Titles by Faith Hunter
The Soulwood Novels
BLOODOFTHEEARTH
CURSEONTHELAND FLAMEINTHEDARK
CIRCLEOFTHEMOON
SPELLSFORTHEDEAD RIFTINTHESOUL
The Jane Yellowrock Novels SKINWALKER BLOODCROSS MERCYBLADE RAVENCURSED DEATH’SRIVAL
THEJANEYELLOWROCKWORLDCOMPANION
BLOODTRADE
BLACKARTS
BROKENSOUL
DARKHEIR
SHADOWRITES COLDREIGN
DARKQUEEN
SHATTEREDBONDS
TRUEDEAD FINALHEIR
The Rogue Mage Novels BLOODRING SERAPHS HOST
Anthologies CATTALES
HAVESTAKESWILLTRAVEL BLACKWATER
BLOODINHERVEINS
OFCLAWSANDFANGS
TRIALS
TRIBULATIONS
TRIUMPHANT
ACE
PublishedbyBerkley
AnimprintofPenguinRandomHouseLLC penguinrandomhousecom
Copyright©2024byFaithHunter
ExcerptfromSkinwalker copyright©2009byFaithHunter PenguinRandomHousesupportscopyright Copyrightfuelscreativity,encouragesdiversevoices,promotesfreespeech,andcreatesavibrantculture Thankyoufor buyinganauthorizededitionofthisbookandforcomplyingwithcopyrightlawsbynotreproducing,scanning,ordistributinganypartofitinanyformwithoutpermission
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EbookISBN:9780593335802
FirstEdition:March2024
CoverartbyCliffNielsen InteriordesignadaptedforebookbyKellyBrennan
Thisisaworkoffiction Names,characters,places,andincidentseitheraretheproductoftheauthor’simaginationorareusedfictitiously,andanyresemblancetoactual persons,livingordead,businessestablishments,events,orlocalesisentirelycoincidental.
Cover
Praise for Faith Hunter
Titles by Faith Hunter
Title Page
Copyright Dedication
ChapterOne
ChapterTwo
ChapterThree
ChapterFour
ChapterFive
ChapterSix
ChapterSeven
ChapterEight
ChapterNine
ChapterTen
ChapterEleven
ChapterTwelve
ChapterThirteen
ChapterFourteen
ChapterFifteen
ChapterSixteen
ChapterSeventeen
ChapterEighteen
ChapterNineteen
ChapterTwenty
ChapterTwenty-One
ChapterTwenty-Two
ChapterTwenty-Three
Acknowledgments
Excerpt fromSkinwalker
About the Author
As always, this book is dedicated to my Renaissance man You mean the world and the sun and the stars and the moon to me. The joy of being with you on this life journey cannot be calculated.
ONE
Istepped onthe dirtbythe drivewayand sniffed the winter air. Acold snap had come throughatdusk, and the scentofthe Tennessee River only yards away rode high and warm on the night, rising in a swirling mist that obscured much of the landscape. There wasn’t time for a deep read of the land, but I needed a feel for it, so I bent and touched the soil witha fingertip,sendingmythoughtsthroughtheupperlayersofdirtandlawn,skimmingthesurface.
The eartharound me was unsettled, as propertywalked bythe undead usuallywas, butthere was no sense ofdanger. Nothinghurtledthroughtheearthandgrabbedme,nowildenergies,nofear,novinesorroots,sothatwasgood,butthesoil feltdifferentfromthelasttimeIhadreadit.Thesenseofdeathwasstrongerandtherewasamixtureofsomethingdisturbed, disquietedhere,soIpushedalittledeeper.Icaughtahintoffireandexcitement,ofanunresolvedexhilaration,asiftheearth rodethebrinkofsomethingwild Itfeltthewayitmustfeeltobeatthetopofarollercoaster,readytoplungedown ThoughI hadneverbeenonarollercoasterandcouldn’timaginewhyIeverwouldwantto.
Theimportantthingwasthatnothingdangerousleapedatme.Thatwasagoodstart.
IopenedmyeyesandstudiedthepropertyownedbyMingZhaneofGlass,theMaster oftheCityofKnoxville There wereseveral darkcirclesneartherearoftheotherwisepristinelawn,likeburnedspots,placesthatmightcorrelatewiththe sensationoffire.Therewereburnwarningsallovertheeasternhalfofthestate,butIcouldenvisionMingdemandingautumn’s fallenleavesbeburned Herblood-servantswouldhavecomplied
WhileIwasdownlowandoutofsightofthehouse,Ipulledthemini-psy-meterfromapocket Itwasaboutthesizeofa cigarette case,andwhile notas sensitive as the larger model,itwoulddoina pinch.Before leavingHQ,Ihadcheckedthe deviceagainsttheambientmagicsofthewitchandthewere-creaturesofUnitEighteen,andsoaquickreadingwaspossible.
Ofthefourpsysitopes,thedevicesettledfirmlyinthereadingforvampires,sowhateverthisvisitwasfor,itwaslikely notasituationwithmixedparanormal-creaturepolitics.
Istood, stepped backonto the drive,and glancedatthe other cars. Their lights were off, drivers barelyvisible inthe thickeningmist WhenIgaveathumbs-up,theyclimbedoutoftheirvehicles,closedtheirdoors,andwalkedtomeacrossthe concrete.
RegionalDirectorAyatasFireWind,themanIhadtakentocallingmyboss-boss,gavemeasmallnod,tellingmetogo ahead Theyhadmyback RickLaFleur,SpecialAgentinChargeofPsyLEDUnitEighteen,glancedatthehouseandbackto me,hisblackeyestellingmetobecareful Evenhadtherebeennomentionofabody,thetwobosseswouldhavecomeasmy backupbecause,asRicksaidwhenthecallcamein,“Weirdshitishappeninginthevampworld.”
Ilooked backatthe potted tree strapped into the passenger seatofmynewishcar and contemplated bringingthe tree withme InsteadIclosedthecardoorIhadleftopen,shuttingofftheinteriorlights Fulldarkfellonus Ming’speoplehadn’t turned onthe securityand landscape lights, whichwas a little odd. The mistfromthe river swirled higher and closer, more dense.Ilockedthecarwiththesmallfob.
IreseatedmyGlock20,notthatIexpectedtoneedithere Minghadrequestedmypresence,personally,toreportadead body,andwhenthenewMasteroftheCityofKnoxvillewantedtoreportacrime,UnitEighteenlistened.Thankstoher,Iwas leadonthisinterview,andshouldMingbebringingacasetotheunit,andnotvampirepolitics,itwaspossiblethatIwouldbe leadonmyveryfirstcase Rickwasbettingitwasvampirepolitics,buteitherway,anytimetherewerevampires,therewas danger.
ThetwobosseshadattendedthecoronationoftheEmperorofEuropeonlyaweekpast,andtheyhadbroughtbacktales ofweirdvampireactionsandunusualpersonnelchanges.Theyhadevenseenavamplaughingwithherfangsout,whichthey couldn’texplain Vampires couldnotlaugh laughter was ahumanemotion whileinpredator state Itwasn’tpossible Yet theyhadbothseenherlaughing.
Since LaFleur and FireWind had returned fromNew Orleans, vamp rumors of the wild and crazykind had begunto circulateinKnoxvilletoo Noneofthereportswerebelievable,andnonehadinvolvedvideoevidence,buteveryonewanteda look-seeatthelocals.
T.Laine,UnitEighteen’sresidentwitch,hadcalledit“wackadoodlestuff.”
“Commscheck,”FireWindsaid “Ingramhere.”
“LaFleurhere.”
“Copy,FireWind,Ingram,LaFleur,”Jonessaid,backatHQ
RickandAyapositionedthemselvesinfrontofandbehindme,andtogether wecrossedtheconcretedrivetothefront entrance. Ming didn’t live in a castle like Dracula, but she owned a megamansion and several acres on the edge of the TennesseeRiver Primerealestate Anattachedsix-cargarage,greenhouse,bigbarn,andoutbuildings Ismelledmanureand hayandthatfamiliarscentofhorseIrememberedfrommyupbringingattheGod’sCloudofGloryChurch.Itbroughtasenseof peacethattriedtoreplacethenaturaluneasinessofalawenforcementofficervisitingavampirelairafterdark.
Themenseparated,leavingmeinfront Mybossesstandingbehindme,Iknockedonthefrontdoorandrangthebell Nothinghappened.Minuteswentby.
Iknockedagain.Ayacheckedhiswatch.Hestillworeawatch,andnotjustoneofthosewristcomputers/cellphones. Checkingitwas ingrained. Rickstared atthe securitycamera, his longwhite hair catchinginthe mistybreeze. He tilted his headandsaid,“Someone’scoming”
RickLaFleurwasablackwereleopard.Therewereindicationshehadsharpersenseseveninhumanformandtheygot sharperclosertothefullmoon.Were-creaturesalsogotskittishatthattimeofthemonthand,whilewewaited,Icountedahead tothethreedayswhenthewere-membersofPsyLEDEighteenwouldgofurry I’drathernothavetodealwithRick’sbig-cat onMing’sproperty,andIwassafeonthatpoint.
Thedooropened.Standinginsideshouldhavebeenthebutler.InsteaditwasCai,Ming’shumanprimo,hernumberone blood-servant,butavastlydifferentCaifromthelasttimeIsawhim Caiwasslim,wiry,Asian,andskilledinseveralmartial arts forms. He moved with that liquid grace of the well-trained fighter, and had all the charm of a steel blade. He did everythingforMing,fromkeepingherscheduletosupposedlykillingvampireswhogotoutofline.Thatwashearsay,buthad seemedlikely Untiltonight
Tonighthewasgrinning Ahappyhumangrin,likeamaybe-a-little-drunkkindofgrin Andtherewasbloodonhischeek andthenecklineofhiswhiteT-shirt.“Ming’sguests.”Hethrewhisarmstothesidesinwelcome.“Comeincomeincomein,” he said, runningthe words together. “Mingis…” He gestured off into the darkness of the house, turned, and walked away, leavingthedooropenandthreelawenforcementagentsstandingthere
“Isthataninvitation?”Iasked.
