Authors: Parker Blue
Micah squirmed. But before he could come up with another excuse, Princess said, BECAUSE THEY WERE STOLEN THE NIGHT OF THE PARTY. NOW GO AWAY. YOU ARE ANNOYING ME.
Everyone bent down to stare at the spaniel under the table. “That was supposed to be a secret,” Shade said gently.
Princess huffed and tossed her head. WHO CARES ABOUT YOUR SILLY SECRETS? Her nose in the air, she pushed past the table legs and trotted off into the other room.
Hasn't your girlfriend learned the meaning of discretion? I asked Fang silently.
He somehow managed to look embarrassed. NOT REALLY. SHE'S A CUTIE, BUT NOT EXACTLY THE BRIGHTEST POOCH IN THE PACK. AND SHE HASN'T INTERACTED THAT MUCH WITH HUMANS, EITHER.
Plus she was a tad self-centered, but I decided not to mention that part.
Questions erupted around the table, and Micah held his hands up, looking annoyed. “All right, yes, they were stolen, but we're trying to find the thief. I wanted to keep it quiet until we found the books. Can I count on all of you to keep this to yourselves until we find him or her?"
Most everyone around the table nodded, but Andrew still looked ready to blow. “It was probably one of those bloodsuckers. They were there that night."
"We are questioning everyone who was there,” Micah assured him. “But we were trying to do it discreetly."
Andrew's eyes narrowed. “Is that why you wanted to find me? You think I stole the books? I can't believe this.” And before anyone could stop him, he threw his chair back and stormed out the door.
WELL, SO MUCH FOR GETTING HIM TO APOLOGIZE TO THE VAMPS, Fang said.
Not that I'd held out much hope for that, anyway.
Everyone else looked accusingly at Micah.
"He doesn't suspect any of his people,” I assured them. “But I read the minds of the vamps who were there and cleared all of them, so I insisted we cover all the bases by checking all of you, too.” Let them blame me instead of their leader.
"Well, I didn't do it,” Mood said.
Micah smiled at her. “We know. We've cleared everyone here. But we haven't talked to the rest of the people at the party yet."
"I can't believe it was one of us,” Mood said. “We have so much to gain by letting you maintain control of the books. Maybe it was someone else, someone who wasn't at the party but snuck into the office and took them."
"But how would they know I had them and was planning on bringing them that night?” I asked. “I didn't tell anyone except Micah and Fang."
They all looked at Fang.
He snorted. YEAH, RIGHT. WHAT WOULD I DO WITH BOOKS I CAN'T EVEN READ? BESIDES, ONE OTHER PERSON KNEW—TESSA. SHE HID THE BOOKS, REMEMBER?
They all thought for a moment. “Tessa?” one of the guys said. “No way."
"Why would she?” Micah asked. “She knew she'd have access to them from me."
Yeah, I couldn't see Tessa as any kind of thief. “No one else knew they were there."
Mood thought for a moment. “Maybe the books put off some kind of magick signature or something, that someone could follow."
I shook my head. “One that only activated when I brought them to the club? Doesn't make sense."
Mood shrugged. “Just trying to figure out how they could have gone missing. They didn't steal themselves. Or, at least, I assume they didn't."
Hey, with magick, who knew? “I'm betting on a person taking them,” I said with a smile.
"But why would someone steal them?” Mood asked. “And why are you keeping it a secret?"
Micah sighed. “Because we suspect something the thief read in the book may be responsible for the vampires going mad and killing people."
Josh looked confused. “Vampires need a reason to kill people?"
"These ones do,” I insisted. “The New Blood Movement is trying too hard to convince humans they're harmless. They wouldn't deliberately kill anyone unless they were driven insane."
"What about the other vamps?” Shade asked. “They'd have reason—they hate the Movement. And none of the independent ones have been affected."
Micah nodded slowly. “A good point. But again, how would they know the books were there?"
Josh shrugged. “Cell phone. One of the other vamps called them and told them after the announcement."
"That's possible,” I conceded. “Anyone at the party could have called someone else . . . vampire, demon, or human."
Crap. That also widened my pool of suspects exponentially. Well, if I was going to spend all my time tracking down the thief, maybe some of them could help with the rest of it. “Okay, let's assume a bad vamp somehow found out about the books and took them.” Especially since I could tell they really liked that idea. “I'll check that out, but we have another problem. The Movement blames us for their people going bonkers."
Micah held up his hands to halt the protests and counter-accusations. “We really need to keep on their good side."
