Darkling. Part 7

I stared out the window. "Maybe that's not their primary focus. Maybe they're out to raise some other sort of havoc."

Camille blinked. "Scary thought."

Chase dropped us off at the bar. While he and Delilah said good night with a little make-out fest, I leaned against the building, talking to Roz.

"I'll contact you tomorrow night," he said. "I'll be at your meeting. Until then, keep watch, and be wary." His eyes flashed a dangerous shade of desire as he gazed at Camille. She was heading toward her car.

"Remember what I told you," I whispered. "One slip and I'll make sure it's your last."

He snorted, but inclined his head. "Perhaps you'd care to take my mind off her?"

If I hadn't been a vampire, he would have had me right there. I could feel his focus, the sensual thrust of his words. Incubi were s.e.x incarnate, and there was a reason they never wanted for partners.

"Be careful what you wish for," I told him. "Trust me, there are some paths not safe for even demons like you to tread. I take no lovers, and with good reason."

As Roz headed down the street, Delilah broke away from Chase. "Drive safe, babe," she said.

"I'm heading back to the lab to give Sharah a ride home," he said.

Delilah blew him a kiss and headed over to Camille's Lexus.

As Chase pulled out of his parking spot, I watched him drive away. He looked weary. As had Sharah. I wondered what it must be like, working with the dead and injured day after day.

It was one thing to walk among the undead. We were trapped in our bodies, living in limbo but still in existence. But the healers and medics who worked in silence at the sides of those who'd crossed over, who tended wounds and held the hands of those in pain... they were a special breed.

And for someone like Sharah, niece to Queen Asteria, to stand her ground even when a horde of demons was headed our way... Well, in my book, she had more b.a.l.l.s than most men I'd ever met. This wasn't even her world. But OW was one step away from Earth, and would be next in line when Earth fell. Without our help, both worlds were doomed. There was no question of "if it happened"... only when.

Iris was waiting up for us as we trekked into the house. She waved a video camera. She beamed as we came in. "I've got wonderful news!"

Camille dropped into the rocker and leaned her head back. "We could use some, believe me," she said.

Delilah slumped on the sofa and began to pull off her boots. "Man, am I beat. I got contracted for a possible case, by the way, so I should be bringing in some more money in a few weeks. Some sort of cheating spouse thing again, I think. Boring, but it pays the bills."

Now that we were responsible for our own expenses, we all were working harder. It had been kind of fun when the OIA paid our freight and our day jobs were covers, but now that we were fending for ourselves we had to make sure we brought in enough to cover expenses. Luckily, both buildings-the Wayfarer and the Indigo Crescent-had been bought outright by the OIA, who seemed to have dropped all interest in them when Lethesanar stirred the cauldron with her dirty little war.

Iris eyed Camille and Delilah, a frown playing across her face. "I notice neither one of you touched your suppers. They're still in the refrigerator. Something wrong with my cooking?"

"Of course not." Camille yawned. "We had to go meet Menolly down at the bar, so we didn't get a chance to eat. I could sure go for a plate of lasagna right about now, though."

"Me too!" Delilah flashed the house sprite a bright grin and looked ever so hopeful.

"Yeah, yeah." Iris snorted. "You both eat like farmers. I'll heat your plates in a moment, but before another-" Here she stopped and looked at me. "I know you have bad news, it's written all over your face. But hold it for a moment."

I held up my hands, shaking my head. "Not a word. Not a word."

"Good." She held up her video camera and motioned for us to gather round. Camille and Delilah groaned, but Iris wouldn't take no for an answer. "Get your b.u.t.ts over here. You're a long sight younger than I am and I'm not complaining, so hurry it up."

We gathered around her and she set the camera to playback. There, in living color, was our Maggie, taking her very first steps by herself. The little gargoyle clutched at the coffee table as she came to the end, holding herself upright, and then, one finger at a time, she-let go, balancing precariously as she toddled toward the camera, arms outstretched.

We could hear Iris murmuring in the background and then Maggie took two steps, let out a particularly loud mooph mooph and fell back on her b.u.t.t, her tail splaying out to the side. She started to wail and the camera went dark, but there it was, in full glory. Maggie's first steps on her own. and fell back on her b.u.t.t, her tail splaying out to the side. She started to wail and the camera went dark, but there it was, in full glory. Maggie's first steps on her own.

Delilah clapped her hands and Camille immediately headed toward the kitchen while I grabbed Iris and spun her around, proud as punch of our little girl.

"Put me down this instant!" Iris said and I complied. When Iris chose to be stern, her voice took on that do-not-disobey-me tone and n.o.body, not even me, ignored it. "And just where do you think you're going?" she added, pointing at Camille.