“Weassumeso,”Ayasaid,steppingpastme,movingright,hisweaponsuddenlyinhishand.
“Thoughwedon’tknow whattheinvitationis for,”Rickfinishedfor him,steppinginside,totheleft,his weaponalso drawn.
Right. It might be an invitation for me to be supper to the vampires.
“ThisisthesamekindofbehaviorwesawinNewOrleansamongmanyoftheblood-servants,andMing’speoplehave noreasontostillbecelebratingsolongafterthecoronationoftheemperor,”Ayasaidsoftly
Idrew myweaponbutdidn’tchamber a round. Ishould have. ButIdidn’t. Somehow this didn’tfeel like anambush. Which,ofcourse,wouldmakeitareallygoodambush.Ipressedalightswitchonthewallandthefoyerbrightened.
“Idon’tseeaDB,”Isaid,lookingaround “Nobloodspatteronwallsorfloor Nostinkofdecayontheair ButCaidid havebloodonhisshirt.”
Patternsatmyfeetdrewmyeye.Thefoyerhadbeenreflooredinwhitemarble.Inthecenter,tinypiecesofgraymarble, brass,andglisteningsteelhadbeeninlaidandformedapairofblades,thesharpsteelbladescrossed Thesingle-edgedblades themselveshadbeenembeddedinthefloor;theyappearedreal butwerestrangelyshaped.Onebladelookedasifanaxhad beencrossed witha machete and thena dragonhad takena bite out of the sharp edge. I knew nothingabout fightingwith blades,butevenIcouldtellthedragon-bittensectionwasforsnagginganopponent’sbladeoutoftheirhand Theotherblade wassimilarbutwithoutthesnagging-dragon-bite,andalongercuttingedge.Theyweredifferentbuttheywerealsoclearlya pairofbladesintendedtobeusedtogether.Theendsoftheblades,wheretheyshouldhaveattachedtorealhandles hilts? were made ofbrass or gold and were shaped like dragonsnouts, as ifthe steel was eruptingfromtheir mouths. Above and betweenthecrossedbladeswasagreen,facetedsquare
“Ingram,”FireWindsnapped.Therewasanedgeof“payattention”inthetone.
“What’sthat?”Ipointedatthefloor.
“Ming’snewcrest,”FireWindsaid,histonestillsharp “SinceshebecameMOC”
Asifmyup-linebosshadn’tjustsnappedatme,Iholsteredmyweaponandstartedtakingpictures,sendingthembackto HQ.Ayagruntedinapproval.Iwaslearninghowtoreadhim.Iflippedonmorelightsandtookshotsoftheparlortotheleft andthe hallways leadingoffintodarkness.Accordingtocountyrecords,the clanhome ofthe Master ofthe Citywas nearly twelvethousandsquarefeet,soIwasn’tgettingmuchofthehouse,butitwasthefirsttimeI’dbeeninapositiontofilmit
AsIworked,Rickexplainedtome,stillanewbie,“It’scustomaryfortheMasteroftheCity,themostpowerfulMithran intheterritory,tohavetheircrestinlaidintheentryfloorofthecity’sCouncilChambersheadquarters,toremindfriendsand visitingenemiesalikewhotheywouldhavetofightandconquer MingisboththeMOCandheadoftheonlyvampireclanin Knoxville,soherhomedoesdoubleduty.”
MinghadbeengivenMOCstatusbyJaneYellowrock.Irememberedthat.WhenIhadtakenphotosofeverythingIcould withoutwanderingaround, Ipulled the psy-meter frommypocketand quicklytooka readingofMing’s foyer The readings wereallovertheplace.
AtawarningsignalfromRick,Islidthedeviceaway.
Caiwanderedtowardusfromthemainsittingroom.“You’restillhere?”
“Mingdemandedtoseeme,”Isaid “Shesaidshehadabodyforme Gether Please” “Oh.Sure.Sitsitsitsit.” He wavedtothe sittingroom.Thenhe said,“No.Wait.Tea.Ishouldmake tea.Come come comecome.Thisway.”
IlookedatFireWind,whohadafaintsmileonhisfaceandgesturedIshouldtakepoint Cailedthewaytothekitchen, whichwasdecoratedinblackandwhitewithemeraldtoucheshereandthere.Twosix-burnerstoves,eachwiththreeovens, and the commercial refrigerator and commercial freezer made myheart thump hard withenvy. This was a bakers-cannerschefs’paradise ItwouldmaketheNicholsonmamasatGod’sCloudofGloryChurchturngreen
Caiputonakettleandgotoutafancyteatinandsixcupswithsaucers.Hestartedhumming,somethingthatsoundedlike adirge,thensuddenlyhewaswhistlingwhatsoundedlikethemusicfortheold Gilligan’s Island TVseries.
Ilookedatthebosses Bothweretryingnottoappearamusedbutnotdoingagoodjobofit Iwasn’tamused Thingsfelt wronghere Asthewaterheated,Caiwanderedalongthecounterandoutthedooratthefarend
“WhatinGod’sgoodheavenishappening?”Iasked,myvoicesoft.
Noonereplied,butRickandAyabegantoopencabinetdoorsanddrawersandIrealizedtheywereconductingasearch. Forwhichwedidn’thaveasubpoena Ayapulledabottlefromasmallrefrigeratorandspunitslowly “Nineteenforty-seven ChevalBlanc.Abottlesoldatauctionforoverthreehundredthousanddollarsrecently.”
Abottle of wine? ThatbottlewasworthmorethanIownedaltogetherinthewholeworld.
Rick opened the commercial refrigerator and said, “The blood-servants are eating well Whole suckling pig, baby potatoes,andasparagus.”Heshutthedoor.
Feelingemboldened,Icheckedoutthestovesandtheovens.Theywerenotjustfunctional,theywereworksofart,andI ranmyhandsacrossthedecorativesteelcorners Thestoveshadtocostafortune,butvampireswereoftenquiterich Iturned offthe kettle, whichwas steaming, but Ididn’t make tea Iwanted to read this place, whichmeant Ineeded something made of wood that had been here a long time. The floors were marble tile; the cabinets looked new and were paintedblackinsideandout.
Ayaclosedasecondwinefridgeandopenedahugepantry NowIhadpantryenvy Andithadwoodfloors
IheldupahandtolethimknowIwasabouttogotowork.Walkingpasthim,Islippedoffoneshoeandplacedmybare footonthewoodfloor.
Cold and ice met myquestingenergies Ipushed through, to the underside ofthe wood planks, and thento the wood supportsbeneath.Wood,unlesspetrified,alwayshadaformofpowerthatIcouldread.Heretherewasnothing.Thewoodthat constructedthis house was trulydead. Itno longer had energy, nolonger had a…a soul,for lackofa better word.Islid my shoe on, stepped back into the main kitchen, and made hard eye contact with each man, trying to communicate, Problem Magical problem.
Itwasn’tlike we hadESPor anything,buttheyhadhuntedonmyland.There was a bondbetweenus.Rick,whohad holsteredhisweapon,redrewit.
MingofGlassentered Itookastepback.
Ming’shairwasdown,alongstraightsheenofhair,blackerthannight,fallingtomidthigh.Shewasdressedinapurple fuzzyrobe tiedatthe waist She was barefoot,wore nomakeup,her eyes closed Her fingernails andtoenails were painted,
eacha differentcolor, withflower appliqués like a hippie or a townie teenager She carried no weapons, notthatvampires neededto.Theywere weapons.
AndtheMasteroftheCitywasdancing,movingtomusiconlyshecouldhear.
TheMingofGlassIknewwouldneverhaveappearedlookinglikethis Ihadafeelingshesleptperfectlycoiffed,witha dozenbladesonthebedbesideher.Shewasdangerousanddignifiedandscary.Notfuzzyrobed.Notbarefooted.Never.As shespuninaslowcircle,Ispottedearbuds.
She whirled again, her robe flapping open to reveal naked legs, which shocked me Thanks to my upbringing, even partialnuditysometimesmademeuncomfortable.
Ming started singing, something that sounded as if it came from Bollywood, the notes not Western and the rhythm differentfromthejazzyandbluesystuffRickLaFleurlistenedtoanddifferentalsofromthemusicFireWindliked Sheopenedhereyes.Andsawme.
“MaggotyGirl!Youcame!”
MingofGlasspoppedacrossthecounterfasterthanIcouldseeandthrewherarmsaroundme,huggingme.Iwentstiff andstillandforgottobreatheuntilsheunwrappedfrommeandopenedthewinefridge
“Yourequestedmypresence,”Isaid,myvoicebreathy,notthefirmtoneIwanted.“Aboutadeadbody.”
She flapped her hand atme, pulled outa differentbottle fromthe one Aya had touched, and opened itwithvampiric speedusingasteel corkscrew Ihadn’tseenherpickup Shetiltedupthebottleanddrank Whensheloweredthebottle,she focusedonthetwomen.“Putthemaway.”Shepointedthebottleattheirweapons.“Youtwo.Gotothefrontroom.Maggoty Girl.Youwillcomewithme.”Mingtotteredawayandpushedthroughtwodoorsthatswungclosedbehindher,likedoorsin anold-fashionedwestern
“Ingram,”FireWindsaidsoftly.“Video.Now.”
“Oh.Right.”Mingwasactingstrange.Everyonewouldwanttoseeandhear.Iturnedmycell torecordandtuckedthe cell into my upper jacket pocket, giving the camera a good view We had already checked comms, so we had an audio recordingandnowvideobackup
Afteralastglanceatthebosses,Ipushedopenthedoors,followingourhostess,revealingadifferentsmallparlorfrom theoneIhadseenbefore.Mingwas sittinginapuffychair infrontofagas fire,theflames turneddownlow butputtingoff heat Shetiltedthebottleupagainanddrank Iwalkedintotheroom Thedoorsswungclosedbehindme
MingofGlasspointedatthechairtohersideandIsatgingerly,ontheedge.Therewasathickrugbeneathmychairand thechairhadnoexteriorwoodenparts,nothingIcoulddrawpowerfrom.