"Why?” Josh demanded as Mood shook her head.
"Because we want to convince them not to come out and reveal themselves to the world. We can't do that if we're enemies. Besides, we're not responsible and I, for one, don't want to take the rap for it."
THEY'RE BUYING IT, Fang said with a grin.
Because it was true. I opened my mouth to explain about the blood, but Fang pushed against my leg. LET SHADE DO IT. I glanced questioningly down at the hellhound and he gave a doggie shrug. IT'LL SOUND BETTER COMING FROM HIM. THEY ALREADY ACCEPT HIM AS A PART OF THE GROUP. YOU'RE STILL . . . ON PROBATION.
Okay, that was fair.
"If we help them find the cause of the madness, they'll owe us,” Shade said. He went on to explain that we assumed it was the blood they drank that caused the problem.
Theories flew about the room, but basically it came down to the same two potential causes we came up with—silver or holy water.
"Val is going to get some of the blood to test,” Micah explained. “Then we'll see if we can find out who's causing this."
"But you're gonna still check out the vamps who aren't in the Movement, right?” Mood asked me. “They have to be guilty."
"Sure, I'll check them out,” I said, “but I hope you're wrong."
"Why?"
"Because if the bad vamps have the books and they list the weaknesses of the demons as well, we could be in deep doo-doo."
I took a long nap that afternoon, knowing I was probably going to be busy all night. It was kind of nice to wake up in my newly decorated bedroom with Fang snuggled up next to me. Here, I could pretend for awhile that nothing was wrong and all was right with the world.
I scratched his ears. “Hey, you stayed with me,” I said softly. “Princess losing her charms?"
He snuggled closer. NAW. BUT SOMETIMES SHE'S A BIT TOO HIGH MAINTENANCE. BESIDES, YOU NEED ME TONIGHT AND I NEEDED A LITTLE SHUT-EYE, TOO.
Good. The best way to learn where the bad vamps were hanging out was to attend the SCU briefing, and I didn't want to do it alone. I opened my bedroom door to let Fang out to use the doggie door and came face to face with Shade.
All he said was, “Hi,” but to me, it sounded like a whole lot more. Like, I'm soooo glad to see you. Like, you are the hottest thing on two legs. Like, let's get naked together.
I gulped, and was really glad I couldn't see his expression right now. It would probably make me feel more self-conscious and dorky than I already did. As it was, I felt my face turn hot and Lola stirred, wanting to reach out and take some of that yummy goodness.
I pulled her back with an effort. “Hi,” I responded, feeling oh-so cool and sophisticated. Not.
He reached out to take my hand but I pretended not to see it as I took a step back and closed the door partway. “I need to get ready for work."
"Oh. Sorry. I thought you might need to, uh, take the edge off first."
Cuddle up to Shade's hot bod, lie there with his arms around me, let our wanting and need flow back and forth between us? Sounded like heaven, but sheesh, I hadn't even brushed my teeth yet. And for some reason, the thought of using him again made me a little uneasy. “No, I'm good."
He nodded and left as Fang came trotting back in through the door. I closed it and the terrier jumped up on the bed. WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?
"Nothing. Shade just wanted to . . . you know."
SO WHY DIDN'T YOU ‘YOU KNOW'? ‘YOU KNOW’ CAN BE GOOD FOR YOU.
I shrugged, not really wanting to discuss it with anyone of the male persuasion. But, knowing Fang would bug me until I relented, I said, “Because . . . he wants it too much."
WELL, HE IS A GUY.
"Yeah, but . . . is it me he wants, or Lola?” There, I'd said it, exposed my insecurities to ridicule.
AH, THE AGE-OLD QUESTION, Fang said, amusement in his voice. DOES HE WANT YOU FOR YOU, OR FOR YOUR BODY?
"Well, yeah."
DOES IT MATTER? Fang asked. YOU LIKE IT, HE LIKES IT. SO WHY NOT DO IT? HUMANS HAVE TO COMPLICATE EVERYTHING.
I glanced down at the terrier. “Because it is more complicated for humans, Fang.” It wasn't just about whether I wanted to feel all hot and sexy with him again, because I did, but was Lola something he could become addicted to? How did I even feel about Shade? Was I ready to lose my virginity with him? ‘Cause that was sure the way it was heading. If Lola made me want every guy who came along, how could I trust any of my feelings? And until I figured it out, I didn't want to commit myself to anything. Not even asking him to Thanksgiving dinner.
