Blood and Bite (13 page)

“Then it was worth the…” she shrugged.

“The withdrawals?”

“Yeah.”

Rune closed her eyes.
My blood is addictive.
She just
kept hurting the ones she cared about. And then it got worse.

“Rune.”

“God, Lex. I’m not sure I can hear any more right now.”

But Lex went stubbornly on. “It’s not just your blood that’s
addictive.”

“What?” Confused, she stared at Lex, frowning.

“Your bite,” Lex whispered. “Your bite is addictive as
well.”

“But how would you know
th
—”

And then she remembered Lex grabbing Strad’s arm, remembered
her yanking her fingers away as though his skin had burned her…

And she knew.

She’d addicted the berserker to her bite.

Her blood and bite were addictive. She’d fucked up both
Strad and Lex by feeding one and feeding from the other.

She was horrified—not just at what she’d done but at what
she
was.

But at last, she was lulled into an uneasy sleep by Lex’s
soft, even breathing.

When her phone rang, she peered at the display clock and
realized she’d slept the whole night through. Groggy, she put the phone to her
ear. “Elizabeth?”

“I’m sorry to wake you. I waited as long as possible, but we
have something of a quandary.”

“Go on.” She put the phone on speaker then jumped from the
bed, dragging clothes out of a suitcase. She dressed as Elizabeth continued.

“Strad Matheson’s questioning of Llodra got out of hand. He
had no answers to give us about Matthew. I really don’t think the master ever
had the child. He may or may not know who does have the boy but questioning him
did no good. I think he wants to die.”

“He does and he doesn’t,” Rune murmured.

“Pardon?”

“Nothing.
What’s the problem?”

“During the master’s interrogation...”

“Yes?”

Elizabeth’s strange hesitancy was making Rune nervous. “When
he had taken nearly all he could stand and had no strength to control
himself
, he released two dogs. Strad informed me that you
are familiar with them.”

Rune held a hand to her chest.
“Blood and
Fire.
But what do you mean Llodra released them?”

“The only explanation is that they were somehow inside
Llodra. During the torture, the animals escaped. They aren’t exactly…they don’t
seem purely flesh and blood.”

“They aren’t. I’ll be right there.” She put her phone in her
pocket, eager to get to the dogs.

“Rune?”
Lex said, pushing herself
up on her elbows. “What is it?”

“I have to go to work. Do you want to come?”

Lex sank back down into the bed and pulled the sheets to her
chin. “I want to sleep.”

Rune left her there and hurried to RISC, to Blood and Fire.
She had no idea what to do with them—she only knew she had to help them. They
hadn’t left her mind since she’d first seen them in Llodra’s evil grip.

She called Ellis’s room on the way to RISC. “How are you?”

He sounded happy. “I’m good. Did you get some sleep?”

“Yeah, I slept all night. I’m on my way to RISC now. Blood
and Fire have appeared.”

“Appeared?”

“I’ll explain when I visit you. Ellie…”

“No news yet.
No manifestations of
fangs or cravings for blood.”

She regretted bringing it up. “Do you need me to bring you
anything?”

“No. Levi has been taking care of me.”
A
definite smile in his voice.

“I’m glad for you, sugar.”

Ellis was a born optimist. Even the horror he’d experienced
wouldn’t keep him down for long. She loved that about him. Now if he could just
remain human…

She hung up and pulled into RISC, eager to see the spirit
dogs, or whatever the hell they were.

Elizabeth was waiting for her. “Follow me.”

There was no sign of the berserker and when she caught
herself looking for him, she immediately stopped.

She walked with Elizabeth down the long, branching hall
until finally they reached one of the interrogation rooms used for vampires. It
was sunlight proof, soundproof, and equipped with a number of devices—most of
them used for torture.

A single large desk was positioned near the door and was
crowded with a panel of switches and blinking blue lights. They operated, among
other things, the currently shielded window high on the wall.

The hard floor contained a large drain, down which the blood
and gore would be washed when an interrogation was over.

Rune hated the interrogation rooms. They echoed with the
screams of agony of those who had the misfortune to end up there. Energy from
long dead beings seemed to swim through the air, clogging her throat with
horror.

In the middle of the large, cold room sat Blood and Fire.
They dogs were huge. Even sitting, their heads would reach her chest. Their
eyes were watchful, ears stiff.

She shivered as gooseflesh erupted on her skin. There was a
connection. She knew it, and they knew it.

Elizabeth felt no such connection. “Will you be all right?”

“Yes,” Rune answered. She’d forgotten the woman had entered
the room with her. “I’ll bring them out when they’re ready.”

