Betrayed (15 page)

With Bran behind the wheel of the Suburban, we headed toward the Strip—the stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South where the largest hotels, resorts,

and

casinos

were

located.

The

entertainment capital of the world pulsed with people’s hopes and dreams. Desperate faces stared out of taxis windows and disappeared into the flashy buildings.

I reached up to touch the Cardinal pendant I reached up to touch the Cardinal pendant through my shirt. The jadeite core was warming up, typical of its behavior in Vegas, where demons mingled with humans in casinos and resorts. But my dagger lay calm in its sheath, which meant no strong demonic presence in our vicinity.

The ravens were the first warning that things were not okay. The black birds perched on the
Arc
d e Triomphe
replica at the entrance of Las Vegas Paris. More sat on their Eiffel Tower. Ravens weren’t nocturnal birds to begin with. They were also a rare sight in Vegas.

“That’s interesting,” Remy said.

Bran nodded. “Sykes and I can pay the ravens a visit.” He glanced at Sykes through the rearview mirror.

Sykes and Remy had the rear seats. Izzy and Kim were in the middle.

“That’s cool with me, Cardinal,” Sykes responded, his voice serious.

“Remy and Lil can find out which room Zedekiah is holed up in,” Bran continued. “He never uses his last name and the staff knows him wel .

He’s also paranoid, which means he’s likely to book several rooms and move around, so you need to get al the room numbers.”

“A demon that’s paranoid?” Kim asked.

“That’s new. What’s he scared of?”

“Actual y, Zedekiah is not a demon. He’s human.” As though Bran realized his last-minute announcement caught us al by surprise but didn’t want to explain, he quickly added, “Kim and Izzy, you watch Remy and Lil’s backs. If anything seems off or your amulets start glowing, contact us.” He brought the car to a stop, turned to make eye contact with everyone. “Everyone okay with the plan?” We nodded.

“Then let’s do this.” Bran gave a valet the key, then he and Sykes left, their destination the gateway to the Eiffel Tower ride, a re-creation of the Alexander I I Bridge.

I stared after them and wondered if I was the only one imagining things. Bran was overly cautious tonight. First, he didn’t want us to come to Vegas with him. Then he waited until now to tel us Zedekiah was a human, not a demon. Was he expecting trouble again?

“They’l be fine,” Izzy said, misunderstanding my reason for staring after Bran and Sykes. “Does Bran real y speak raven?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. He said he could.”

“Arrogant, hot, and ful of secrets, an irresistible combination,” Izzy added.

Izzy often said Bran was hot, but not in an
I-want-him
sort of way. This time, however, something in her voice made me glance at her. I caught the look she and Kim exchanged, and became defensive.

“I hardly cal the ability to communicate with ravens a secret. I mean, he grew up with Werenephils, including raven-shifters,” I shot.

“But he didn’t tel us his informant was human until now,” Remy added.

“Does it matter if he’s human or demon?” I asked. “Bran’s worried about another ambush.”

“Wel , he sucks at vocalizing it,” Izzy retorted.

“What I don’t get is why do we trust this human again? The tip he gave Bran led him to Seattle,” Kim added.

Remy shrugged. “He was right the first two times he gave us info. We barely missed Damien that second time. A few seconds early and our search for the, uh, our search would be over.”

“Search for the List,” I said.

Kim and Remy stared.

“Yeah, yeah, she knows about it already,” Izzy said with an eye rol . “Bran told her.” The reaction to my knowledge about that stupid List was annoying.

“And you’re not angry?” Kim asked.

“No.” We entered the busy gold and ivory lobby and walked past people checking in and checking out. Some headed to the casino floor with its sky-inspired painted roof, to the stores along the cobbled streets of Las Vegas Paris, or to their rooms. Our hunting coats and boots didn’t attract much attention. The thoughts of the few people who stared indicated they assumed we were there for a comic conference.

“
Bonjour,”
a hostess said as she walked past.

I answered and kept going.

Remy caught up with me before I reached a desk. “We thought you’d freak out when—”

“I don’t want to discuss the List, Remy. I don’t understand why I keep tel ing everyone it’s no big deal and you guys keep staring at me like I’m crazy.

deal and you guys keep staring at me like I’m crazy.

