“Ganymede.” Edge's reply was a low rumble of warning.
“You guys know each other?” Sparkle actually forgot to check her nails. “And what's this Finis stuff?”
Ganymede's gaze never wavered from Edge. “His real name is Finis, The End. He's the cosmic troublemaker in charge of death.”
Without warning, massive power filled the room, power that shook the walls and pressed everyone back in their seats with the g-forces of a fighter jet taking off. If Ganymede and Edge were having a virtual arm-wrestling match, it was a draw.
The silence was complete.
Then everyone started talking at once.
“I can't believe it.” Sparkle half rose from her seat, putting Ganymede in danger of tumbling to the floor. “Why would the Big Boss send me one of the most powerful troublemakers in existence to mentor? I hate it when people don't tell me things.”
Edge smiled grimly. “Ganymede and I have something in common. We're both powerful enough to worry the Big Boss. He doesn't want any competition for top-dog status. So Ganymede got his wrist slappedâno more messing with the universeâand I'm stuck handing out bags of gumdrops.”
“Oooh, Gabriel.” Fo's purple eyes filled her whole screen. “Maybe he could give us two bodies he doesn't need so we could try to transfer our essences to them.”
“Death?”
Horrible possibilities jockeyed for position in Gerry's thoughts. “So you get to choose who dies? Do you personally bump people off? Fascinating job.” Not. “Oh, and do we call you Finis or Edge?”
“Edge. Finis sounds too . . . final. Edge seems like a kind of guy you could have fun with.” His gaze said she could call him anytime she was ready for fun.
Conall's expression said fun with Edge wasn't an option.
Jealous? A possibility. The thought gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling.
Edge glanced at both of them. “Too bad.” He looked amused. “Anyway, I'm not in charge of all deaths. That belongs to a higher power. I'm a specialist. I bargain for human lives.”
“Huh?” Maybe she didn't want to know this.
“I bargain with people for their lives. Say I see someone whose life intrigues me. I offer them an upgrade in the hereafter. I won't bore you with all the after-death possibilities, but if the person likes what they hear, I take over his or her life and the lucky individual gets to move on. Everyone's happy.”
Gerry wasn't sure she bought all that, but now wasn't the time to ask for details.
Holgarth brought his gavel down so hard the table jumped. “This meeting will not degenerate into mindless babbling. I demand silence.”
And surprisingly, he got it.
He straightened his pointed hat and muttered to himself before speaking. “First, we'll discuss the goddess Morrigan, who even as we speak is creating havoc throughout the castle. She threatened to peck out the eyes of a customer who suggested she was a special effect created through the wonder of technology.” Pain filled his gaze. “The customer demanded his money back.”
“I could eat her.” This helpful offer from Banan, the man someone had pointed out as a wereshark.
“She's too powerful for you, Banan.” Conall sounded positive about that.
“Morrigan will be taken care of.”
Asima spoke for the first time.
“I've sent for Bast.”
This brought another pregnant silence.
“Just what we need, another goddess.”
Conall's soft whisper next to Gerry's ear shivered down her spine.
“If she can distract Morrigan, it'll be worth putting up with her.” Maybe. When she got the chance, Gerry would ask Asima why she felt the need to call in her big gun.
“And when will Bast arrive?” Holgarth was so eager he forgot to be sarcastic.
Asima curled her tail around her elegant body before answering.
“Bast said she would come when she would come. I might add that the goddess is inscrutable.”
Holgarth's mouth turned down in a sour expression. Conall smiled. The wizard was all about schedules. He didn't work in the abstract. What he wanted was the exact hour, minute, and second of Bast's arrival.
Time to steer the discussion in another direction. “What about the attempts on Gerry's life? We're talking about something with lots of power. That French Revolution fantasy was as real as the ones Eric creates. Real and deadly.”
Eric nodded. “I've been vampire as long as you've been immortal. This is either an ancient entity or a being who gets his power from another.” He thought for a minute. “A demon comes to mind. He could get his power from the supreme Big Bad and pass it on.”