Elizabeth nodded and hurried from the room, her clicking
heels the only sound in the room. And then it was just Rune, Blood, and Fire.

Rune took a step toward them. “This room is not a good place
for you.
Or for me.
Will you follow me out?”

She had no idea if they’d understand her. Carefully, she
walked closer. At last she stood before them, and they stared up at her with
eyes that were eerily human.

They didn’t flinch when she held out a hand. She caressed
Fire’s head, nearly jerking away in surprise at the heat emanating from his
skin.

“I won’t hurt you.” She petted Blood with her free hand and
smiled when the two dogs finally relaxed. “I will never hurt you.”

Fire began to pant, gently.

“You’re thirsty, aren’t you?” Did ghost dogs even drink?
They didn’t feel like ghosts. No, they were something else.

She continued petting them, running her fingers through the matted
fur. They’d leaned against her stroking fingers, eyes half closed.

They clearly liked affection. As soon as she stopped petting
them they sat once more at attention, all signs of relaxation gone.

“What the hell am I going to do with you?” But she had an
idea. She’d take them to Wormwood.

She walked away,
then
looked back
when they didn’t follow her. “Come on, guys.”

Immediately they arose and padded to her, then stared up at
her as though awaiting further instructions. Their eyes were limpid and dark,
like pools of melted chocolate.

“Follow me,” she told them, and walked out of the room.

They followed her with no hesitation at all. She glanced
through the window of the “watch” room as she passed it. The room was for those
who wished to be in on the questioning without actually entering the
interrogation room.
Against the large one way mirror stood
Strad.

She met his stare for a second,
then
continued on her way with the dogs at her side. Strad was a problem she had no
idea how to fix.

But she’d be okay. Besides, he wasn’t hers to fix. His son
was her mission. The father could kiss her ass.

Elizabeth waited down the hall. “Where will you take them?”

“Wormwood,” Rune answered, and led the dogs into the early
morning sunlight.

Getting them into her SUV was harder than she’d thought it
would be. They did not want to climb inside the hunk of metal, and she couldn’t
blame them. At last, after their balking had wasted a good half hour, she had
to order them inside.

And as though she was their new master, they obeyed without
hesitation.

But no one should master these creatures. It wasn’t right.

“I don’t know what else to do with you, or what you need me
to do. I’m taking you to Wormwood.” She glanced into the rearview mirror and
found Fire staring back at her, his eyes intense.

“Fucking creepy,” she murmured, but she hadn’t meant it. She
felt like she’d known them forever.

Five minutes before she reached Wormwood they both began an
extremely high pitched keening. The sounds shot needles of pain into her brain
and she let down her window to get some of the cold, fresh air.

The whining wasn’t loud. But something about it, the high
pitch, the hurt, the feeling that she needed to help them…she couldn’t handle
it.

“Stop it, you two. We’re almost there.”

They hushed, but when she finally parked in front of
Wormwood they were both pushing against the doors in their eagerness to get
out.

They did not enjoy a car ride.

She opened the doors and followed them to the gates. Gunnar
stood on the other side, his long fingers wrapped around the bars.

“Gunnar,” she greeted.

“
Your
Highness. How did you free
them?”

“I didn’t. They managed to escape Llodra.” She led the dogs
inside. “I don’t know what to do with them or how to get them back where they
belong.” She shrugged. “I’m going to leave them here.”

Gunnar laughed. “They will come and go as they please. The
only walls they know are the walls of capture from those such as the vampire.”

“How did he do it, Gunnar? Capture them?”

“I do not know the process. It is said there are ancient,
guarded words that can control the spirits. Llodra has obviously obtained the
knowledge.”

She and the ghoul stared at the dogs and the dogs stared
back. “What do they need?”

“I cannot know that. Only they and those who have charged them
with their mission have those answers.”

“But what are they? Why are they here?”

He sighed. “Things are as they are, Your Inquisitiveness.”

“What does that mean?”

“I cannot enlighten you.”

She put a hand on her hip. “You’re pissing me off.”

“That causes me no end of distress.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh.”

Blood and Fire sat on either side of the tall ghoul, their
solemn but curious gazes going back and forth between her and Gunnar.

 Rune sighed. “I’ll leave them here and walk away.
They’re free to do whatever they want to do.”

He nodded. “They are aware.”

She rubbed her temples, hoping the headache beginning to
throb wouldn’t turn into a migraine. “Do you want candy?”

His eyes brightened at once. “Of course I would not
disrespect you by turning down such a gift, Your Highness.”