“MaggotyGirl Whathaveyoudonetomyscions?Theyarewalkingintothesun Threeburnedatdawntoday Twothe daybefore.”
“Ihaven’tdoneanything,”Isaidcarefully,rememberingthecirclesontheriversideoftheproperty.Walkingintothesun wasatermvampiresusedwhentheykilledthemselvesatdawn,lettingthesunburnthemtodeath “NooneinPsyLEDknows what’s happening, onlythatthere have beenreports ofMithrans across the countryacting ” Istopped Notcrazy Notas if theywereallinthemidstofmentalbreakdowns.Eithermightgetmyheadrippedoff.“Actingunliketheirusualselves.Idid nothingatall,nottoanyone.”
“Our blood-servantsare ”Shewavedthehalf-emptybottleintheair “Volatile Atfirsttheywerehappy Now many areleavingus.Wehavehadtonegotiatenewcontractswiththem.Itiscostingusmuchmoney.”
“Thatsounds…difficult,”Ilied.“Yousaidtherewasadeadbody?”
Mingturned her blackeyes to me She was vampingout, her pupils alreadydilated, the white ofher sclera bleeding scarlet.Herfangssnappeddownonthelittlehinges.Mybreathhitchedandstopped.Mingwasinfullhuntingmode.Istartedto callfortheguys.Myfingerstwitchedformyweapon.
Mingsmiledbehindherfangs
Ifrozeassheleanedcloser.Shecouldhearmyheartracing.Shecouldsmellmysweat-fear.Ididn’tknow muchabout vampires,butIknewIwasindanger.IfIcalledforhelp,Mingcouldripoutmythroatbeforemybossescouldreact.BeforeI gotoutmorethanasqueak.AndIwastakingtoolongtoreply.Ihadtodealwiththis.
Possibilitiesflittedthroughmymind Iforcedoutmybreath Inhaled
“MingofGlass,”Imanaged.“MasteroftheCityofKnoxville.Iseeyouare…disturbed.”ThatshouldletRickandAya knowtherewereproblems.“PsyLEDEighteenhasbeencalledhereaboutadeadbody.Howmayweassist?”
Ialwayscarriedsomeofthelifeofmylandwithinme,butIhadn’thadtimetogototheroofofHQandsitinmygarden spot,araisedbedfullofSoulwoodsoil.Ihadn’treplenishedmyself.
“Yoooou,”Mingsaid.“MaggotyGirl.Youbroughtlife totheundeadMithrans.Andbecauseofyou,mycityiscursed.”
“Ididn’tdoanything WhatcouldIhavedonetocauseyou,the theillustriousMingofGlass,discomfort?”
MingleanedinahaircloserandbreathedintheairIexhaled.Iclampeddownonthedesiretorun.Vampireswerefast, andrunningwouldmarkmeasprey.I’dnotmakeonestepbeforeItriggeredherpredatorinstincts.
I wasn’t on Soulwood I wasn’t even standing on the ground or on wood that came fromlocal trees But Soulwood wasn’tthatfaraway.IbegantogatherthepowerofSoulwoodtome.Theland,asalways, hungered.Itwantedsacrifice.IfI hadtofighther
Mingshifted Raisedthehandthatwasn’tholdingthebottleandpointedherindexfingeratme Shetouchedmyforehead withherfingertip.Itwasicy,coldasadeadbody.Ididn’tpullaway,butitwasaclosething.
Thevampirepressedherfingerharderintomyflesh,feelingmylifeforce,myownmagic.Itrosefastagainsther.ButI held it tightly. Her single touch was different from what vampires usually felt like. It wasn’t nearly so maggoty, not the sensationof a rottingopossumcorpse (fromwhichI got the name Maggot) or the feel of icydeath It was different Ming wasn’t just emotionally different. Something about the vampire was magically and physically different. Just like the impressionsofherland.
Theswingingdoorsbehindheropenedslowly Rickstoodthere,agunaimedatthebackofMing’sheadinatwo-hand grip.Ayasteppedupbesidehim.Ireinedinmyrelief,holdingitjustastightasIdidmyfearandmypower.
“Ifeelthelifeoftheearthinyou,”Mingsaid.“Iwonderifthereisasimilarlifeinyoursisters,inthechildrenbornon yourland,landyoucallSoulwood”Mingdrewbackherfingerandstaredatitstip Lickedit “Dogs and leaves Youtasteof nothingbutdogs and leaves.Allofyourkindshouldbeexterminated.”
Whethershemeantthosewordsasathreatagainstmyfamilyornot,Itookitthatway.Instantlymyown hunger rose.I wantedtofeedmylandwithher Todraintheundeadlifeoutofher Faroff,mylandwokefromitswinterslumber,alertedby myfear-defense-attackmode The power ofmyland stretched toward me, searching Ireached toward it, and the tendril of powerwrappedintome.Calmfloodedthroughmefromthatsinglecoil.
Withinmyland,theGreenKnightofthevampiretreecametoattention,butIhadleftitsrootedsaplinginthecar.The treewouldhaveadifficulttimereachingme ReachingMing
“You left a message for me at PsyLED Unit Eighteen,” I said, “that there is a dead body here. You asked for me specificallytopickitup.Tellmeaboutthebody.”
Hereyesnarrowedasshestaredatherfinger “Please,”Iadded.“Isitahumanoranundead?”
“Undead?”Mingasked.“Whatisundead?Howcantheundeadhaveasoul?Whatcantheundead doooo withasoul?” Sheheldherhandupintheair,studyingherfingerswiththecolorful,childlikenailpolishonthem “Howdidmysoulreturnto me?Wherewasitkeptfor somanycenturies?Therearethosewhosayotherwise,butIknow itwasyou”Shedroppedher hand and scratched a single longcutacross her chestbetweenthe robe’s lapels. Aline ofblood appeared inthe trail ofthe fingernail.Shehadrippedherownskin.
TherewassomethingseriouslywrongwithMingofGlass
Ifoughttokeepmybreathingslowanddeep,myheartratesteadyandcalm.Iwasinthepresenceofapredator,onenot herself.Likearabiddog.Orabullwithmadcowdisease.
IclenchedmyfistsandpulledonSoulwood,preparingmyearthmagic,keepingthatslowtrickleofbloodinmylineof sight.ImighthavetofightherandIhadleftmybestweaponinthepassengerseatofthecar.ButifIneededtokillher,todrain hertodeath,allIhadtodowastouchthattrickleofblood.The hunger ofthelandgrewinsideme.
“Didyouforcemysoulintome?”Hereyesmovedtomyface “Yourlifeforceisnothuman Are you thedangertome? ShouldIdrinkyoudown?”
That wasathreat.Eventhoughshewasnuttierthanacandybar,Mingcouldripmeapartwithherbarehands.
Thatthoughttriggeredmybrainoutofparalysis,intoaction.
“Youowe me two boons,” Isaid, clutchingatthatmemory, notknowingwhatitreallymeantinterms ofa balance of poweragainstherthreat,butwillingtousewhatIhad.“Youwillnotviolateyourownbloodword.”
She shrugged slightly, her robe slipping to reveal one pale shoulder. “Yes.” Before I could respond, she continued, “Therearestrangetreesgrowingonyourland”Shetouchedherchestandscratchedatthedryingblood,fresheningherwound
inalineofbrightscarlet Shelickedherfingertipagain “Theybleed Charlainntastedthetreeandshe shefeltjoy Andnow sheisdeadbythedawn.”
IhadnoideawhoCharlainnwasorwhenorwhythevampirewomanhadtastedthevampiretree.Thetreewasapoorly keptsecretthatgrewonchurchlandandmylandandhadamindofitsown,sentientandself-aware,andhadtakentocalling itselftheGreenKnight.Ihopedtocontrol thetreeenoughtokeepitfromkillingpeopleforitsdinner.Ievenhadadreamof monetizingitforlumber.Maybe.Someday.“Goon,”Isaid.
“Youareapeopleeater Ihaveheardyouarepurple,butIseeyouarenot”
There was nothing amusing about this bizarre conversation, but laughter welled up in me, nervous, half-panicked. Soulwoodfilledme.Steadyingme.IfelttheGreenKnightinthedistance,alert.
“Whathappenedtoyou?”Iaskedhersoftly
“Ifoundmysoul.Weallfoundoursouls.”Bitterlyshesaid,“EveryMithraneverywherehasoursoulsandwecannot…” MingturnedherheadhalfwayaroundtoseeRick’sgunaimedather.Itwasoneofthosenot-humanmovementstheycanmake, andthehairstooduponthebackofmyneck.Asiftheweapondidn’tmatter,sheswiveledherheadbacktome.“Wecannot make themgoaway Souls are destroyingus Whenyour sister’s babies were born,didtheybringbackour souls? Didyour treebringbackoursouls?”
Vampiresdidn’thavesouls.Everyoneknewthat.Mingthoughtvampiresnowhadsouls?Shehadalwaysbeenunstable, butthiswasanewtakeonvampirepsychologicalinstability
“Nobabydidanything.HaveyoucalledJ ”Istoppedjustintime.“HaveyoucalledtheDarkQueen?Shemightknow something.Haveyoucontactedher?”
“Caicalled Itwenttovoicemail Sohecalledagain Andherlady-in-waitingtooka message ”
JaneYellowrockhadalady-in-waiting?Shewasmorelikelytoneedanarmorerthansomeonetopainthernails.
“Whenher secundo,theonecalledEli Younger,calledmeback,hewoveataleofangels anddemons,butIknow…” Mingstoppedanddrankdeeplyagainandtossedtheemptybottleacrosstheroom Ithitthewall andclatteredtothefloor I managednottoflinch
WhenRickand Ayatas returned fromNew Orleans and the coronation, theyhad referred to the vampires beinga very differentsortofstrangenessfromtheirusualeccentricity,asifverydrunk.Theyhadbeenright.
