The Fury (9 page)

“One of my toys,” Dagan explained.

Venturing through back streets and portions of the city she’d never been in, Reese wondered whom these people were associated with, and where, exactly, this bar could be located. He’d only said the east side. This was way east, almost to another state.

Insanity didn’t run in her family that she knew of. And yet here she sat for the second day in a row with a man she did not know, allowing him to take her to strange places. At the first real opportunity, should she try to call Joe or Geoffrey? No. Besides, Geoffrey had gone camping. She needed to get through this night and figure something out in the morning. Of course, she still had the option of calling the police, but how would she explain bringing her attacker home? She didn’t understand it herself.

“So tell me about these people you have guarding my father and sister. And what about Rufus? How does he fit in?”

“Are you going to batter me with questions all night?”

“Yes, until I get the answers I require.”

Dagan sighed heavily. “Rufus is what we call a
doghume
. They are humans with extraordinary abilities.”

“Humans?”

“Uh, huh. Then there are the
nephili
, who are half god and half human. It’s sort of like your version of Hercules, only they have limited powers at certain times.”

“What kind of powers?”

“It differs. Are you going to let me finish?”

She frowned at him.

“Last, we have the purebreds, which are those like me and Flame.”

“And what’s so special about you?” she asked, sliding an accusatory glance his way.

With a devilish grin he said, “We are the first born of gods and the best defense against the creature.” He turned his concentration to the dark road.

Loud music drifted out the doors and across the parking lot as they pulled up. A Temptations song greeted them when they got out of the car. On the outside, the place looked like a huge warehouse made from old wooden boards salvaged from dilapidated buildings. An enormous sign hung above the door. She couldn’t see it clearly, but as they drew closer, the words came into focus. Slow Burn. Underneath the name in gothic lettering it said,
Into the fires of hell ye be walkin
. Was that a warning?

Reese looked over at Dagan.

“What?”

“Interesting. Should I be worried about this place?”

“You have nothing to fear here,” he assured her. “Neither Kur nor his followers can enter this place. It is protected by several powerful spells. That is why my kind can come here and relax without worry.”

“Okay.” She wasn’t relieved at all, but she’d give him the benefit of the doubt.

“Dagan? I’ll be damned.” The burly man standing guard at the door had a deep burr to his voice.

“Hey, Seamus.”

The bouncer looked like a brick building with arms the size of CO
₂
canisters, the big ones. His dark skin shined and he had an enormous tattoo that started at the wrist on one hand, went up his arm, disappeared under his shirt and came out of the sleeve on the other side, stopping at his other wrist. She had no idea what the tattoo represented but it reminded her of ancient writing she’d seen on tablets in a museum a long time ago.

“Haven’t seen you around these parts in about fifty years. You had one of those redheaded nymphs from Lysara as I recall.”

Reese turned her questioning eyes in his direction. His arrogant demeanor kicked in and he winked at her.

“Yeah, Bethany liked this place too.”

The other man turned his attention to her. “So who’s this sexy number?” He moved up close to her and sniffed.

“I’m Reese.” She moved back a step. “Are you sniffing me?”

Dagan laughed.

“Human?” Seamus asked.

“Yes,” Dagan replied. “Reese, this is Seamus. He’s a blood hound, literally.”

“Nice to meet you,” she said then frowned at Dagan.

Seamus took her hand and kissed it. “Pleasure. You have some powerful blood flowing through your veins, miss. Best watch who you hang out with.”

“Thanks for the warning, Seamus, but you do see the company I’m keeping at the moment, right?” she all but yelled over the music.

Seamus broke into deep, resonating laughter.

“Come on.” Dagan gently shoved her through the metal doors.

“So what did you mean he’s a blood hound?”

“I’m not at liberty to say. I can’t reveal all our secrets to a human.”

She stopped walking and narrowed her eyes on him. He clasped her fingers in his and urged her forward.

When they got inside the place opened up and bodies gyrated to Beatles’ music. A semi-circular purple stage stretched onto the dance floor about three feet. It had a long horizontal walkway with platforms on either side. On the raised platforms were three-sided cages where blond girls in white go-go boots danced. In front of the cages but down another level sat large green disks with stairs leading up to them so that showcase dancers could strut their stuff. Down another level lay the very crowded wooden dance floor. Beyond that were tables and chairs to sit, and on both sides of the seating area were bars that ran approximately sixteen to eighteen feet. Four different bartenders handled each side and they seemed to carry the burden of the crowd with ease.

“This is amazing,” she said over the music blasting from several floor to ceiling speakers.

“I know, that’s why we love coming here.”

He shuffled her to the only empty table near the back.

The music changed again to a Marvin Gaye song and she said, “So tell me again why we’re here.”

“I need to see someone.”

His vague answer irritated her. With everything they’d been through already, surely he didn’t think anything he’d say would frighten her. Before she could ask anymore, he got up.

“Wait here,” he ordered and left.

Reese’s temper bristled. Did he really think she would sit like an obedient child while he mingled and ignored her?

She watched him walk toward the bar closest to her and approach a tall, slender brunette. The woman had extremely long legs, a pair of black boots that went up over her knees and a skirt that barely covered her butt. If her boobs were any bigger, Reese mused, the neon tube top would be irreparably misshapen. A waitress came to take her order. A few moments passed before she glanced to where Dagan had been standing. He had disappeared along with the brunette.

Reese tapped her finger to the beat of the music and sipped her amaretto sour. She’d been really looking forward to coming here. Okay, so the events of the last twenty-four hours had been bizarre and frightening and her bodyguard irritated the crap out of her, but it had been forever since she’d actually gone on a real date. She missed dancing.

