Authors: L.A. Kelley
“I don’t know what your culture does,” she said. “But I would like to pay my respects.” Her gaze dropped. “I feel responsible. Anthony was after me.”
“Don’t apologize,” Billy said. “Pearce is the only one we hold accountable. The hellhounds would be honored for you to come to the final tribute.” He excused himself to return to the kennel.
Grace led Rosalie away. “Billy will let us know when they’re ready. Meanwhile, we’ll wait in the apartment.”
Rosalie still held a picture of Santa’s workshop in her mind and experienced a burning curiosity about their home. Instead, the Kloss’s large apartment was exquisitely decorated with sleek modern furniture except for one corner left bare. “For Brian and David,” Grace said. “A clear space makes for softer landings.” She insisted Rosalie eat. Before long, they sat at the kitchen table in front of a platter full of bacon and eggs and a full pot of coffee.
Nervous at first to be alone with David’s mother, Rosalie quickly relaxed. Grace had a warm and welcome personality, along with a keen interest in Rosalie’s job at Penrose’s. She asked questions about the store which Rosalie happily answered. She enjoyed talking about Penrose’s. It seemed like forever since she’d walked through the doors and wondered with a wistful pang how Marissa and the other staff managed.
“A good job becomes like a family, doesn’t it?” Grace commented sympathetically. “I worked in several great retail operations up until I married Brian. I always liked retail.”
Rosalie took a sip of coffee. “If you don’t mind me asking, what exactly does the wife of the Santa do?”
Grace laughed, a warm sound. “Not make toys at the North Pole, for damn sure. Integral Business Methods is the umbrella corporation servicing the Integral community. Brian and I were recruited to work as consultants right after grad school. We help Integrals who want to set up businesses. We explain regulatory matters, assist in securing financing, point out training and staffing needs, and so on. I guess you could say we’re the Small Business Development Center for beings who shoot flames from their eyes.”
Rosalie’s mouth popped open. “Who does that?”
“Stephen Lundberg. Although he uses the talent mostly to light candles on birthday cakes. He’s a real trip at parties.”
She sat back, her head in a whirl. “Do you ever get used to this?”
Grace laughed again. “Life sure seemed wacked at first, but eventually weird became normal. Understand, Rosalie, Integrals have special powers, but the same things in life steer us both. Humans and Integrals want meaningful work, good schools for their kids, and safe neighborhoods. The one thing I learned after all these years is we’re not all that different. We struggle with the same problems. Look at Sadhri. Her husband died unexpectedly of a heart attack a year ago at only thirty-five years of age. Even with Integral power at her command, she had to deal with mortality and the same grief in the end.”
“Do all Integrals work for this corporation?”
“IBM and its affiliates used to be the only option, but more Integrals now venture out into the human world seeking increased opportunities and not as much politics. Integral life is full of archaic rules and regulations. Even more would leave, I think if they had a safe way to integrate into society. Nobody wants to take one wrong step and end up as a lab specimen. Brian and I even thought about making the move.”
“Why didn’t you?” Rosalie asked.
“The right opportunity never presented itself. Also, David lived here along with The Book.” Grace’s eyes twinkled. “Though I have a funny feeling my son may find more excuses to spend time in Florida in the future.” Rosalie offered a shy smile. At that moment, the voices of Brian and David came from the living room. Grace put down her coffee. “They’re back.”
Brian sauntered up to the table and kissed Grace on the cheek. David followed carrying The Book. His eyes lit up. “Food.”
His mother scolded him for not greeting Rosalie first. David scooped up a huge plateful of bacon and eggs and plopped himself down. “I’m hungry,” he teased. “Besides, she’ll tell me when I do something wrong. Rosalie’s good at that—she already has everyone buzzed about the way she lit into Dominic.”
Rosalie grimaced. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Brian said. “No one’s angry. If anything, people respect you for standing up to him. Every Baal has an attitude. His uncle, the past Baal, is a class one a-hole. He and my dad used to have some real run-ins. Although, Dominic’s father was actually rational and a good guy.”
“I liked his mother, too,” Grace remarked in an aside to Rosalie. “Jane was human, and didn’t get along with his uncle at all.”
