Blood Finale (God Wars #5) (16 page)

"Who are they?" Amara turned dark, lovely eyes in my direction.

"Those child traffickers—the ones who bought, trained and sold Kay as a child sex slave," I replied. "Cayetes was one of their best customers."

"They buy children for this?" Amara asked. This information upset her; that was easy to see.

"Or steal them," Tory said. "They look for the pretty ones—girls and boys. At least that's what I heard from Sali."

"Any idea where they get these children?" Edan asked.

"None. That's why they wanted to reach Cayetes' hideaway—to find contact information on those two women. They likely have Sirenali there with them, so we can't get information on their location."

"The ASD and CSD can't help with this?" Edan asked. "By providing reports on missing children?"

"Edan, children go missing all the time," Reah spoke weakly from the bed. We all turned in her direction immediately.

"Baby, we're here," Edan sat on the side of the bed and took her hand. "Do you need anything?"

"Song and Serenade on a platter, and all those children in your care," she rasped, turning sleepy green eyes on Edan.

"I wondered what Aurelius meant when he asked if we could take some in," Amara placed a hand on Edan's shoulder.

"We don't know how many, even if we find them." Reah shifted, attempting to sit up in bed.

"Just lie still, we're fine," Edan stroked platinum hair away from her forehead. "If we need help to care for them, we'll ask. I'm sure there'll be plenty of volunteers. Now, I believe your mates want your attention." Edan stood to allow Tory and me to reach the bed.

* * *

Reah's Journal

The word
Daddy
almost escaped my lips as Edan moved away. He squeezed my fingers before letting them go and allowing Tory to take his place.

"Baby? How are you feeling?" Tory leaned in to kiss my forehead.

"You have more muscles," I blurted. He did. His shoulders looked wider and his upper arms strained the fabric of his shirt.

"I do." He leaned farther in and took my mouth with his. "I learned a lot from the Falchani," he said after pulling away. "How's Lexsi?"

"Good," I croaked. "Can I have some water?"

I had water in almost as much time as it took to blink, and Amara checked me over after Tory lifted me so I could drink.

"Are the others all right?" I asked after emptying the glass and handing it back.

"They are; most of them are still asleep," Amara smiled at me. "Karzac and several healers are watching them carefully."

"Farzi and Nenzi?"

"Want me to bring them?" Ry asked with a grin.

"You can put them in the bed with me—there's plenty of room," I pointed out.

"Then I'll get them," he said and disappeared. Two lion snakes came floating in moments later, Ry appearing with them and lowering them carefully onto the bed with power so they wouldn't wake. I smiled—I couldn't think of a single one of my mates who didn't love both of them.

"We've come up with a couple of solutions, but those are temporary fixes," Ry sighed, leaning over Tory to give me a kiss.

"Ry, go ahead and say it," I said. "With the level of power aimed at us, we're being backed into a corner. I was there when the blast hit, and it came as soon as we employed power. I thought we would be blown apart, but somehow, Tybus and Aurelius managed to keep their shields up while I held the rest of us together. We were still knocked around. I have a feeling Karzac had major reconstruction to do, too."

"That's no longer your concern, baby. We're all here, and that's all that matters," Tory soothed.

"Tory, I still want to find Song and Serenade. Breanne asked me to do that."

"Then go at it from an angle nobody expects," Tory grinned. "I learned that from Caylon Black."

"Edan?" Fes walked into the room, surprised to see his brother.

"Fes," Edan rose and surprised Fes by hugging him and clapping him on the back. "Still cooking?"

"In San Francisco in Earth's past. We're trying to lure Saxom and Moxas into a trap with seafood," Fes laughed.

"Ry, Tory, get Kay. Right now," I said.

"Why?" Tory stood, his mouth etched in a frown—he had no idea what I'd realized.

"Because Kay knows Song and Serenade, that's why. She may know where they go, what they do, their eating habits," I said. "Unless I'm wrong, they have plenty of money. That means they eat very, very well."

* * *

"Tell us everything you know about them," Lissa said. "No matter how insignificant it seems. Favorite foods, what they talked about, clothing they wore, everything."

She'd arrived with Gavin and Kay. Kay was still very weak from our ordeal, but she wanted to help.

"They're really particular about their clothes," Kay said. Nefrigar lifted a hand and made a comfortable chair appear so Kay could rest while she spoke. "They always talked about Drian."

"That's an expensive designer. Been around a while," Lissa said. "I have some of his things in my closet."

"We can approach from that direction, certainly," Amara said.

"What about food?" Fes asked.

"They always talked about going to Tulgalan to eat," Kay said. "I don't know which restaurants."

"Did they ever talk about a particular meal they ordered?"

"They always talked about an ox-roast they could get, and complained that reservations had to be made far in advance."

"They came to Dee's," I covered my mouth with a hand. Dee's still served my ox-roast recipe—it was always popular. "What do they look like, Kay? Describe them."

"I need power to show you," she said.

"I'll lend you some," Lissa declared and grasped Kay's hand in hers while light formed around her.

In very little time, we had three dimensional images floating in my bedroom while we studied Song and Serenade. Song was shorter, with dark hair stylishly caught up in a twist atop her head. With dark eyes, she wore makeup meant to lend mystery to her features. Wearing designer clothing, she looked to be a wealthy socialite instead of a child-selling criminal.

Serenade was a hand taller, with golden-blonde hair, likely dyed, and blue eyes that Kay claimed were enhanced with lenses. Also dressed very well, Serenade's image stood next to Song's as they seemed to silently discuss something.