Caiopenedthedoortomyside,lookedatthegunaimedatthebackofhismistress’head,andwalkedcasuallyacrossthe roomto Ming. He held out his armto Mingand she tookit, embedded her fangs inhis wrist, and drank. Cai laughed and strokedherhair.Itwasunexpectedlypersonalandsuggestive,thewayhetouchedher.
Whenshewithdrewherfangs,shelickedhiswristtoclotthebloodandclosethewound “Thankyou Youwilltakethe foolishnonhumansinthekitchendoorwayintothefrontparlor.Keepthemthere.”
Myspinewentstraight.IdidnotwanttobealonewithacrazyMingofGlass.
“Havetheboy’sbodytakentothedrivewaysotheymayremovethefilth”
“Yes,mymistress,”Caisaid
“AndcallYvonne.Haveherbringthecards.”
Mingpulledherlapelstogether andlookedatme.Someofheroldimperiousnessseepedbackintohereyes.“Forgive me Ihavebeenremiss Wouldyoucarefortea?”
“Thankyou?”Isaid,notcertainhowtorespond.
Cai walked to the swingingdoors. Ina single lunge, he swiped outwithbothhands and grabbed Rickand Aya bythe throats Fast Fasterthananypara Nearlyvampire-fast
“Putthemaway,” Cai said oftheir weapons, his voice as nonchalantas iftheywere standingata bar havingfriendly drinks.“You’dbedeadbythetimeyoufired.”
Cai shovedandpushedbothmenbackthroughthekitchen Icouldhear their shoesslidingonthefloor Wehadknown for a longtime that Cai was far more thanhuman. Cai’s strength, against two other paranormals who also had greater than humanstrength,wasproofofthat.
“WhenyouatethewitchesandtheenemyNaturaleza,didyoufindtheirsoulsandgivethemback?”Mingasked. Veryfew people knew Ihad helped the earthitselfdestroya group ofvampires responsible for terrorizingthe cityof Knoxville withdarkmagic and a cursed deckofcards called the Blood Tarot. Justhow muchdid Ming, withher vampiric, blood-suckingtechniqueof“bleedingandreading”victims,knowaboutthatcase?
“Idon’thaveanythingtodowithsouls,”Isaid,stillchoosingmywordscarefully
“Ithinkyouaremorethanyouareaware” ThedoorbehindmeopenedandYummywalkedin.
Yvonne?
Yummyhadareal name Occamhaddatedher beforeme Hehadtohaveknownher name Her namehadtobeinthe records.Ihadneverlooked.
Yummywas blond witha swimmer’s shoulders. Or a boxer’s. Broad and strongwhile still beingleanand hard. We were friends ofa sort She was smilinga weird smile, and ifthe hair onthe backofmyneckcould stand up anyhigher, it wouldhavepokedintotheceiling.
InYummy’shandswasanantiquepaintedmetalboxsealedwithtwonarrowleatherstraps.
“Sit,”Mingcommandedher.“Watch,”shedemandedofme.
Yummypulledasmalltablebetweenusandplacedthetinboxontop Itwasaboutfiveinchesbythreebytwo,andwas well-preserved beneath the thin straps, painted with a strange combination of coins, cups, daggers, a horse, pyramids, the Sphinx, and, inthe background, a tower. Yummypulled a small stool to the table and sat at its corner, removed the straps, openedthebox,andliftedthelidtorevealadeckofcards.
Thecardswereold,thepaperthickandheavy,theinksdeepanddarkononesidewithafaintbrownstainononecorner ofeachcard.Thepatternonthebackwasofaswordcrossedwithastick,acuptooneside,andacointotheother.
MyeyesflewtoYummy’sandhersmilewidened,makingherlookmorehumanthanIhadeverseenher. Tarot.
Wasthisa Blood Tarot?Oneofthreeleftinexistenceintheentireworld?
Unit Eighteen of the Psychometric Law Enforcement Division of Homeland Security had been looking for the Blood TarotdeckthathadbeenmissingsincethecaseMinghadmentioned.Well, I hadbeen.Itwasmyassignment,whenIwasn’ton anactivecase,tofindtheonedeckwehadlostinthemidstoffightingoffablackmagicworking
RickLaFleurhadatattoospellinkedintohisbodywithaBloodTarot.Hislifeandmagicwereboundupinitandbyit.
“Yes,we found the Blood Tarotthatyouandyour unitlost,” Yummysaid throughthatstrange smile. “No,Ididn’ttell you Yes,Mingthinksit’satthecenterofwhat’sabouttohappentous No,Idon’tknowanythingelse”
About to happen? Prophecy? There is no such thing as prophecy Thought the woman who grows leaves Ishovedthat allawayandaskedYummy,“You’reamindreadernow?”
“TurnsoutImightbealotofthings,”shesaid,soundingbothenigmaticandwry.Yummy’shairwasdifferent,longblond streaksinit,andthoughshewasn’tdressedasoddlyasMing,shewaswearingpeculiarclothes greenandpinkplaidflannel pajamabottoms,redandwhitestripedsockswithSanta’sfaceontheouterankles,andafashionablytorn,oversizedsweatshirt inahideousshadeofsunshinegold.Visiblethroughtheholesinthesweatshirtwasatight,stretchy,bloodstainedT-shirt,some ofthebloodfresh
“Shuffle the cards,” Ming ordered, pulling the edges of the purple fluffy robe over her knees. She had regained her imperiousnesssincedrinkingfromCai,buttherobe,thewildlypaintedfingernails,andthelonghairkeptmeonmytoes.
Yummyshuffledthecardsthoroughlyandplacedtheminthecenterofthetable “Cutthedeck,”shesaidtome “Ummm No?”
Yummy’seyesflewtomine,goingwidewithwarning.
“Thechur ”Istopped.ThepolygamistchurchwhereIwasraisedbelievedtarotcardswereevil.AndwhileIdidn’t subscribetoalotofthesuperstitionsI’dbeenbroughtupbelieving,Iknewthisdeckwasdifferent
Ithadbeencreatedwithspellsandbloodanddeath.TheBloodTarotdeckswereshroudedinmystery,withoriginsfar olderthanthecommonlyacceptedhistory.Theywerebloodmagic.
ButIwasn’tachurchwoman
IlookedintoMing’seyesandquicklyaway.Everycellinmybodyscreamedformetogetawayfromherandfromthe deckofcards.Ihadnoideawhythecardsbroughtoutsuchastrongreactioninme,butfearreactions,whiletriggeredbythe body’s survival system, were seldomlogical Iforced mybreathingto slow, butmyhands were sweating, the churchwoman wellingupinme.
“It…Itmaybedangerous,”Isaid.
“It is dangerous,” Mingagreed. Her words lashed out: “Cut the deck ” Itwasn’ta request. The command was filled withcompulsion
Isqueezedmyfiststogetherinmylap,fightingherdemand.Ihadnobackup.IfIran,Iwaslikelytobekilled,despitethe reminderoftheboonsMingowedme.IfIrefused,IwouldlikelybedismissedandI’dneverknowwhatwasgoingon.
Churchwoman
Iwasn’t. Notanymore. Iwas more. So muchmore. Iwas a special agentwithPsyLED. Iwas aninvestigator, which meantIhadtolookatthingsoftheworldinwaysdifferentfromthechurch’sfearandloathing.AndIwasaplant-womanwith
powerofmyown.
AndMingstillhadawoundonherchest.
TheenergiesofSoulwood,thepuremagicoftheEarthherself,pushedintome.
“Maaaggoooty ”TherewasthreatinMing’svoice
Reachingout,Itouchedthe deckwitha fingertip,exactlythe wayIwouldreadunfamiliar or dangerous land.Nothing happened.Itracedmyfingeracrossthecard,analyzing.Itwasroomtemperature,thepaperslightlyfuzzy,andeachofthedeep pigmentsoftheinksingrainedinthepaperhadaslightlydifferentfeel Thegoldfeltmetallic realgold,then AsIstrokedthe topcard,Ifeltthemagicinit.Atingleofpower,asensationofenergy.ItwasvaguelythewayoneofT.Laine’samuletsfelt,as ifthepowerwasrestrainedwithin,createdforoneuse,oneintent.Butthisfeltlikeevenmore.Perhaps…purposeful?Biding itstime?
Idrewinabreath. Sentient? Possessed?
Iwantedtopullthesmallportablepsy-meteroutofmypocketandreadthecards,butIfiguredthatwouldbeconsidered rudeandIdidn’twanttogeteviscerated.
Iliftedathirdofthedeckandplaceditonthetable ThebackofthecardIrevealedwasdifferentfromthefirst,theinks different,asifitwasevenmoreaged.Icoveredthetopthirdwiththebottomportion.
“Andaskaquestion,”Mingsaid.
“What’sgoingon?”
Yummyremovedthetopcardandplaceditfacedowninthecenterofthetable,herhandhoveringoveritamoment,asif inindecision.Quicklysheplacedtwelveothercardsarounditinacircle,makingapattern,likeaclockface.
Sheturnedthecentercardover Itwasaskeletonwithasicklestandinginapileofbones,somepartiallywrappedlike mummies. Three white pyramids were inthe background, a gold triangle ontop ofthe largest. Asphinxwas visible, though faded.
Yummysaid,“Nomatterhowweshuffle,nomatterifweuseonlytheMajorArcanaormixintheMinorArcana,Death isrevealedintheprimeposition”
“That’sDeath?”
“Yes.”Shegatheredthecardsandinsertedthemrandomlyintothedeck,thenshuffledseventimes.Sheplacedthedeck onthetabletop IaskedthesamequestionasIcutthedeck,andsheplacedthecardsintoacrossshape,withthreecardsinthe centerinafan,allfacedown.Shetouchedthetopcardandsaid,“CelticCrossspread.Thethirdcardistheoneontop,andis thebestcourseofaction;thesecondcardistheproblem;andthecardonthebottomisthepersonaskingthequestion.You.”