“They were both killed in a car accident {carived when Dominic was a teenager,” Brian continued. “His uncle became the Baal until Dominic came of age and then stepped down because he had to, not because he enjoyed relinquishing power. He makes Dominic look like a loveable pre-school teacher by comparison.”
“What about Anthony?” Grace asked. “Any news?”
Brian shook his head. “No. It’s as if he vanished off the face of the earth. The wardens called back Jason’s team. They saw no point leaving them out in the field any longer.”
“What’s the next step?”
Brian eyed his son proudly. “David suggested monitoring The Book to track down Pearce. The wardens put him in charge.”
David shot Rosalie a sly look. “Dominic was so happy. First he congratulated me and then he kissed me right on the lips and everything.”
“Before or after the screaming fit?”
“Tut, tut, Ms. Thatcher. Ol’ Dom and I are absolutely the best of buddies now. Right, Dad?”
“Sure. The glare he shot you totally overflowed with love.”
Rosalie chimed in. “Speaking of Mr. Sunshine, how will the other wardens punish him?”
“They won’t.”
“What do you mean?” she sputtered in utter disbelief. “He threw you both in prison. He conspired with Anthony—”
“The acts made him naughty, but not very, very naughty. Look.” David opened The Book and called up Dominic Schiller’s page. The words faded from red to pink. Rosalie squinted hard. A tinge of green tinted the edges. “He won’t admit it, of course, but The Book knows. Dominic actually feels bad. He was totally rattled and blood-in-his-eye furious. Face it, Anthony played him like a well-tuned guitar. He must have planned to modify the shield for his own use all along. The Baal will work hard to find a way to cut through his underling’s modifications. Deep down Dominic wants to make amends.”
Rosalie eyed him in disbelief. “He’s now the kinder, gentler demon?”
David snapped The Book shut. “Nope, he’s still a dick, but there exist degrees of naughtiness. At least for the moment he’s attempting to set things right and not actively working against Dad.”
“Okay, fine,” she relented. “I won’t get to see his sorry ass behind bars. What about Anthony? How will you find him? Or did the wardens kiss and made up with him, too?”
“Nope, his ass is definitely toast. He has everyone scared stiff. Think about it—the one person on the face of the earth who acts with free abandon without suffering any consequences. I’ll keep an eye on his page in The Book, but unless the shield fails nothing will be reported on him. Meanwhile, Dominic will work to overcome Pearce’s spell.”
“If The Book can’t tell you where he is—”
“I might be able to figure out a way. I’m toying with a few ideas about scanning for odd patterns or changes in behavior of known associates.”
Rosalie wrinkled her nose. “Sounds complicated.”
“It is. I need to get right on it. The Book contains tons of information to cull through, and,” he added wryly, “I’m the only search engine.”
The phone rang. Billy called to inform them visitation had started. David brought The Book with him. Rosalie raised an eyebrow and he explained. “To know where a loved one stood at the end means much to a family. I want to show them Liang’s page. They will be proud.”
The {jusd ogroup solemnly made their way to the kennel. Rosalie didn’t know what to expect. Kennel made the area sound like all concrete and chain link fences, but David explained the word was just an expression. They arrived at a large common room where dozens of mourners already milled about. She spotted Sadhri and all the wardens including the Baal.
The hellhounds’ quarters reminded Rosalie of military barracks; clean, perhaps a tad Spartan, but not at all uncomfortable. Ancient tapestries representative of different cultures covered the walls. Each one displayed hounds on the hunt. Leather couches and armchairs were pushed off to the side so guests could reach a makeshift altar. A lush crimson velvet cloth embroidered with gold covered a table. In the center sat a funerary jar, the lid in the shape of a dog’s head with mouth open and teeth bared. A flame, lit from within, made the two eyes glow with wild feral light.
“Cremation?” whispered Rosalie.
David nodded. “Always. No Integral wants to end up at a science fair.” He nodded toward a grieving man with his arm around two teenagers. “Liang’s husband and children will take the ashes with them to scatter.”
Billy, Ramesh, and Sonia stood ceremonial guard around their fallen leader accepting the condolences of the visitors. Rosalie couldn’t help notice the plaque hanging directly behind them on the wall.