A list of damned souls is nothing to get angry about.” I waved toward the men and women behind the slightly curved counters checking hotel guests in or out. “Can we get the room numbers now?” He nodded though he stil scowled. One desk manager, no longer busy, grinned and nodded at us.

We walked forward and leaned against the desk.

“We’re looking for a guest in your hotel, uh,” Remy peered at his tag, “Edmund. His name is Zedekiah. We want his room numbers.”

“Are you with his party?” He glanced at me then Remy.

“Yes, we are,” Remy answered without hesitating.

“I’l cal his room and tel him you’re here.

What name shal I give him?”

I got inside his head.
Forget the name. Just
print out his reservation, Edmund.

“Forget the name. I’l print out his reservation,” he repeated then went back to his computer and started typing.

A stunning brunette with gorgeous hair walked through the door behind the desk and touched Edmund’s arm.

“I’l take care of this.” She pointed at the desk to her left. “The couple from the red room is asking for you. They want to check out now.” Edmund stared at her. “You look amazing today.”

He didn’t wait for her answer, just disappeared through the door, leaving us with the woman. No
bonjour
from her. In fact, she glanced behind her with wide eyes, clearly cautious, or afraid.

What’s wrong with her?
I telepathed Remy.

Don’t know, but you need to zap her now.

“Zedekiah booked al the rooms in one wing on the 29th floor and asked not to be disturbed,” the woman said before Remy could speak. She printed out the room numbers, thrust the paper at me and said, “you’re Lilith, right?”

Remy and I both reached for our weapons.

Only demons cal ed me that. The woman didn’t even flinch. Instead, she glanced at the door through which Edmund disappeared.

Remy frowned.
How does she know your
name?

I shrugged.
I’ve no idea. But she’s one
scared human.

“Before you head upstairs,” she said, then swal owed, “I, uh, I have someone who wants to talk to you.” She turned, went to the door behind her, and opened it.

A familiar girl in a princess dress with a wand walked past her. Blonde curly locks framed her rosy cheeks. A broad grin spread across her innocent face.

My heart dropped. It was the same Lazarus demon-child from Seattle. “You again? What are you doing here?”

8. What Happens in Vegas Stays in

Vegas

“I came to warn you. Solange was here.” The girl’s eyes grew big and her speech rushed as she continued. “She tried to get Zedekiah but couldn’t do it. She was so mad that she went to get help.” She glanced at Remy and her voice dropped to a whisper. “Is he a Guardian too?”

I didn’t dare look at Remy. Not yet, though the shift in his emotion from concern to shock to anger was tangible. He’d recognized her for what she was, a demon. As for the beautiful front desk manager, she pressed herself against the edge of the desk in a hopeless attempt to put as much distance between her and demon-child.

My attention moved back to the girl. “Come out of there, uh, uh….”

“Angelia,” she offered, smiling.

A demon named Angelia? How ironic. I pointed at the black wrought iron gate beside the desk, but instead of using it, she teleported Bran-style—one minute there, the next gone.

Remy cursed.

Remy cursed.

The woman whimpered. “How does she do that?”

Zap her,
Remy ordered.

Before I could react, the manager gripped my arm with a shaking hand. Acrylic nails dug into my skin even through the dense lining of my hunting trench coat. “Keep her away from me. When she first came to my desk I assumed she was just some kid.

Next thing, she’s asking me if there was anything I’d wish for.” Her chin trembled. “I thought it was a joke, so I said clear skin and gorgeous hair. She…she asked me what I’d be wil ing to do to get my wishes. I had no idea she meant it. She was cute and she had the wand and I thought…thought it was al a joke,” she added defensively.

I nodded. “Go on.”

“So when she asked me to lean closer so she could touch my face, I did.” Hysterical laughter escaped her pink pouty lips. Her wide-eyed gaze darted around the foyer in fear. “Then my skin tingled. My hair is usual y up…up…,” the woman lifted a shaking hand to touch her chin, “to here.” The chestnut mane tumbled in gentle waves and spil ed over her shoulders, and her flawless skin made even me envious.

“I made her wish come true,” Angelia piped in, reappearing beside me.

I jumped and ground my teeth. She was spooking me, too.

“Solange said when you do that, humans owe you.” Angelia studied the manager. “Why is she crying? She’s been acting weird since I fixed her.” How I wished I’d never spared the little pipsqueak her life. “Don’t do that,” I snapped.