Camille stopped in midstep. "Nowhere," she said, turning with a grin on her face. Uh huh, score one for Iris.

"You're going to wake up Maggie, aren't you? Well, I won't have it. That poor baby's sleep schedule is scattered to the winds thanks to the three of you. You have to start coordinating your play time with her or she's going to be all out of sorts. I just got her down to sleep an hour ago and she's going to stay stay asleep, so keep out of my room. You can give her a kiss tomorrow. Menolly, you can peek in on her before you go down for the day, but don't you dare wake her if she's still snoring." asleep, so keep out of my room. You can give her a kiss tomorrow. Menolly, you can peek in on her before you go down for the day, but don't you dare wake her if she's still snoring."

Her hands on her hips, Iris looked ready to take on the world.

Even I had to admit that I wouldn't want to face her when she was in fighting form. For one thing, none of us were quite sure just how strong a Talon-haltija's powers were. But we'd seen some fairly impressive displays and we knew they weren't the sum of her talents.

"Iris is right," I said, glancing at Delilah and Camille. "We should work up some sort of a play schedule. We all like to tote Maggie around, and it's not fair to her if we can't get our act together."

Delilah grabbed her laptop off the coffee table. "Let's just do it, then, while Iris is making our dinner."

Iris nodded her head. "Smart girls. And I thought you'd like that news. You can tell me what happened tonight after you get your schedule together. Post a copy on the bulletin board in the kitchen so I know who's planning what."

As she left the room, Delilah pulled up Word, and created a new file using a calendar template. "We'll start with one week. When does Maggie need her naps? Does anybody know?"

Pushing thoughts of rogue vampires and grisly murders to the side for the moment, I settled in on her right as Camille curled up on her left. We glanced at each other and though it went unspoken, I knew they, too, were grateful for something to think about that wasn't covered in blood, reeking of demon scent.

CHAPTER 7.

We finished the schedule and posted it on the bulletin board while Iris served up Delilah and Camille's dinners. As they ate, we told her about Roz and the three new victims.

"So you've no idea why they were chosen?" Iris dished out second helpings to my sisters. I wasn't fond of watching people eat-it brought up too many memories of being alive and how much I'd loved a good meal-but I put aside my discomfort for the sake of discussion.

I shook my head. "No. We really don't know any more than we did before, except that these murders took place up in the Green Lake area."

"That's where Sa.s.sy lives," Delilah said, stabbing a noodle with her fork.

"Which is why I'm going to pay her a visit tonight." I leaned back in my chair and crossed my legs.

Iris frowned. "Do you think she had anything to do with it?"

Camille and Delilah both jerked their heads up. Apparently the thought hadn't occurred to them, though it had lurked in the depths of my brain.

I shook my head. "Sa.s.sy doesn't strike me as the type to play renegade, but then again, when... if... the predatory nature takes over, she might lose the ethics she's tried to cultivate since her transformation."

Camille glanced at me. "What do your instincts tell you?"

I stared at the table a moment, trying to explain. "My instincts aren't like yours. And vampires are adept at hiding themselves, at cloaking their true natures. I honestly don't know, though I doubt she's behind any of this. I'm pretty sure we're dealing with Dredge." After a moment, I looked up to find Camille watching me, a strange expression on her face. "You're wondering about me, aren't you?"

She sputtered. "No, not at all-I didn't mean anything-"

Delilah paled and dropped her napkin on the floor. I sighed, leaning my head back to study the ceiling. "It's okay. Really. I know you're still wary of me. And you should be. I will never hurt you... not so long as I know what I'm doing. But we have to face facts. I'm a demon now. Sometimes... things happen." I raised my head, feeling the tears well up in my eyes. d.a.m.ned emotions-even though they'd been altered, they were still there.

Camille leaned forward, pushing her plate back, her expression somber. "What do you want us to do if you ever..."

"If I ever lose control? If the predator within fully takes over?" I stared at her, unblinking. "Stake me. Kill me any way you can. I refuse to let Dredge win. I refuse to become a carbon copy of that deranged s.a.d.i.s.t. I'd rather return to our ancestors than stay alive as a monster."

Delilah's lip trembled and she began to shiver. I motioned to Camille, who hurried around the table. "Delilah," she said, "honey, it's okay. Everything's okay-"

"We're just speaking hypothetically, Kitten. Don't worry-"

The words barely left my mouth when a shower of golden light surrounded Delilah and she began to transform. s.h.i.t. Both Camille and I should have known better than to bring up such a sensitive subject without warning her. Even though Delilah was marked as a Death Maiden serving the Autumn Lord now, even though she was able to shift into a black panther when he ordered her to, at heart, she was still that fragile golden tabby cat.