Fearless hunters
Loyal to the pack
Hellhounds together
Til Hell calls them back
Rosalie paid her respects to Billy and his pack mates and then offered condolences to Liang’s family. David explained Liang’s husband was a fury, so their two daughters were hellhounds, too. The teenagers fought back tears, one last tribute from hellhounds to another. Rosalie swallowed hard several times.
“You’re very brave,” she told them. “Like your mother. She would be proud.” They responded with grateful smiles.
Rosalie stepped away from the crowd and waited for David and his family to join her.
“You’re Rosalie.” A tall man in his early thirties with braided hair walked up to her with his hand out. “I’m Carlos Mendoza. It’s nice to finally meet. David spoke of you.”
“He did?” Rosalie shook his hand, puzzled. “When?”
“In prison.” David strode up with a wary look. “Carlos was our jailor. So…um…we’re cool? No hard feelings?”
“Totally, I’d do the same thing for a girl this cute. Rosalie, you’re way too good-looking for an E.L.F. Ever date a medusa?”
“Not to my knowledge, although I suspected one blind date was really the Prince of Darkness.”
Carlos turned to David with a chuckle. “Seriously, dude, she’s way out of your league. Rosalie, if you ever get tired of him give me a call. I’ll turn him to stone and we’ll go for lattes.” With a teasing glance at David, Rosalie promised.
David turned serious. “I hope the escape didn’t get you in too much trouble.”
The medusa shrugged. “The usual demotion, dock in pay, and restriction to the building. The job stunk, anyway. Guard work sucks, but other employment is scarce for a medusa.”
“I’m sorry, man. I had to escape.”
Carlos held up his hand. “Don’t apologize, you did the right thing. At least you two had the guts to take action.”
As David and Carlos chatted, Rosalie noted curious eyes {curpe.”
An awkward feeling suddenly overcame her. What was she doing here?
David’s parents were ready to leave, so they all headed back to the apartment. Grace asked Rosalie to spend the night, but she politely declined. As nice as Brian and Grace were, their apartment wasn’t her place. She needed to get home, call Marissa, and, lord, she really needed a shower. “You’ve all been great, but I have to return to Florida.”
David’s face fell. “So soon?” Brian and Grace let out vigorous protests.
Rosalie cut them off firmly. Returning The Book was one thing, sponging off David’s parents was another. “I can’t stay. Now that Stephanie’s out of the picture, I hope to get my old job back.”
“In that case,” Brian said. “I’ll arrange for the jet to take you home.” He eyed his son severely. “No arguments. Florida is too far for you to dash-away with another person without at least one more day of rest. But,” his face softened, “a quick trip to the airport should be no problem.”
Grace stood up and gave Rosalie a hug. “I won’t say goodbye because I know we’ll see you soon. You’re always welcome here.”
“I had plans to show you around the city,” David said. “I didn’t expect the wardens to put me to work right away.”
Rosalie flushed. “That’s okay. You know where I’ll be.”
His face brightened. “I have to secure The Book before we go. Would you like to come with me? A trip to the repository is the least I can do.”
Rosalie nodded enthusiastically. He grabbed her hand. An instant later they stood outside a large metal door even bigger than the one in the wardens’ conference room.
The dozen guards stationed out front were new additions since the wardens discovered Anthony had snuck inside. One gestured for David to pass. He eyed Rosalie close enough for her to squirm, but made no move.
Rosalie glanced around at row upon row of burnished metal vaults. “No guards inside?”
“Nope. For privacy’s sake nobody is allowed to see inside a vault without a personal invitation from the family. No high tech security systems, either. Just good old-fashioned big honking doors with combination locks. They’re ages old, cast when our ancestors constructed the first repository over a millennium ago. The vaults relocated here when the building opened. Integrals are more afraid of each other than safecrackers. No Integral was supposed to ever be able to use any power inside this room.”
He stopped before a door inlayed with a giant gold S. Rosalie looked politely away as David spun the combination lock. As the last tumbler fell in place, she heard a loud
click
and the vault door swung open. A light turned on as they stepped inside.
Rosalie’s mouth dropped open. “Damn,” was all she managed.
Treasures filled the vault from floor to ceiling. Bags full of gold coins and precious stones competed for space on shelves crammed with fine china, antique linens and silverware. Ancient chests were piled high and shoved against each wall. Rosalie picked up a solid gold cup and waved it in his face. “You, sir, are loaded.”