I saw quickly that this image came directly from Kay's memory—both images turned and beckoned someone to come to them. Neither of their expressions was kind. Kay shut the images down immediately.

"I've seen them at Desh's," Fes declared as we all sighed at the sudden disappearance. "Several times a turn, actually."

"Do you recall the names they use?" Lissa asked.

"Not those Kay has given us," Fes said. "It's something like—oh, Serena. Yes. Serena Mallus and Melody Molster."

"Malice and molester? That's appropriate," Lissa muttered. "When are they scheduled to come back—either to Desh's or Dee's?"

"I'll go check," Fes said.

"I'll come with you," Tory stood and stretched.

"I'll come," Lok appeared. "Do you think they'll have noodles?"

* * *

Fes' Journal

"I have to work tonight," I said. "Or I'd cook here for everybody." We stood in the kitchen of my restaurant, studying the comp-vid that held all the reservations. We'd found Song and Serenade easily enough—they had a table for four reserved in two eight-days. Dee's showed a reservation in a moon-turn, so they were alternating between Reah's and my restaurant quite frequently.

"Just think, those bitches have been coming here for years," Lok muttered. "Too bad we didn't know to look for them then."

"At least we know to look for them now," Tory observed. "And we'll be waiting, be assured of that."

"My question is this—who are the other two? The table is for four," I tapped the comp-vid.

"Probably one is Sirenali, and the other some sort of power wielder, to hide them and to shuttle them around," Lok said.

"That makes sense, but we have no idea who or what the power wielder might be," I agreed.

"We'll plan for the worst and hope for better," Tory said.

"Not bad for a trainee," Lok grinned and slapped Tory on the back.

* * *

Reah's Journal

"We have two eight-days," Kevis said, slipping into bed next to me. Farzi and Nenzi's snakes slept peacefully on the other side, oblivious to the parade of people in and out of my bedroom. "Fes says those women have a reservation at Desh's then. Lok, Tory and several others are having a planning session in Lissa's study right now."

"We can't let them be waiting for us, like they were this time," I agreed, settling my head on Kevis' shoulder. "We have to take them by surprise and take them quickly."

"We have two eight-days," Kevis repeated. "We have to plan this carefully. Young lives are in the balance."

"What's for dinner?" I snuggled against Kevis.

"I believe you might get anything you want," he kissed my forehead.

"I want Yaris fish," I sighed and closed my eyes.

* * *

Adam's Journal

"Do we have enough High Demons who know how to wait tables?" Lissa asked. It was a valid question—I'd never seen any of them perform menial labor.

We'd come to the conclusion that a High Demon waiter wouldn't be susceptible to a normal power wielder, such as a wizard or warlock.

"We have sixteen days to teach them," I said.

"But will they learn to serve or will they become belligerent with a grumpy customer?" Lissa asked. "Will we be able to utilize the reptanoids?"

"I can work with them," Kooper offered. "They can serve drinks and pour water, then be there at the proper time if someone needs to be bitten."

"I don't want any regular employees on duty that night," Merrill said. "Reah can cook, and we have enough among us who can assist. Franklin and Shane can come. Bill can cook, Flossie Thompson can cook—there's quite a list, actually."

"I'll be there," Lissa declared.

"Cleo, Kyler and I can help," Kiarra offered. "That ought to be enough."

"Just don't use power—for anything," Lissa said. "We can get caught that way. We've seen that already."

"You don't have to convince me," Kooper rolled his shoulders uncomfortably.

"Vampires can be standing by, in case compulsion is needed," Merrill suggested.

"I think that's a good idea—memories may have to be modified as well," Lissa agreed. "We just have to make it look like we're all supposed to be there. Anything out of the ordinary and we'll spook 'em."

"And possibly bring on another attack," Lok said. "That's the last thing we need or want."

"At least they won't question the quality of the food," I said, rubbing my forehead. We'd had a long day already, and it was approaching the dinner hour.

"Let's finish this discussion over dinner," Lissa said. "I'm starved and I'm getting mindspeech that food is ready."

* * *

"I can't help it if they're not here," Jarnis mumbled as he stared at the empty house. "There's no woman to take, but there's a house to destroy." Holding out a hand, he sent a bolt of energy toward the structure, smiling at the firebomb that erupted as it exploded. Plumes of black smoke reached skyward as he watched.

"I see you enjoy your explosions," a figure robed in dark gray appeared beside him. Jarnis attempted to step away—none except the most powerful might see through his shield.

"What?" Jarnis began, discovering that he couldn't move.

"Oh, I just want your power," the hooded one said. "And your death. In that order."

Jarnis opened his mouth to scream, but found he couldn't. Mindspeech was blocked, too, as his body shrank and his power left him in a rush.

* * *

Le-Ath Veronis—present

Lissa's Journal

"Kiarra," Flavio knelt beside her chair. "I'm afraid I have bad news." We'd gotten to the dessert course while still discussing how to take Song and Serenade. Until Flavio arrived, anyway.

"What is it?" Kiarra placed her napkin over her plate, her fingers trembling slightly. Adam and Merrill were already on alert, ready to react to whatever Flavio had to say.

"Your home in Fresno has been destroyed," Flavio reported. "Pheligar asked Daragar to watch it, but he has no idea what caused the explosion."

"Was anyone inside?" Kiarra gasped.

"No. Don't concern yourself with that—Joey was having dinner with Kyler and me when we got the news. Daragar asked me to convey the message."

"Where is Griffin?" I asked.

"Talking with Amara and Edan," Flavio replied.

"Let's go," Adam rose and tossed his napkin on the table. "We'll look at the damage and see what needs to be done."