Dagan had been gone for some time and she wondered if she should go look for him. Sighing, she turned her attention to the dance floor. A hot, good looking man approached her table.

“Would you care to dance, miss?”

His voice was smooth like Vermouth and carried a European accent. Penetrating blue eyes beckoned her and she couldn’t resist. “Thank you, I’d like that.” She took the hand he offered.

People parted as he led the way to the dance floor. Everyone stared at them as they passed. The band changed the tempo to something slow and the man pulled her close. He wound his left arm around her waist to the small of her back with fingertips splayed across her backside. The previously overrun floor now seemed deserted, or maybe she’d lost all concept of anyone else in the room. How could that be? She fought the urge to lay her head on his shoulder and let him negotiate the dance floor carrying her along. His movements were intoxicating and seductive and yet he’d not spoken to her since he’d asked her to dance.

In a charismatic voice, he whispered in her ear. “What’s your name?”

“Reese.”

“’Tis beautiful and so are you.” He smiled and she felt a sudden need to kiss him. This was the second man in the last two days who had that kind of effect on her. She needed to get a grip.

“I think you’ll be taking your hands off her now, Abu.”

Reese stiffened at the steely voice. She turned to see Dagan glaring at the man holding her.

“We’re having a nice time, Dagan. I hesitate to let it end so soon.”

His cordial tone didn’t fool Reese, the warning had been crystal clear. Abu pulled her closer to the hard muscle and strength coiled in his body, ready to strike. If he and Dagan knew each other she’d bet him to be another form of mythical being and this could get ugly, real quick. She tried to pull away but Abu wouldn’t release her.

Dagan’s nostrils flared and his eyes darkened. Abu smiled, but not with humor. His eyes changed color, first to dark blue then silver, like a kaleidoscope. She had to do something. Using all her strength, Reese stomped down with her heel and dug it into Abu’s foot.

“
Shakaah
,” he yelled and shoved her away.

Reese straightened up, readjusted her blouse and slung her hair back so she could glare at both of them. They treated her like some kind of possession and were acting childish.

“Number one—,” she pointed at Abu who was rubbing his foot, “—I’m not a piece of meat and I’m certainly not someone who chooses to be in the middle of all this male insecurity.” She turned on Dagan who still glared at Abu. “And you are a piece of work. He and I were dancing. You have no right to stop me from dancing with him or anyone else?”

“You are under my protection.”

Abu chuckled and Dagan stepped forward. Reese put her hand on his chest.

“You need to stop. This is ridiculous.”

Abu reached around her waist and pulled her flush against him. He leaned down and nuzzled his nose against her neck. “You are fiery and brazen. I like that in a woman.” He gently bit her shoulder. “Your blood sings to me, Reese. I want to taste it.”

Her eyes flew wide. Dagan leapt toward Abu and grabbed him by the throat, using his other hand to snatch Abu’s ponytail and yank it.

“Don’t touch her ever again.”

“You know there are better ways to get my attention,” another voice called out in a lilting accent.

Dagan and Abu both turned in the direction of the sound. The onlookers parted to admit a well-built mountain of a man. Were there no normal people in this place?

Dagan let go of Abu. He grabbed Reese by the arm and walked toward the other man. “Where in the name of Nammu have you been? I was just getting ready to kick your brother’s ass.”

The new man laughed. “You two never give up. It’s been what, several thousand years? You’d think you could just let things go.”

“Not likely.” Abu fixed his gaze on Reese. “Until we meet again.” He bowed, turned and disappeared in the throng of people.

The music started playing and the mob broke up.

“Come on,” the blond guy said, and led them to the opposite bar at the very end, away from the music as much as possible.

“So what brings you here, Dagan? And who’s your pretty friend?”

Dagan ordered a whiskey straight up for himself and another amaretto sour for Reese.

“Nazi, this is Reese Whittaker. Reese, meet Nazi. He’s who I came to see.”

“Nice to meet you, Reese. Please excuse my brother. He’s used to taking what he wants.”

“Nazi.” She inclined her head. “Another one with no last name?”

“Obviously.”

“Yeah, well, your brother was a complete gentleman. Dagan, however—” she focused her glare on him, “—has a lot to learn about manners.”

Dagan snorted.

“You are so right, but don’t let Abu fool you. He would have taken you out back and fed on you for a while.”

She coughed and Dagan patted her back. “Nazi.”

“Why don’t I take Ms. Whittaker out of your hair, boys?”

Reese turned watery eyes to see the same woman Dagan had spoken with earlier.

“Don’t worry.” The woman cuddled up to Dagan. “I won’t let anything happen to her. Come on, sweetie.”

She waited for Reese to pick up her drink and follow her away from the bar. “Damn tired of getting tossed around like a salad,” Reese murmured as she followed the beautiful woman, whom she hated on principal.

“Don’t sweat it, hon. You’d think that as long as they’ve been around they would realize that the female of the species,” the woman smiled, “any species, is the better part of the deal.”

Reese nodded.

“I’m Ninti. Nazi and Abu are my brothers.”

“I feel for you.”

Ninti chuckled. “You’re spunky. Beware of Abu. He’ll snatch you up the first chance he gets.”

Nazi and Abu were so totally different, not only in looks, but in personality and demeanor as well.
Vampires.
Did vampires exist? Not too long ago, she had no proof that gods existed. She wasn’t taking anything for granted.

“Let’s play some pool.”

Reese took a long drink from her glass. “Okay, lead on.” She glanced back to where Dagan spoke to Nazi and wondered why she couldn’t be around for the discussion.