Not wanting to prolong this conversation either, I said, “I'm going to shower."
COWARD, Fang called after me.
"Whatever."
I got ready for work—jeans, long-sleeved T-shirt with a vest over it to hide the stakes in my back waistband—and headed out on the Valkyrie in the cool night air. Fang rode behind me in his goggles. We got to the station a little early and I didn't feel like facing the other scuzzies right away, so I took the time to call Alejandro.
After Luis made me wait for awhile, Alejandro came on the line. “Yes, Ms. Shapiro, how may I help you?"
No sense in beating around the bush. “The demons feel bad about what's happening with your people. They know you suspect them, so to prove they're innocent, they'd like to help."
"Help how?"
"By trying to find out what's causing your guys to go wacko. Unless you know already?"
"We haven't yet found the cause, no.” He paused for a moment. “Help would not come amiss. What do you have in mind?"
"Well, since we all figure it's in the blood they drank at the blood bank, we wondered if we could get a sample of it. Maybe we can help you test it, find out what's causing it."
"We are doing that ourselves."
"So? It couldn't hurt to have two sets of eyes looking at it. Maybe we'd think of something you wouldn't."
Alejandro sighed. “Very well. We don't know which batches are contaminated and which are free of poison, but I shall send someone to drop off a representative sample. Where shall I send it?"
I thought for a moment. “Send it to Micah at Club Purgatory. He'll know what to do."
"I shall. The sooner we learn how the blood was poisoned, the better off we'll all be."
"You got that right."
He hung up and I breathed a heavy sigh. Time to face the scuzzies. “Ready for this?"
Fang had managed to get his goggles off by himself and bristled with action. “YEAH. ANYONE WHO WANTS TO MESS WITH YOU WILL HAVE TO COME THROUGH ME FIRST.
I laughed. “I can always count on you.” We were a few minutes late, so I was able to slip in the back with only a few wary glances. Lt. Ramirez was leading the session and he nodded at me but didn't greet me by name, thank goodness. I took notes on the latest vampiric activity then darted out as soon as it was over so I wouldn't have to face any of them. Yes, I know. I'm a coward, I told Fang.
NAW. I CALL IT SMART.
For that, I picked Fang up and kissed him on his cute fuzzy nose.
HEY, WATCH IT, he protested. SOMEONE COULD SEE. But since he licked my nose as he said it, I didn't take him too seriously. I set him back down and we headed back to the Valkyrie.
My phone beeped—a text message from Micah. There's a problem at the club. Can you come right away?
Crap. What now? On my way, I texted back. Fang and I jumped on the bike, not even stopping to put on his goggles.
ANY IDEA WHAT'S UP? Fang asked as I took off.
"No. But it can't be good."
It seemed to take forever to get there, though it couldn't have been more than fifteen or twenty minutes. Everything out front at Club Purgatory seemed normal so I decided to go in the back through the loading dock. Ludwig was standing guard outside, his arms folded. “Micah called me,” I said, before he could ask.
He nodded and opened the door. Just inside where all the deliveries were made, Micah and Kyle were holding a low, tense conversation. “What's going on?” I asked.
Micah turned to me, looking worried. “Shawndra was attacked and dumped off here on the loading dock."
"Oh, crap. Is she okay?"
"She'll be fine,” Kyle assured me, though Micah looked totally pissed.
"Do you think this has something to do with the encyclopedia?” I asked.
Micah scowled. “I'm sure of it. They left a page of it in her pocket, with a message for you."
"Huh?"
Micah showed it to me. Scrawled in blood-red letters across the page was a warning: Slayer, back off. Or else.
I grabbed the encyclopedia page from Micah and scanned the text behind the handwriting. “This talks about an eco-demon. You think that means something?"
"Oh, I'm sure of it,” Micah bit out. “Shawndra is an eco-demon."
"Plants and stuff? What's demonic about that?"
Fang butted in. SHE CAN EITHER MAKE PLANTS GROW . . . OR WITHER AND DIE.
Oh. “So how was she injured? Did this tell how?"
"Yes. The page tells us if it can injure plants, it can injure Shawndra. The creep dumped something toxic on her—probably weed killer—and dumped her off here, where she went into convulsions."
"Where is she now?"
"In the shower in my office,” Micah said. “Tessa is helping her. She seemed to get better as soon as we got the worst of the chemicals off her. Thankfully, he only got her arm. Tessa thinks she'll be all right."