She flipped the top card Deathwas revealed, upside down “As always,” she said, soundinggrim, “but this time as potentialrebirth.”
Yummyflippedthemiddlecardover.“Thesecondcardiseightofwands,suggestingthatdeathandrebirtharemoving fast”
Sheflippedthebottomcard “TheEmpress Inthiscasethat’syou”
The Empress card was of a womansittingina gold chair, wearingEgyptianclothing, a gold scepter inone hand, a spotted big-cat to one side. Behind her was flat land with grain crops and winding streams and the same pyramid in the distance LikeDeath,itwasanoldercard,olderthanthecardinthemiddle
Yummy flipped the other cards over, glancing at each one, but appeared uninterested. She gathered the cards and repeatedtheshufflingprocess,shufflingsixtimesbeforesaying,“Askadifferentquestion.”
“Butfirstwewillhavetea,”Mingsaid
Evenasshespoke,Caipushedthroughtheswingingdoorsfromthekitchen,thistimecarryingatrayoverhishead.The fragrance was familiar,delicate andaromatic a veryexpensive loose-leafoolongcalledTieguanyintea.The bestvarieties sold onthe marketfor three thousand dollars per kilo and itwas named inhonor ofGuanYin GuanYinwas the Buddhist goddessknownasthegoddessofmercy.IknewthisbecauseMinghadsentmeasmalltinandIhadtrieditatimeortwo.I’d nevertellher,butIlikedmyowndecoctionsbetterthanthefancytea.
Butbecausevampiresdidnothingbychance,thisteawasprobablyareminderthatthevampireMasteroftheCityhad somehowfiguredoutthatIwasresponsibleforkillinghervampireenemies Butthetwoboons?Thatputmefirmlyinthelead.The hunger ofthelandsatwithinme.Waiting.Eager.NotsomethingI wouldeveradmitto,butapowerIheld,readyandwaitingforanattackIhopedwouldnevercome.
Cai pouredteaintotinycupswitheventinier handles MingliftedhersandIwaitedtosipthepalegreenteauntil she pulledthecupawayfromhermouth.ThenItasted.HopingIwasdoingitallintherightorder.“I’mhonoredthatMingofGlass wouldshareherTieguanyintea.Itisdelicious.”
“Itis myfavorite tea, gifted to those who please me most The tea is evenbetter witha drop ofmyCai’s blood init Wouldyouliketotryit?”
Mycupclatteredintoitssaucer.“Ummm.”Istopped,awaremyheartratehadspedupagain,mymindracing. Caileanedaroundthecornerthroughtheswingingdoors Therewasfreshbloodonhislips Rick’sblood?Aya’s?No Caiwouldhavedrankfromavampire.Anothervampirewaitingaroundthecorner.IfIever,ever,evercursed,nowwouldbe thetime.
“Iamhonored,”Ilied,knowingshecouldsmellthelie Caienteredtheroomagain.
“ButIshouldrefuseyourkindoffer,”Isaidquickly.“Idon’tknowthatmykinddowellwithblood.”AndifIhadadrop ofhisblood,thatmighttiehimtomyland,itmightmakehimmine,andMingwouldprobablybereallyangrythatIstolehim.If Iwas right “Especiallystrongbloodlike the bloodyour primomustsurelyhave,after drinkingfroma Mithranas strongas MingofGlass.”
YummyraisedhereyebrowsinamusementandIwonderediftheflatterywastoomuch.
“IdoseethedifficultyindrinkingCai’sblood,”Mingsaid “Itmayunsettleyour tree ” Itwassomuchinsofewwords.
Iliftedtheteaagainandsipped,knowingthatIneededtopunchback,politely,orbeconsideredprey.Ismiledslowly. “Treeshavewonderfulself-defensemechanisms Someofthemhavethorns Somestranglingvines”
Caiwalkedbackintothekitchen,andIcouldhearhimwhistlingthroughthedoor. Wackadoodle.
Wedrankslowlyuntiltheteacupswereempty EvenYummy,whoclearlydidn’tcarefortheteaovermuch,finishedher cup MingplacedheremptycupintothesaucerandIfollowedsuit Yummyplacedhersdownlast,thoughIhadafeelingshe hadbeenfinishedwithherteaforawhile.Hereyesstilllookedamused.
“Yvonne,”Mingsaid.“Thecards.”
Yummyshuffledthedeck
Tome,Mingordered,“Askyourdifferentquestion.”
Icutthedeck,satbackfromthetableafractionofaninch.Placedmyhandsinmylap,onecurledontopoftheother.I pulledonmyenergies,andSoulwoodansweredwithstrengthandcomfort “WhyaretheMithransdifferentnow?”
Yummy’s pale eyes met mine inshock. I had a feelingno one had asked why. Theyhad just blamed the life intheir bodiesandthereturnoftheirsoulsonme.Iwasaneasytarget,aneasyout.
Mingbreathedinslowly Shehadbeenvampedoutallthistime,butnowherfangsclickedbackintohermouthandher bloodyeyesbledbacktowhite
Yummylaidoutthe cards inthree rows ofseven.“The Romanyspread,” she said.Quickly,she pointedtothe various rows,tellingmeaboutthehorizontalrowsA,B,andC,andthecolumnsAthroughG,followedbythenumberofeachcardin thespread
Ididn’ttakeinmuchofit,butwiththismanycards,IcouldtellthattheBloodTarot,ifitreallywasaBloodTarotdeck, wascomposedoftwodecksofcards,oronedeckthatwasaugmentedwithother,newercards.Thefancycards,whatYummy calledtheMajorArcana,wereolder,mucholder,thantherestofthedeck
“Thecardsinthecentercolumnarethequerent.Thatwouldbeyou.”Yummypointedtotheoneclosest.“Yourpast.”She indicatedthecentercard.“Themiddlecardisyourpresent.Andthebottomisyourfuture.”Sheflippedoverthecardformy past Itwasn’tDeath
Yummy’seyesmetMing’s.
“What?”Iasked.
“NotDeath.Forthefirsttimeitisn’tDeath,”Yummysaid.
Shesoundedbreathless,which,hadInotbeenindanger,wouldhavebeenfunny,sincevampiresdidn’tneedtobreathe Rightnow,itjustmademyspinetightenevenmore.
“Instead,”Yummysaid,“wehavetheTowerupright.Completeandutterdisruption.Abandoningformerties.”
“LikeIdidwhenIleftthechurch”
“AndasweMithransaregoingthroughnow,”Mingsaid
“NellistheonewhobrokethechainofDeathwiththatquestion,withthisreading,”Yummysaidassheflippedoverthe middlecard.ItshowedtwoangelsflyingabovetheEarth,blowingtrumpets.“Judgment.Youarebecomingfreeofwhatheld youback”
“Butmyquestionwas‘WhyaretheMithransdifferentnow?’Soifthisstuffisreallymagic,thenyouvampiresarethe onesbecomingfree.”
Yummyflipped over the top card It was a globe beingheld inthe hands of two children The childrenwere naked, winged,andflyingintheair.
“Themostauspiciouscardintheentiretarot,”shewhisperedtome.“ThecardoftheWorldalwaysshowstheglobeof Earthheldinthehandsoftwinchildren”
I flinched before I could hold it in. Mysister Esther had just givenbirthto twins. But it was unlikelythat vampires wouldbeinterestedinplant-children.Andthetwinsonthecardlookedlikestylizedcherubs,notplant-people.
“ThiscardoftheMajorArcanameansgreatsuccessinallareasoflife.”ShesmiledatMing.“Ifthisistheanswertoher question,thegoodfortuneistobeinallareasofourlives”
“If we survive this change,” Mingsaid. She turned her blackeyes to me and said, “Iwill answer your question. The changewithinusbeganrecentlywithanupheavalandthereturnofoursouls.Itisstillhappeningnow.Wearestillindanger now Onehourbeforedawn,allofmyMithransyoungerthanahalfcenturyarechainedintheirlairsandwatchedoverbytheir mosttrustedblood-servants.This is the onlywaytheycanbe preventedfromwalkingintothe sunandburning.Shackledby whowearebecoming,wewaitoutthischangetogether,hopingwewillallsurvive.
“Also,”shecontinued,“thereareenemiesinmycity Thebodywefoundisproofofthis”
Withoutturningover anyoftheother cards,Yummygatheredthemintothesingledeck,placedtheminthetinbox,and strappeditclosed.Iassumedthatmeantourcardsessionwasover.Ihadsurvived.
Mingsettledher vampireeyes onme,butIdidn’tfeel anyattemptatmesmerism Shewasn’ttryingtoroll me “Many people and creatures want the Blood Tarot,” she said “Black-witches, blood witches, power-hungryhumans, weres ofany stripe,Anzufor reasonsoftheir own.Thedragonsoflight thearcenciels,whodonotwantapowerful tool inthehandsof anyone wishtofindit.TheskinwalkerandtheDarkQueen.Myenemies,bothMithranandNaturaleza.”
Were-creatures and skinwalkers Unit Eighteen had three special agents who were werecats FireWind was a skinwalker.AndFireWindhadbeenbreathingdownmyneckaskingquestionsaboutmysearchfortheBloodTarot.Soulwas an arcenciel, and she had been on vacation for far too long, long enough that Unit Eighteen was growing concerned. And Mithrans and Naturaleza were both vampires One group kept humans like pets, the other liked hunting and killing Until tonight,theyallhadfeltlikemaggotstome.
“Withthe BloodTarot,” she said,“Ihave greatpower.All others wantthe curseddeck.Ihave it.Therefore,youwill workwithme,forme,andIwillprotectyou”
Insteadofansweringherdemandtoworkforher,Isaid,“Yousaidyourenemywasafterthecards,butyoudidn’toffera name.Who?”
“The most dangerous searcher of all: the Grand Inquisitor, Tomás de Torquemada,” Ming said. “He is near us. He searches for the final death of the undead and for the Blood Tarot He searches to bathe in the blood of his enemies He searches fortheendofthisworldandtherebirthofthenext.Andheintendstoridethedragon.”