Camille reached her first. Delilah looked up from the floor and mewed, and Camille held out her arms. With a single leap, Delilah hurtled into her arms and buried her head in Camille's substantial b.o.o.bs.

"I didn't think," she said. "Or I would have asked you privately, then broached the subject to Delilah slowly." She sat down in Delilah's chair and stroked her long fur gently, kissing the top of the cat's forehead. "Oh baby, for all your bravado, you're still too gentle hearted." Camille gave me a bleak look. "I worry about her in the coming war. Shadow Wing's only thrown his minor minions at us. What happens when the hordes break through?"

I shook my head. "We deal with that when it happens. Delilah will survive. That mark on her forehead guarantees her an ally stronger than demons. n.o.body can best Death... or his henchmen. And like it or not, our sister's now married to the Lord of the Harvest. It will take her some time, but want to make a bet she ends up tougher than either one of us?"

Iris had remained silent during our exchange. Now, she pushed herself off of her stool and skirted the table to take Delilah from Camille, resting Kitten over her shoulder. Delilah complied without protest, her wide round eyes staring at the wall with that cat like single-minded gaze.

"You girls are all all stronger than you think," Iris said. "You have to be. And I'll be there by your side, no matter what happens. And I'm pretty sure that at the Supe meeting tomorrow night, you'll realize just how many allies you're gathering. Word's gotten around." stronger than you think," Iris said. "You have to be. And I'll be there by your side, no matter what happens. And I'm pretty sure that at the Supe meeting tomorrow night, you'll realize just how many allies you're gathering. Word's gotten around."

"What do you mean?" I stared at Iris.

She tilted her head to one side and a sly smile crept to her lips. "Think about it for a moment. The Hunters Moon Clan-one of the more feared Were clans in the area-wiped out." She snapped her fingers. "Decimated in one night. Everybody knows who's to thank for that. People know you have a dragon on your side. Why, even Delilah's transformation into a Death Maiden has. .h.i.t the grapevine. You don't realize just how famous you're becoming. When the Sub-Cult network figures out what's really going down with Shadow Wing, they'll want to survive. They'll follow you, when push comes to shove."

Camille dusted off her dress and returned to her meal.

I closed my eyes. "Weary is he who wears the crown of a king," I said.

"Don't set yourself up on a throne yet," Iris warned me. . "Wearier yet are those who seek to knock it off his head, and more desperate. The battle lines are being drawn." She sat back and closed her eyes. The energy in the room grew thick and Delilah settled down on her chest, purring. "Over the coming months, the Supe community will be coming out of the closet and banding together. There are going to be rough times ahead. I'm afraid humans will think the Supes are rising against them. If so..."

"Gang warfare." Camille slid off her chair and knelt beside Iris. "Iris, are you a seer?"

A slow smile spread across the Talon-haltija's face and she let out a whispered, "When the need arises. There are many things I've done in my past that you know nothing about. Trust me, I'm here for a reason." And then, without opening her eyes, she turned toward me. "You must must go to Aladril. go to Aladril. He He is waiting for you. Do you understand?" is waiting for you. Do you understand?"

A shiver ran through me, chilling me far colder than the death pall of my skin. Magic was in the air, the magic of Sight, the magic of prognostication, the magic of wind and ice, which Iris wielded with skill.

"We're going Sunday night."

Camille placed one hand on Iris's knee. "Is there anything you need? Anything you require?"

Iris let out a soft breath. "Bring me a crystal. You may have to buy it from one of the shops. Aqualine-a clear blue stone that only comes from the depths of the Wyvern Ocean. Sirens mine it and sell it to the seers. It will cost more than you can afford, but tell them that a priestess of Undutar needs it. That should do the trick."

"Undutar?" As I spoke, Iris shook out of her trance and blinked. I was about to ask again when Delilah let out a loud purp and leapt down from Iris's shoulder, racing toward the curtains. She only made it halfway before the golden mist surrounded her and her body began to transform, contorting in on itself as she twisted in the most painful-looking convulsions, a blur of fur and flesh caught in the throes of our family's magic. As she landed on her knees, letting out a loud "oof," Camille rushed over to her side.

I looked at Iris, who gazed silently back. When I opened my mouth to speak, she shook her head. "Don't ask. Not yet. It's not the time, Menolly. I couldn't tell you about my relationship to Undutar even if you threatened me. There are events in my past about which I cannot speak..." Her words drifted off as her eyes sparkled with a shining vortex of light. The silver of the moon, the indigo of twilight, white clouds racing past on the wind.