“Do what?” she asked with wide-eyed innocence.

“Teleport in and out. It scares humans.”

“Everything scares them.” Angelia laughed, the playful sound echoing around the busy lobby and drawing attention.

Lil,
Remy warned.

I ignored him, my mind racing with ways to fix this mess. If I hadn’t spared Angelia’s life, she wouldn’t be causing so much mischief. The desk manager inched toward the door.

Stay,
I commanded.

She froze, her gaze darting around again as though looking for a way out. If she screamed or cal ed for help, we’d be screwed.

Don’t make a sound,
I added then turned to the girl. “Listen to me, Angelia. First, you’re going to return her hair and her face back to normal.”

“Why? She kept her promise and told you about Zedekiah.” She glanced at the cowering woman. “And she looks much prettier this way. Like a dol .”

I ground my teeth, so exasperated I wanted to shake her. “I don’t care. Just do it,” I ground out through clenched teeth.

“But I like my hair and face,” the woman whined. “Just make her go away.” Her gaze moved from me to Remy, whose wave of irritation had reached tsunami proportions.

“Listen, ma’am,” Remy spoke. “Whatever she’s given you come at a price. That’s how demons operate.”

“Demons?” the woman sputtered, her hand clasping her throat.

I glared at Remy, then Angelia. “Do. It.” She lifted her arm with an eye rol . “Bend over.”

Obey her,
I added when the manager hesitated.

Unable to resist me, she leaned forward until the girl touched her cheek. The change was instant.

Smooth complexion became cakey, makeup covered skin with acne on her forehead and chin.

Her hair shrank and lost its luster. Weak, thin and over-processed hair, no wonder she resisted.

I locked onto her mind.
Now forget you ever
met this imp. Forget what she did and that we were
here.

The front desk manager blinked, jerked then looked at us with a gleaming smile. “
Bonjour.

Welcome to Las Vegas Paris. May I help you?”

“No thank you, ma’am.” I gripped Angelia’s arm and led her to one of the pil ars inside the lobby.

Remy fol owed, his expression dark, gray eyes flashing. Once again, I ignored him. “Now you listen

—”

“No, you listen,” Remy cut in, grabbing my arm. “We need to talk. Now.” He glared at Angelia.

“You stay put. Don’t even think of teleporting anywhere or I’l hunt you down myself. And yes, I’m a Guardian. A very mean one.”

Guardian. A very mean one.”

Angelia pouted. “I’m pretending to play hide-and-seek with my brothers and sisters. I
have
to go, or Solange wil know I’m not in the house.”

“Stay!” Remy snapped. He marched me aside, fingers like talons on my arm, and whipped me around. “Lil, what the…?”

I pul ed my arm from his grasp. “Can we discuss this later when you’re calmer?”

“I’m calm,” he snarled through gritted teeth.

“You’ve barely started hunting and you’re already buddies with some demon-girl? When did you have time?”

I glanced at Angelia, who seemed oblivious to the mess sparing her life had landed me in. “When we were in Seattle, I heard a whimpering in one of the offices and went to investigate. I found her there crying. She was searching for the List. She believed if she found it, Solange would let her go home to her mother on Coronis Isle.
We
destroyed her home, Remy.” I hated to feel responsible, but there was nothing I could do about it.

Remy rol ed his eyes. “With good reason. You can’t let her guilt you into not kil ing her.”

“But the fact remains we left her, and children like her, without parents.”

He cursed. “Are you listening to yourself?

She’s a demon child, Lil. From the strength of her powers, probably a hybrid created specifical y to destroy us.”

“She’s an innocent,” I retorted. “Is your jadeite glowing? Mine isn’t. Neither is my dagger.” Remy looked at his Guardian amulet. “That’s the first thing I noticed when I talked to her in Seattle, when I was getting ready to vanquish her. We could help these kids, Remy. Bring them to our side.”

He shook his head and paced, which was something I’d never seen him do. “No. You cannot be thinking of adopting demon children just because one likes you. You can’t even trust her. Look,” he pointed at the pil ar, “the little imp’s gone again.” Sure enough, when I turned to look, Angelia was missing. I gave Remy an apologetic smile.