Wackadoodle, Ithought,justlikeT.Lainesaid.Exceptthattheformsoftheword search hadbeenoddlyaccented.
“Iowe youtwo boons,” Mingsaid, “yetIoffer a third ifyouwill do one thingfor me Asmall thingfor one suchas you.”
“Iwon’tpromiseyouanything,”Isaid.
Shewasstillholdingmewithhereyes,butshedidn’ttrytorollme,whichmightbethemoststrangepartofthisentire evening,becauseallvampswantedtorollpeopleanddrinkthemdown.Itwaswhattheydid.Ididn’tbreakthecontacteither.
Shetookonapleadingexpression.“Iaskforlittleofyou.YetIofferathirdboon,”shesaid.“FindTomás.Killhim.And killthefourandthefourwhoguardhimstill,forevenwithsoulstoguidethem,theyarenownobetterthantheyeverwere.”
“I’maspecialagentwithalawenforcementagency I’mnotahiredkiller,”Isaid
“Protectingthepublicispartofyourjob,yes?Heseeksmyland,heseeksmyhead,andifheissuccessful,heandhis scionswilltaketheBloodTarotandridethedragon.Ifyoudonotkillthem,yourcityhumanswilldie.Andyourownkindwill sufferaswell”
“I’mnotahiredkiller,”Isaidagain “Soyousay.”Shetiltedher head,thatbirdlikethingtheydo.“Butthetimemaycomewhenyouholdhis headandhis restored soul inyour hands and youwill be forced into a choice: to allow himto die true-dead, or to save him. Make the choicethatbringssafetytoyoursandtomine”
Iansweredinthewaylawenforcementhadtointhepresenceofapowerful,notquitesanevampire.“MingofGlasshas offeredinformation.PsyLEDEighteenhaslistenedandunderstands.Yousaidtherewasadeadbodyonyourproperty.Where isit?”
“Itisyours,”shesaid.
Ihopedshedidn’tmeanthatthedeadbodywasmyown.
“Youmaygo,”shecommanded Nottakingmyeyes fromhers, Igotup and walked awayfromthe table. No one followed. Ihad beeninMing’s clan home before,andthoughthe foyer floor was changed,the walls were prettymuchwhere theyhadbeen.Isaidsoftly,hoping commswasstilllistening,“I’mheadingtothefrontdoor.”
FireWind and LaFleur metme atthe foyer, a smear ofblood onAya’s sleeve, the knuckles ofbothhands bruised and torn.Thethreeofusleftthehouse,aheavyrivermistcoilingaroundus.Asthedoorclosed,Ipulledmycell,turneditoff,and thenslappedmyhandagainstmychestasiftostartmyheartbeatingagain.“Thatwashorrible.Didyougetallthat?”
“Yes,”FireWindsaid,usheringmetowardthevehiclesthroughtheheavyfog Ipointedtohisbloodyhand.“Fight?”
“Caiwasinsistentthatweleaveyou,”hesaidwryly.“Wetriedtodissuadehim,buthewasstrongerthanusual.” “Andfaster,”Rickmurmured “Deadbody?”Iasked.
“Haven’tseenone,”Ricksaid.“AndCaididn’tmentiononewhenwewerebeatingoneachother.”
“Let’sgetoutofhereandbacktoHQ,”FireWindsaid “Ifyoucanwaitjusta few minutes,” Isaid, “Ishould read the land deeper this time And Iwantto touchone ofthe burnedcirclesattheedgeoftheproperty.”
Bothmenpulled their weapons as Igot the vampire tree and mynew blanket fromthe passenger seat of mycar. No vampsorhumansfollowedfromthehouse,butthemisthadgrownheavier,theairwetter Icouldseemaybeafootinfrontof myface withanycertainty, butthe land was a good enoughguide. Ibentand touched the ground, scanningthe lawnbefore zeroinginontheclosestburnedcircle.“There’snooneontheestatebutusandvampiresandMing’shumans,andwe’realone onthelawn,”Isaid Leadingtheway,Iwalkedintotheswirlingfog
AfootoutfromtheburnedlandIunfoldedmybackupblanket(anoldarmyblanketOccamhadfoundinasurplusstore) and laid itonthe wetgrass. Isatand crossed myknees, the potted vampire tree inmylap. “Youbite me and I’ll make you regretit,”Itoldtheplant
Itwasatestamenttomylifethatneitherofmybossesthoughtthethreattothetreewasoddenoughtocommentover Itouchedthegroundwithonefingertip,andwhennothingfeltwrong,Iplacedmypalmflatonthewetgrassandduginto the dirt withmyfingertips. It was vampyground, a little deadish, a little bloody, needingsome supplements and vegetable matter,maybesomemushroomcompost ButwhenIplacedmyfingertipsintheblackenedcircle,thingswereverydifferent In the dirtwere traces offire andthe horror the grass feltatbeingburned,butthe roots were still alive.Whatever hadburned herehadburnedhighandfast,notdeeply,notslowly.Andmixedinamongthegrass’painwasastrongsenseofecstasy,and beneathit,afaintersenseofaweandjoy,thekindImighthavefelthadIwatchedaparticularlybeautifulsunrise Thevamps haddied…happy.
IpulledmyhandsandconsciousnessfromthedirtandhandedthepottedtreetoRick,acceptingAya’shandtopullmeto myfeet Itossedtheblanketover myshoulder “Onemore Justtobesure”Iwalkedthroughthefogtowardthenextburned spotandtestedthegroundwithafingertipbeforeIsquatted,myweightonthebacksofmycalves,myarmsforwardaroundmy knees,andpushedalltenfingersintothedirt.
“Deadleaves,livingroots,”Isaid.“Andshewas…Thevampwhodiedherewassingingassheburned.” “Thesecirclesarefromdeadsuckheads?”Rickasked “Fromburninginthesun?” “Yes.Andtheyweren’ttieddowntoburnatdawnforpunishment.Theydiedhappy.”Istoodandbrushedoffmyhands. “Okay.Let’sgobacktoHQ.Thingsareverywronghere.”
Wackadoodle, Ithoughtas we approached the drive and the parked cars And we still didn’thave the promised dead body.
Butwedidn’tmakeitbacktothecars.
Yummyappearedoutofthemist,standingnearmyvehicleonthedriveway,abrightgreenfloralsatchelinherlefthand, aswordinherright.Parkedbehindourcarswashers,aFerrariLaFerrarigoldflake2015convertibleshehad“confiscated” fromanenemy.Shehadbeenstandingonthedriveway,andnotinthegrass,soIhadmissedherappearance.
Itookthelaststeptotheconcretedrive IfeltthemstepontoMing’sland Adeadsensationwhippedthroughme
“Vampires,”Iwhispered.“There.”IlookedtothefencedownriverfromMing’s.Igrabbedmybestweaponawayfrom Rick,thevampiretree.Stuckmyfingerintothesoil,callingonSoulwood,pullingthewakenedenergiestome.
Rickcursedandtossedoffhissuitjacket
Ayapulledmultipleweapons.
Yummypitchedhersatcheltomyfeet.Pulledhersword.Droppedthescabbard.
Everythingfast.
Tomeshesaid,“Smallsword Getit”Shepointedatthesatchelthathadlandedatmyfeet
Shescreamedintothenight,“IamYvonneColstrip,bloodchildoftheWarlordoftheDarkQueen,thescionofMingof Glass!Iofferbloodchallengetoyouall!”
Avampinninjablackplungedoutofthenight Landedtomyside,butstumbledontheunevengroundandsomersaulted away.Hecarriedtwoswords,toYummy’sone.Iduckedtothegroundandopenedherfloralsatchel.Asmallerswordrested ontop.Ipulleditout.
Sherippeditfrommyhands Somersaulted,leapingintotheair
Theintrudervampirestood.Vampedout.Smallfangs.Blackclotheswithsomekindofbeltedtunicdressoverthem,also black.Bearded.Meanlooking.
Anothervampplummetedoutofthedarkness Landedtothefirstvamp’sside Theycouldhavebeenbrothers,dressed similarly,bearded “IstandassecondforCarlosContreras”Hepointedoneofhisswordsatme “Youarehersecond?”
Second? Oh. In a duel. Ishookmyheadfast.
“Istandassecond,”Caisaid.Hewaspositionedonthefog-wetgrass,holdingtwoswords,liketheothers.ButCaiwas wearingboxersandawhitetee Andmoreblood,asifhehadtakenaquicksipbeforerushingouttothelawn
CarlosattackedYummy.Threequickstrikesbeforehedancedback.
Yummyhadblockedthemall.IhadneverseenYummyfight.Notlikethis.
Rickwasnakedandgoingfurry,butitwouldtakeseveralminutes Histattoosshimmeredinthenight,theonesthathad beenappliedwithbloodmagicagainsthiswill,usingtheBloodTarot,andhadlaterbeenchewedonbywerewolves,leaving behindascarredmagicalmessandgold-inkedcateyesthatsometimesglowed.Likenow.Allthatcouldnotbeacoincidence, butwasaworryforanothertime
Aya aimed a weaponbut didn’t fire “PsyLED cannot legallyinterfere withthis because Yvonne Colstrip challenged him.Thatmakesitvampirebusiness,notlawenforcement,unlessYummyasksforhelporoneofusisinjured.Donotinterfere, Ingram.”Heglancedatmytreeandbacktothefight.“Withcommonlyacceptedlawenforcementmethods.”
Sothatmeantmethodsnotusuallyacceptedwereokay?Andthatmyserviceweapon forself-defense wasokaytoo? Wewerewalkingafineline.
Yummywhirledherweapons,movinginandawayagain.Theclashesofsteelsoundedharshandlow,mutedinthefog.
One-handed,IcheckedmyGlock20 Itwas loadedwithsilver-leadrounds FireWindhadsaidIcouldn’tuse it,butI hadotherweapons,lessobviousones,thatIcouldexploit.The hunger deepwithinme,deepwithintheland,spiked.