“Anyone seen any demons lately?” Sparkle put her finger to her jaw in fake thought. “Wait. I have. The demonic vestal virgins have been playing in the park. Hmm. Now I wonder why they're here?” She cast a sly glance in Edge's direction.
Edge sent Sparkle a silent snarl. “I called them forth. I had a job for them to do.”
“And that would be?”
Conall figured Sparkle already knew, but she wanted to see Edge squirm.
Edge shrugged. “I'll tell all, if you will, too.”
Sparkle chose not to.
“How do you ID a demon? Horns? Red suit with forked tail?” Gerry leaned forward.
“Pale, almost colorless eyes, unless they've possessed a human's body. Red glowing eyes when they're excited.” Brynn smiled at Gerry. “I thought I was a demon of sensual desire for centuries, so I'm the ultimate authority on demons. Did lots of research. Never figured out why I couldn't do the glowing eyes thing.”
“Pale eyes? I think I've met Sparkle's vestal virgins. All blond. All wear white. All think men are useless pieces of . . . Well, useless, anyway.”
“Did they threaten you?” Conall's gaze sharpened.
“No. They just pointed out the advantages of virginity.” She grinned. “I didn't listen too well.” Then she grew serious. “Wait. I met someone else with those same eyes.” Excited, she turned to Conall. “Remember the red-haired guy I told you about? The one on the pirate ship with me? He was the same one who pointed me toward the French Revolution fantasy.”
“I'll find him, and then I'll send him back to hell.” Conall knew it wouldn't be that easy. Demons never were. But the demonic dirtbag wasn't getting another crack at Gerry.
And this had nothing to do with the protection clause in his hated contract with Morrigan. This was all about a need to protect the woman he'd just made love with, and intended to make love with again.
And again, and again, and again?
He wasn't ready to commit to that yet, because with the commitment came an admittance of other things.
“It would be logical to find out a motive before destroying the demon.” Gabriel blinked his huge red eyes. “He might be doing the will of a master.”
“We don't have definite proof that this demon . . .” Holgarth glanced at Gerry. “What's his name?”
“Dell.”
“We don't have proof that Dell is the guilty party or even
is
a demon. He might simply be a human with pale eyes. It would be foolish to jump to conclusions. We could be sued for wrongful death by the demon's estate. The owner of the park frowns on lawsuits of any kind.” There spoke Holgarth the lawyer.
“Whoever that is.” Conall grumbled his annoyance. Holgarth always invoked this mysterious owner to justify whatever blasted decision he wanted everyone to accept.
“Know, wizard, that if anything happens to Gerry because of your fear of a lawsuit, all your spells will not keep me from you.” Whenever he grew angry or upset, Conall reverted to his old speech patterns, the ones he used as a warrior. Nothing would happen to Gerry. He wouldn't allow it.
Beside him, Gerry sighed. “There's only one solution. I have to die.”
All the breath whooshed from him.
“No!”
It was a primal shout of denial.
“Not really die. At least I hope not.” Her gaze softened on him. “Pretend to die. When the killer makes his next attempt, I'll play dead. Once he thinks he's succeeded, maybe he'll reveal the reason why he wanted me out of the way.”
“Excellent idea.” Holgarth.
“Rotten idea.” Conall.
“We'll need a plan with safeguards in place.” Gabriel.
“Can I destroy the demon?” Fo.
“I'll wear my hot demon-hunter outfit.” Sparkle.
“Oh, hell. Will this cut into my TV time? Count me out if I'm in the middle of a bowl of ice cream.” Ganymede.
“Destiny tried to harpoon me today, so I took a chunk out of her boat. She's a babe, but she's got some serious issues with sharks.” Banan.
Everyone stared at him.
“Here's my plan. Anyone can jump in with an idea.” Gerry got down to the business of catching a demon.
An hour later, Gerry's eyes were narrow slits of fury, and Conall figured his face was red with rage. The room had emptied of everyone but them a long time ago.
“You can't go out in the dark by yourself. You'll be easy pickings for the likes of the demon.”
“You're such a primitive, Irish sexist. If I were a male vampire you wouldn't say that. You'd just warn me to be careful. Okay, I'll be careful.”