Iris let out a long sigh, and then her eyes once more returned to the color of morning sky. As much as she'd piqued my curiosity, I knew better than to press. Iris would tell us when-and if-she could. I nodded silently, then hurried over to help Camille with Delilah, who was looking dazed, but no worse for the wear.

"You okay, Kitten?" I asked as she slid into her chair.

Camille picked up the teapot and began refilling their cups.

Delilah nodded, blushing. "Sorry. I thought I was gaining more control over my shifting but apparently I'm not. Either that or it's just as sporadic as Camille's magic."

"Hey!" Camille stopped in midpour. "I'll have you know, I'm doing much better on certain spells now."

"Yeah, if you count death magic. But I'm talking about moon magic-your innate innate skills." Delilah gave her a toothy grin. "I'm not being snide, Camille. You seem to have a knack for the dark magic that Morio's teaching you, but can you honestly say you're any better with the spells you learned from childhood?" skills." Delilah gave her a toothy grin. "I'm not being snide, Camille. You seem to have a knack for the dark magic that Morio's teaching you, but can you honestly say you're any better with the spells you learned from childhood?"

Camille let out a loud sigh. "I don't know. And I don't understand why I take to death magic so well. It's rather unnerving, but I know I have to learn what he's teaching me. It feels important, but I don't know why." She glanced at the clock. "We all need sleep. As it is, Delilah and I will only manage a few hours. Menolly, we'll wake you up before the meeting and all head out together."

I nodded as the two of them gave me a peck on the cheek, waved to Iris, then headed upstairs. They walked in the world of the day. I lived during the nighttime. Two very different worlds, separated by the sun.

"I guess I'll head out to Sa.s.sy's." I pushed myself out of the chair and glanced at the clock. Still four hours till sunrise. Plenty of time to drive over to the Green Lake area and see if anything was going down that I should know about. "Iris, keep watch over the place," I said.

She patted my hand. "I always do, my dear. You be careful, you hear?"

"Loud and clear," I said, s.n.a.t.c.hing up my keys and purse as I headed out the door for my Jag.

The drive to Sa.s.sy's took about twenty minutes this time of night. Seattle's streets were clear, with only the occasional car slinking through the dimly lit streets. The ice still frozen on the pavement shimmered under the street lights and the world felt m.u.f.fled, hushed by the cushion of snow that had frozen solid over the past few days. Once again, I made a note to ask Camille about the winter. She and Iris could look into it and see if there was anything magical going on behind the sudden Arctic freeze that still held Seattle in its grip.

Sa.s.sy's house was actually a mansion, set back on two acres of well-kept grounds with a spiked fence that circled the property. The actual gate worked on an intercom system and so I punched the b.u.t.ton, grateful that I wouldn't need to get out of the car and open the thing myself. Not that the cold would bother me or the work, or even the iron-much-if I hurried, but the night had already been stressful. I wanted this visit to go nice and easy.

"Yes?" Janet's voice echoed out of the intercom. Sa.s.sy's a.s.sistant, Janet, had been with her for forty years, since Sa.s.sy's sweet sixteen.

"It's Menolly. I need to talk to Sa.s.sy. Is she home?" Janet knew who I was. Janet was also the only nonvamp besides my sisters who were privy to the fact that Sa.s.sy now carried a prime-card membership to the bloodsuckers club. Apparently the older woman had accepted the change as placidly as she might accept a notice that the garbage route had been shifted to a different day or that her neighborhood market was having a fifty-cent-off sale.

Janet was a woman of few words. She didn't answer, but the gate clicked and slowly opened. I waited until I could drive through without scratching my car, then wound up the narrow driveway at five miles per hour to avoid hitting any stray animals that might be pa.s.sing by. The Branson estate was overgrown with weeping willow trees and oak, fir and lilacs. Sa.s.sy had married well, despite her natural inclinations, and when Johan had died, he left her with enough money so she'd never have to worry again. Of course, he hadn't counted on providing for her for an eternity, but Sa.s.sy would cross that bridge when she came to it.

I parked outside the four-story manor that resembled a plantation house, complete with wrap-around porch. As I dashed up the steps, I wondered what the h.e.l.l Sa.s.sy was going to do with this joint over the years. In thirty years or so, people would be expecting her to die. Then what would she do? Fake her own death?

The door was adorned with a Marley knocker. Sa.s.sy had a wicked sense of humor. As the large bra.s.s knocker hit the striker b.u.t.ton, a resounding thud thud echoed from within and the theme from echoed from within and the theme from The Munsters The Munsters chimed through the hall. chimed through the hall.

A moment later, Janet opened the door.