IrestedtheGlockinmylap,notasecureposition,butagoodoneforfastuse.Isentmyearthenergiesacrosstheupper layeroftheground,andcountedvampires,slightlymaggotybitsofundeath Yummy,Carlos,hissecond,andatleastthreemore vampswereonMing’sproperty.
“Aya,there’sthreemorestandingclosetothedriveway,hiddenbythefog.” “Copythat.”
Yummyraced forward andengaged her enemy Whenshe dancedback, she was bleeding Her bloodsplattered onthe ground.IfIwantedtokillYummy,Icould.ButitwastheotheroneIwanted.
YummyandCarlosdashedforwardandback,lungingandcuttingandblocking.Notnearenoughblocking.Moreofher blood flew Cai stared at Carlos’second, looking like the dangerous Cai I remembered, not the blood-drunk one who had
wanderedaroundduringmyvisit Eveninhisundies
Yummystabbedforwardandupwithhershortblade.Whippeddownwiththelongsword.Shenickedthevamp’schin. Andhalfseveredhishand.Allinonemove.Carlosdroppedhisshortswordandsprintedback.Ifoundthebloodtrailheleft andgatheredittomethroughtheearth
Ricksteppedaroundthefrontofmycar.Ablackleopard,fullofkillinggraceandripplingmuscle.Hestoodatmyside and screamed into the night, coarse, halfroar, halfscreech, all leopard. Carlos’second practicallylevitated into the air and landedseveralfeetawayfromthewereleopard
Nogrindylowshowedup.IfiguredthatmeantnohumanswouldbeindangerfromRick’swere-taint.Grindysappearto killanywere-creaturewhopassesthetainttoahuman.
Thefightmovedawayabit,intothefog,closertotheriver Thehiddenothersmovedcloser “Aya.Twooftheothervampiresareapproaching.”
IpulledontheearthforceandwrappedmygiftaroundtheblooddropletsfromYummy’sopponent.Iwhisperedtothevampire tree,“Don’teatthem Theyarenotdinner I’monlytakingalittle”
Hunger roseinme.The hunger oftheland.Ihelditinplace,forceditdown.Breathedthroughtheneedinme.
Gently,Isankbeneaththegroundandfoundtreeroots,pliableandstrong.Ipushedthemupfromtheground.Following theman’slifeforceontheearth,Ifoundthepatternofhismovements,hisswordtechnique.Ishovedattheroots.Caughthis toe Trippedhim Notenoughtoharmhim Justenoughtooffsethisrhythm
Itwasn’tafairfight.Yummywasn’tasgoodashewas.Andshewasn’tinfightingarmor.Myfriendwaslosing. AndI’dstoppedfightingfairalongtimeago.
Aya and Rick changed position, the leopard edging toward the battle, Aya back to provide cover, ready for anyone approachingfrombehindortothesides.
Ifeltavampleap.“Aya.Above!”Ishouted.Heraisedhisweaponoverheadandfiredthreeshots.Duckedtotheside. Firedthreemorestraightdown ThevampsaidsomethinginsomelanguageIdidn’tknow Ayasaidwhatsoundedlike, “No me importa ” Hefiredthreemorerounds. Islammedintotheground.Aheavyweightontopofme.
AndthenIwasflying Rushing Awayfromthefight
Pain Clawsdiggingintomyarms
Ihadasinglemomentofclarity.Avamphaddroppedontomefromthefarsideofthecar.Pickedmeup.Leapedaway.I wasbeingkidnapped.
“Ismellituponyou,”thevampiresaidinheavilyaccentedEnglish “Giveittome” Inmidair,IwrappedmyenergiesaroundhimfromthepottedtreeIstillheld.HispowerfeltdifferentfromothervampsI hadfedtotheearth.Less maggotyandmorelike deepcoldwater.Icywater.Thevampire tree grew a vine twofeetlong.It wrappedaroundhisneck,stuckthornsintohim Andsuckedhisenergiesdown Thevampstaggered Slowed Hecrashedtotheearthinaheap.
Irolledoffhisundeadbody.Breathingtoofastinfear,inshock,myheartthumpinghard. Hunger. Puttingmyhandtothe ground,Idrainedhisundeath Hunger asifthelandstarved,rose,andrushedthroughme “Stop,”Iwhisperedtothetreeandtotheland Iwrappedmyfingersaroundthevineandtoreitfreeofthevamp’sneck Atrickle ofvamp blood fell fromeachthorn. Thorns thathadn’tbeenthere onlymoments ago. Thorns ona vine thathadn’t beenthereeither.
Myown hunger,theland’s hunger,foughttotakeallofhim Tofeedhimtotheearth Fightingmyownneed,Itookhim totheveryedgeoftrue-death.Stoppedbeforethevampirewastrue-dead.Stillundeadbyahair.
Breathinghard,Iplacedmyhandtotheearth.Ididn’twanttoclaimMing’sland.Didn’twanttomakeitmine.Butthe landwantedwhatIcouldoffer,whatIcouldgiveit Thelandwantedthebodyandbloodandsoulofthevampirebeneathmy hand.Theearthalways wanted.
Ipulledmypalmaway.RealizedIwascryingandwipedmytearsandsnotaway.Breathedslower,or triedto.Found myself Foundmyowndesiresandneeds Wehadbeenattacked Wecouldlegallyrespond Ishovedmyconsciousthoughtsthroughthegroundandupintothesleepingtrees.Ifoundanowlwhowaswatchingthe battleand,tryingsomethingnew,gentlyentereditsconsciousness.Thefightscenewascrispandclearasiflitbybrightlights.
CarlosstabbedYummy.Shefell.IyankedCarlos’undeath,pulledtheicycoldenergytomethroughtheground,agray greenenergythatlookedlikenosoulIhadeverseenbefore Iyankeditintothetree Whichwasnowfartoolargeforthesmall pot.Vinesweregrowingasittriedtoreachtheground.Triedtotakerootandclaimthelandforitself.FortheGreenKnight.I grabbedthemandheldthemtome.
Feelingeverythingthroughtheland,seeingitallthroughtheowl’seyes,sharpandharshanddetailed Rickwassnarling, fightingtheduel’ssecond.Ayastakedthevampirehehadshot.Hehadn’tusedsilverrounds.Why?
AyaaimedatthevampirefightingwithRick.
Mingappearedatthefightscene Poppedthere Vamp-fast ShebeheadedthevampatAya’sfeet GrabbedRickbythe scruffoftheneckandthrewhimacrossthelawn.Withasingleflashofsteel,shetooktheheadofthesecond.“Finishhim,”she demandedofYummy,thesoundsoloudmyownearsached.
Withasingleflashingswipe,Yummytookheropponent’shead Mingbentandcutoffthevampire’sfingers,thenplacedtheminYummy’shands. Mystomachturned.
Theowlfluttereditswingsatthebloodandfocusedinclosely Mingrifled the vampire’s pockets and handed Yummymore stuff. And thenyetmore fromthe vampire atFireWind’s feet.
“Cai,”Mingsaid,thesinglewordarrogant;shewasaccustomedtobeingobeyed Themaninhisunderwearliftedandcarriedsomethingfromthefrontdoor.Itwasanakedhumanbody,bloodsmeared all over the clear plastic it was wrapped in. Duct tape held the wrapping closed, and there was no trail of blood. Either vampireshaddrainedittotallydryorithadbeendeadlongenoughnottodrip.
The body we were called here for in the first place Hoursofwackadoodleandaviolentattackago
Theowllostinterestandlaunchedfromthebranch.ItflewalongtheroadandIgotaviewoftwowhitevans,thekind usedinpackagedeliveryinneighborhoods,vanstallenoughtostandupinside,bigenoughtoholdmanypeople.Thevampires’ transportation Theowlflewfarther,seekingaplacetohunt IdroppedawayandIwasbackinsidemybody,inthedark,witha near-true-deadvampire.
Fourpawed,Ricktrottedthroughtheundergrowth.Stuckhismuzzleoutatmeandsniffed.
“I’mokay,boss,”Isaidsoftly,thewordspainfulinmybruisedthroat
Rickwhinedaninterrogative.
“Ididn’tkillhim.IfMingwantsaprisonertoquestion,thisoneisstillundead.Buthecutmewithhisnails,andtheland isn’thappywithhim”
Rickhuffed Raisedhishead Hescreamedintothenight Inearlypeedinmypants.
Iwassittinginmycar,Ayainthedriver’sseat,abaggieoficefromMing’skitchenagainstmythroat.Thewindowwasdown sotherestoftheunitcouldtalktous,butthecarwasrunningandtheseatwaswarmingthemiseryoutofme.
Thetreewasonthehoodofmycar,abloated,misshapen,wrinkled,andweathered-lookingtrunkthreefeettall,twisted branches withleaves so thicktheyrustled inthe cold air Vines coiled outofthe potto pool onthe hood, wicked thorns on everybranchandvine.
Lightningflashedoverhead,oddlightning,pearlyandprismedthroughtheheavyfog.Thewaterdropletsglowedbefore the light vanished It flickered again Fogand lightning, especiallylightningthat flashed the colors of the rainbow, were a strangecombination.
Even FireWind studied the sky. Then the flashing light was gone and the mist closed in again. His face high, his expressionswentthroughaseriesofchanges
Itoccurredtomethattheflashinglightscouldbeanarcenciel.NooneinKnoxvillehadseenarainbowdragoninweeks. Maybemonths.IncludingtheassistantdirectorofPsyLED,Soul.Andpeoplehadbeenlookingforher.
Frowning,myboss-bosspulledacellphonefromapocketandthumbedthroughapps Hewaswaitingonseveralthings, amongthem:theETAoftheforensicCSIteam,andanyinformationaboutwhitevanspassingtrafficcameras Sofartherehad beennothingabouteither.CSIwasonthewaybutsaw nopointatspeed,andthevanshadseeminglyvanished.Hepocketed thephone.Heraisedhiseyestothetreeonthecar.“Thatthingis…ungodlyugly.”
