lake around the volcano was ablaze.

“Inspiring, isn't it?” Ash asked, very close to her ear.

“Well—it's…”

“Thrilling?” Ash inquired. “Stimulating? Rousing?” His arm was creeping around her, and his voice was sweetly hypnotic.

Poppy didn't say anything.

“You know,” Ash murmured, “you can see a lot better if you get over here. I don't mind crowding.” His arm was urging her gently but inevitably closer. His breath ruffled her hair.

Poppy slammed an elbow into his stomach.

“Hey!”
Ash yelped—in genuine pain, Poppy thought. Good.

He'd dropped his arm and now he was looking at her with aggrieved brown eyes, “What did you do that for?”

“Because I
felt
like it,” Poppy said smartly. She was tingling with new blood and ready for a fight. “Look, Ash, I don't know what gave you the idea that I'm your date here. But I'm telling you right now that I'm
not.
”

Ash tilted his head and smiled painfully. “You just don't know me well enough,” he offered. “When we get to know each other—”

“
No.
Never. I'm not interested in other guys. If I can't have James…” Poppy had to stop and steady her voice. “There's nobody else I want,” she said finally, flatly. “Nobody.”

“Well, not now, maybe, but—”

“Never.”
She didn't know how to explain. Then she had an idea. “You know the soulmate principle?”

Ash opened his mouth and then shut it. Opened it again. “Oh, no. Not
that
garbage.”

“Yes. James is my soulmate. I'm sorry if it sounds stupid, but it's true.”

Ash put a hand to his forehead. Then he started to laugh. “You're serious.”

“Yes.”

“And that's your final word.”

“Yes.”

Ash laughed again, sighed, and cast his eyes upward. “Okay. Okay. I should have known.” He chuckled in what seemed like self-derision.

Poppy was relieved. She'd been afraid he'd be disgruntled and huffy—or
mean.
Despite his charm, she could always feel something cold running below the surface in Ash, like an icy river.

But now he seemed perfectly good-humored. “Okay,” he said. “So if romance isn't on the menu, let's go to the party.”

“I thought you said it was too dangerous.”

He waved a hand. “That was a little fib. To get you alone, you know.” He glanced sideways at her. “Sorry.”

Poppy hesitated. She didn't care about a party. But she didn't want to be alone with Ash, either.

“Maybe you should just take me back to your cousins' place.”

“They won't
be
there,” Ash said. “I'm sure they've gone to the party by now. Oh, come on, it'll be fun. Give me a chance to make things up to you.”

Thin curls of uneasiness were roiling inside Poppy. But Ash looked so penitent and persuasive…and what other choice did she have?

“Okay,” she said finally. “For just a little while.”

Ash gave a dazzling smile. “Just a very little while,” he said.

“So they could be anywhere on the Strip,” James said.

Thea sighed. “I'm sorry. I should have known Ash was up to something. But hijacking your girlfriend…” She lifted her hands in a what-next gesture. “For what it's worth, she didn't seem very interested in him. If he's planning to put the moves on her, he's going to get a surprise.”

Yes, James thought, and so is she. Poppy was only useful to Ash as long as Ash thought he could play with her. Once he realized he couldn't…

He didn't want to think about what would happen then. A quick visit to the nearest Elder, he supposed.

His heart was pounding, and there was a ringing in his ears.

“Did Blaise go with them?” he asked.

“No, she went to the Solstice party. She tried to get Ash to go, but he said he wanted to show Poppy the town.” Thea paused, raising a finger. “Wait—you might check at the party. Ash said he might stop in later.”

James spent a moment forcing himself to breathe. Then he said, very gently, “And just who is giving this party?”

“Thierry Descouedres. He always has a big one.”

“And he's an Elder.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Never mind.” James backed out of the shop. “Thanks for the help. I'll be in touch.”

“James…” She looked at him helplessly. “Do you want to come in and sit down? You don't look very well….”

“I'm fine,” James said, already out the door.

In the car he said, “You can get up now.”

Phillip emerged from the floor of the backseat where he'd been hiding. “What's happening? You were gone a long time.”

“I think I know where Poppy is.”

“You just
think
?”

“Shut up, Phil.” He didn't have energy for exchanging insults. He was entirely focused on Poppy.

“Okay, so where is she?”

James spoke precisely. “She is either now, or she will be later, at a party. A very large party, filled with vampires. And at least one Elder. The perfect place to expose her.”

Phil gulped. “And you think that's what Ash is going to do?”

“I know that's what Ash is going to do.”

“Then we've got to stop him.”

“We may be too late.”

The party was strange. Poppy was amazed at how young most of the people were. There were a few scattered adults, but far more teenagers.

“Made vampires,” Ash explained obligingly. Poppy remembered what James had said—made vampires remained forever the age of their death, but lamia could stop aging anytime. She supposed that meant that James could get as old as he wanted, while she would be stuck at sixteen eternally. Not that it mattered. If she and James were going to be together, they could both stay young—but apart, maybe he'd want to age.

But it
was
odd to see a guy who looked about nineteen talking earnestly with a little kid who looked about four. The kid was cute, with shiny black hair and tilted eyes, but there was something at once innocent and cruel in his expression.

“Let's see, now that's Circe. A witch of renown. And that's Sekhmet, a shapeshifter. You don't want to get
her
mad,” Ash said genially. He and Poppy were standing in a little anteroom, looking down a level into the main room of the house. Of the mansion, rather. It was the most opulent private residence Poppy had ever seen—and she'd seen Bel Air and Beverly Hills.