“Like you were when the guillotine almost separated your head from your body?”
“I didn't suspect Dell then. I'm on to him now.”
Conall used his strongest argument, the one she wouldn't be able to refute. “If this whole thing is about me, then the demon knows about the curse. He'll expect me to be protecting you from another attack. It'll look suspicious if you're out by yourself.”
Gerry thought about that. “Fine, so you can come along.”
He'd be generous in triumph. “That's a wise decision.” “But stay far enough away so he can make some kind of attempt.”
He'd be understanding, kind . . . “What? That's idiocy.”
“I'll take Fo with me. I'll make loud comments to her about hating someone following me around and how smart I was to sneak away from you. Dell might see you trailing me, but he'll figure he can kill me and still escape from you. Fo will make sure I stay alive until you arrive.”
Hardheaded. Conall knew he wouldn't get a better deal by arguing. But he'd decide how far behind he'd stay. Maybe he wouldn't even stay behind. Maybe he'd scout ahead.
“So when are you going for your walk?” Did he sound a little sulky? Warriors didn't sulk, but this woman drove him to act in ways he'd never acted before.
“Now sounds good. In a few hours it'll be dawn.” She headed for the door. “I'll find Fo. Go get your sword. I know you feel naked without it. Meet you outside.”
He fetched his sword and then strode through the great hall and out the door. Would she try to sneak away from him? He hoped not. After a few tense minutes, she joined him.
Fo peered from her purple pouch. “I'll keep Gerry safe. I'll warn her when the demon is near, and I'll turn him into a pile of ash if I have to.” She looked pretty excited about the pile of ash part.
Gerry glanced around before speaking loudly. “Damn. I forgot my key. Would you run back to get it for me, Conall?”
Disgruntled, he stepped back into the castle and made a show of going to the dungeon. When he went outside again, Gerry was disappearing into the darkness. He followed quickly.
He could hear her talking to Fo, but she seemed to be drawing away from him. Blasted woman, she was doing that on purpose. He was fast, but if she used her preternatural speed, he'd have trouble keeping close to her. And in the time it would take him to catch up, disaster might strike.
He knew he should trust her abilities more. He knew she could hold her own with the demon if he played fair. But he wouldn't. The fire and the guillotine proved he was a backdoor killerâsly and stealthy. He wouldn't give her a chance to defeat him in open battle.
And just as Conall broke into a full-out run, he heard the screams. Fo!
A blast of adrenaline sent him pounding down the path, his breaths coming in huge gulps, his rage and fears living things inside him. The bastard wouldn't get his woman. He drew his sword as he ran, swinging it above his head as he shouted a battle cry the world hadn't heard for eight centuries.
He came to a skidding stop in front of the Cock Crows at Dawn, the official brothel of the Wild West attraction. He expected . . . Conall wasn't sure. Fighting, blood, death? All he saw was a small crowd gathered around someone. Without worrying about what anyone would think of his drawn sword, he pushed his way through the people.
Gerry crouched in the center, cradling Fo in her hands.
“Are you and Fo okay? Did the bastard hurt you? Where is he?”
Gerry looked up at him, panic in her gaze. “I didn't see Dell.”
“Then whyâ?”
“Fo's in labor, Conall. The baby's coming, and I don't know what to do.”
Conall gulped. He would've welcomed a dozen demons instead of this. They had to get Fo back to the castle as fast as possible. He glanced around at the crowd. “Fo's the lady's sister. Her mom left a message that Fo's in labor.” He nodded at Gerry. “She's trying to call the hospital, but her cell phone won't work. Can't say I blame her for getting a little upset. I'll loan her my phone, and everything will be fine.” That was about as much damage control as he had time for.
Murmurs of sympathy came from the crowd, and then everyone wandered away.
“Let's get moving.” Conall reached for Fo.
“No, no, no!” Fo had a loud voice for her small form. “I need to give birth right now. If I don't, I'm afraid I'll shut down forever. The stress on my system will be too much. That's what Gabriel said. He knows about these things. Help me.” The last was a pitiful wail.