Itooka sip ofwater Swallowingwas painful, butitwas gettingbetter as myplant-bodyhealed itself FireWind had beenafraidthetissueswouldswellandcloseoffmyair,buttheywererelaxing.“Yeah.Ineedaplacetoplantit,”Isaid.“And IneedanewtreeatHQ.Howaboutintheroofgarden.”
“Youjest”Histonewassodrymyhairmighthavecrackled
Ididn’tanswer,butIdidgivehimaside-eyesmile.Wehadtriedthatonce,andthoughthetreehadbeenveryhappyto claimthespace,therestofthebuildinghadn’tbeensojoyfulwhenitoutgrewitssoilanditswelcome.“I’llplantthisoneon
theedgeofmyproperty,”Isaidplacidly
Rick, fully clothed, rounded the vehicles and took a place in the backseat. “Ming’s people seized the nearly dead fangheadinthewoods.Iassumetheytookhimtoherclanhome.”
I presumed Rick meant Ming’s punishment room, and that the vampire who tried to carry me off would be killed I wondered ifitwas like the punishmenthouse onthe churchgrounds where Igrew up. Or evenworse. Iwished Ifeltsome smallshardofsadnessforhistorture.Buthehadbeentryingtotakemeaway.
“Youdidn’tattempttoaskforassertionsregardinghishealthandsafety?”Ayaasked,againwiththatdry,wrytone Itwasastickysituation.LegallyMingwasMasteroftheCityandherlandmight(ormightnot)beconsideredmuchlike anembassy.PoliticswerestillonmirygroundintheUnitedStatesregardingvampiresandotherparanormals,thoughtheDark Queen’s newlycreated ambassadors and her assigned legal teams were workingto codifythe vampires’ and byextension otherparanormals’ righttoexist.
“No,”Ricksaid.“Theygavehimsomebloodatthescene.Hetookabreath.AndIleft.Ican’ttestifytoanything.And thoughIdidgethisscent,Ineversawhisface.”
Ithoughtaboutthatone Ihadseenthevampire’sfaceupcloseandpersonalasIrippedthevineoffhisneck Ikeptthat to myself. Vamp relations were minefields. Ilooked over atthe killingsite, the battlefield where Yummyhad beheaded the vampireshehadchallenged.
“Ingram Whydidthevampiretrytotakeyouaway?”FireWindasked “Wedon’thaveanythingyousaidafteryouwere takenoffscene.”
Itouchedmyear.“Mycomms setis gone.Ihope Idon’thave topayfor that,since Ilostitwhile beingabductedand attacked”FireWinddidn’treply “Thevampiresaidsomethingabout‘smellingit’onme Noexplanationofwhatit was”
“TheBloodTarot?”FireWindasked,notexpectingananswer.“Didyousmellitonherwhenyouwereincatform?”he askedLaFleur.
Rick,hiswhitehairmovingslightlyinthenightair,brightinthefogandthefaintlights,turnedtous,hiseyesunfocused andhaunted “Yes Yummysmellslikeittoo Strangesmell Likeolddeathandherbsandblackmagic”Rickhadbeentattooed withaBloodTarot.
Thatsoundedhorrible.IsmellednothingwhenIsniffedmyhandsbutduginmygloveboxuntilIfoundhandsanitizer.I cleaned myhands withthe goop as bestIwas able, the residue smellinglike synthesized mango While Icleaned myself, I asked,“Thedeadbody?Whatdoweknow?”
FireWind said, “White male, nude. Around five-ten, one fifty, muscular build withlittle bodyfat. Patchyfacial hair, blondish,blueeyes Signsoftorture,butodd,notliketheusualelectricburnsorcigaretteburns,nobrokenfingersorpulledoutfingernails.”
Ididn’treact.IhadneverseenthekindsoftortureFireWindwasdescribing,butIhadseenlotsofawfulthings,andthe aftereffectsofthosethingsontheabused,atthechurch
“Ming said he isn’t human,” Rick said, “and beneath the bleach, I smelled ” His words trailed off “I smelled somethingfamiliar,butIcan’tplaceit.Somethingodd.”
“Fornow,we’lltakeherword,”FireWindsaid.Hedidn’tsay,“Thatallowsustokeepthebodyratherthanturnitover tolocallawenforcement,”butIheardthewordsinhistone “CSIhasalreadytakenthebodytoUTMCforaforensicPM”
The UniversityofTennessee Medical Center was the onlylocal hospital that had staffand forensic pathologists who workedonparanormalcreatures.
TheexteriorlandscapelightscameonandMingexitedherhome “Ming,”Isaid,indicatingthefrontdoor TheMasterof theCitywaswearingabloodreddress,atightsheaththatfell toherankles.Herhairwasupinachignon,likewomenwore backinthesixties.Shecarriedthetwobladesshehadusedinbattle.BehindherwalkedCai,dressedinhistypicalallblack. Theylookedlikevampsagain Dangerous Killers Notblood-drunkteenagersonspringbreak
She walkedfromthe concrete towardthe battlefield,where Yummystill kneltonthe groundbeside the deadvampire. Ming’sdelicateshoesweresilentonthegrass,herbodyshiftingthefogintoswirls,thecurrentsoftheairamplifiedbyCai’s passagebehindher.
She walked straight to Yummy Mingextended the swords to Cai, who tookthem The MOC bent over and pulled a bloodynecklacefromthestumpofthevampire’s neckandhungitaroundYummy’s neck.Yummymadeasoundsuspiciously likeasob.
Bare-handed, Mingrested her hands onYummy’s head and spoke, so softlyIcouldn’thear her words Whenshe was done,sheheldoutherhandtoCai,whoplacedthesmallswordinherhand.Ireachedforthedoorhandletohaltwhateverwas abouttohappen.
Ayastoppedmewithaliftedhand “Wait”
Mingusedthe blade tocuther wristandheldittoYummy.The youngvampire drankfromMing.“Oh,” Isaid.“She’s healingher.”
“Yes Andmore,”Ayasaid “Ithinkmuchmore”
Yummypulleda small blade andslither ownwrist,holdingitupfor Mingtosipfrom.TheMaster oftheCitytooka smallsipandlickedthewoundclosed.
Cai heldoutsomethingtoYummy Itwasafloral duffel bagthatmatchedthesatchel shehaddroppedonthedriveway beforethefight.Yummystood,risingslowly,asifshehurt,andbowedfromherwaisttoMing.Herclothingwascrustedwith blood,mostofitherown.Mingturnedand,withCaibehindher,walkedbacktoherclanhomeandinside.Thedoorclosed.
“What’shappening?”Iasked.
Ayasighed “Nothinggood,Ifear”
Yummycleanedherbladesontheclothingofthedeadvampnearest,pickeduptheduffelbag,andlimpedtowardus.On theway,shesheathedthelongweaponfromthescabbardshehadtossedtotheground.Shestoredtheshortoneinthesatchel andapproachedmycar
Yummyopenedthebackdooronthedriver’ssideandstuffedherbelongingsonthefloorbehindAyabeforesheclimbed inandshutthedoor.Noneofussaidanything.Yummylookedworn,tired,andsadinthefaintlightcomingfromthelandscape lights outside Her blondhair was bloodyandshe was missinga hankatone shoulder where a swordhadcutitoffatsome pointduringthebattle.Hereyeswereunfocused,staringintothedistanceatthebackofthedriver’sseat.
Finallyshetookabreathandbreatheditout,leanedintowardme,focusedonmyeyes,andsaid,“Hi,roomie.”
“What?”
She laughed, but didn’t sound amused Maybe a little manic “I personally challenged Ming’s attackers instead of allowingthemtochallengeMingproperly.AndIreekedoftheBloodTarot.TheoneswhogotawaywillbelievethatIpossess the cursed deck. Therefore, I’ve been…” She shrugged slightly, and whenshe spoke she sounded all formal and vampirish. “Removedfromservice”
HerexpressionwasemptyandstrangeandIglancedfromhertoFireWind,whowaswatchingher.Helookedpensive, andalittlesad,asifheknewwhatshemeant.
“Atthe same time, I’ve also beencharged withkeepingyoualive,” she said, ona sigh, as ifshe hated whatshe was sayingnext.“So,withyourpermission,I’mmovingintokeepyousafefromTorquemada’sassassinsandguardswhiletheytry tokillme,givingMingtimetolocatethemandkillthem.”
Inearlydroppedtheicebagatmythroat “No”
“Yes” Her shoulders slumped “Ming wants you alive She finds you ‘important and of value,’and she ‘owes two boons’toyou.”ShesoundedasifshequotedMing.
BeforeIcouldformulateareplystrongerthanmyoriginal“No,”shecontinued,thistimesoundingmoreformal.
“Adead body that had been rinsed in pure chlorine bleach was sitting upright at the front entrance when we woke tonight,likesomekindofmessage.Therewas nothingonthesecuritycamfootage.Itjustappeared.Noneofus couldfinda scentonitanywhere.And,asgoodcitizensofthecity,wehavegiventhatbodytoPsyLED.BeforeNellturnsmedownagain,I haveinformationyouneed”
“Whatsortofinformation?”FireWindasked.
“Tomás de Torquemada wants the Blood Tarot. There were sixteenconfirmed guards travelingwithhim. Three died tonight,andall threedeathshavenow beenlaidatmyfeet Photographicconfirmationofthekillshasalreadybeenreleased, withphotographs ofMing, standingwithher hand onmyhead, as ifshe was givingme her blessingto beginmyownblood clan.ThisruseraisesmystandingamongtheMithranswhocanbechallengedforlandandterritoryandforaccesstoMing.My impliedreleaseandelevationinstatusindicates incorrectly thatIambeinggivenbloodclanstatusinKnoxville,directly underhercommand Itdividesherenemies,sothatsomewillcomeaftermeandsomewillcomeafterher I,however,haveno primoorsecundo.Iamabloodclanofone.I’llhavetotakeallchallengersononeaftertheother.”
“Iwasn’tbornyesterday,”Isaid.
“You’reababy,”shesaiddryly