“Of course not.”
She pulled two
Baby Ruth candy bars from her pockets.
King size.
“These should hold you for a while. We couldn’t find the berserker’s son. I
need some answers. Do you still feel he is alive, or… ”

He dragged his gaze away from the candy. “The boy’s spark is
still there. He lives.”

“I need to know where he is.” She tried not to sound too
desperate, but was pretty sure she failed in that attempt.

He put a long finger to his chin and his gaze grew distant.
“His mother knows where he is,” he said finally.

Rune’s legs weakened as horror shot through her. “
What
did you just say?”

“Talk to her, Your Meticulousness. She knows, but she is not
aware that she knows.”

“Okay, how the fuck would you know that?” She wondered if
the ghoul wasn’t blowing smoke up her ass.

“I get sensations from those you have touched in your daily
life. That is all.”

She shook her head. “Whatever. If this pans out I’m going to
be forever in your debt.” She tossed him the candy. “Here you go, sexy. Enjoy.”

He stopped her as she turned to go.
“One
more thing.”

“Yes?”

But he changed his mind. “It is not important. Go to work,
Your Horror.”

She left Wormwood, the gazes of Blood and Fire heavy on her
back. But she knew Wormwood wouldn’t hold them if they needed to leave.

And somehow, that made her feel safe.

She didn’t want to talk to Tina.

Nothing that had happened was Tina’s fault, but still little
sparks of rage jabbed at Rune’s brain every time she looked at Strad’s wife.

And if the other woman’s angry face was any indication, the
feeling was mutual. She motioned Rune into a chair and sat down on the couch.

Rune sat,
then
got to the point. “I
need to ask you some questions.”

Tina shrugged. “I’ve told you everything I know about that
night. Unless you mean you want to ask questions about Strad and me?”

Rune ground her teeth. “I know a…sensitive person. His name
is Gunnar. He told me you know where Matthew is, but you don’t realize you
know.”

Tina frowned. “What does that mean?”

“I’m not sure, but I think you hold the answers. I just have
to dig them out of your mind.”

“Then please, dig away.
Anything to find
my son.”
She hesitated, her eyes darkening. “Is this the ghoul who said
Matthew is still alive?”

“Yes. And he still believes it’s true.”

Tina nodded and blinked back sudden tears. “Then ask your
questions.”

Rune had no idea what to ask. She blew out a quick breath
and plunged in. “Did you notice anyone following you or watching Matthew? Did
you ignore something that seemed too silly or benign to make you suspicious,
but still gave you a little gut warning?
Anything or anyone
that seemed a little off?”

Tina closed her eyes and thought, saying nothing for a
couple of minutes. Finally she opened her eyes. “I can’t think of anything at
all.” Her voice was soft.
Hopeless.

Rune noticed lines around her eyes that hadn’t been there
the first time they’d met. Losing a kid would do that to a person.
“Any strange calls to your cell?
Did Sherry say anything at
all that didn’t make sense, or that sounded suspicious?”

“No.
No
.”

Dammit.
“Has anyone you didn’t know been inside this
apartment?”

“Besides the woman you recommended to take care of us?”

Rune flinched. “Yes. Other than Sherry, anyone you didn’t
know?”

“Not really.
FBI.
Policemen.”

“Maybe we need to go farther back.”

“Look. I’m sure it’s the same people who tried to take him
in Philadelphia. But I don’t know them.” She clenched her fists. “I don’t know
anything
.
Your ghoul is wrong.”

“I don’t think he is. We just have to find the thread.”

“Strad is afraid he’ll hurt you, you know,” Tina said.

Rune stared. “What?”

“I love Strad, I do, but—”

“Tina. I don’t want to talk about that.”

Tina went on as though Rune hadn’t spoken. “But we are so
tame together. There is no amazing spark that will send Strad into his…
rage
, or whatever the hell it is, and make it dangerous for
me.” She met Rune’s stare. “Sex, I mean.”

Rune swallowed. “I
really
don’t want to fucking talk
about that.”

Tina smiled, but it was not a pretty smile. “Strad told me
yesterday he’s filing for divorce. Even if he can’t fuck you, he can’t stand to
be without you.”

He’s addicted to my bite. Not me.
Rune stood,
refusing to think about Tina’s words. The woman was mad with pain. “You’re not making
any sense. I should go. If you think of—”

“Sit down, Rune. I’ve lost my child and my husband.” She
tilted her head and looked up at Rune through bloodshot eyes. “And yes, I sort
of blame you for both of those losses. The least you can do is sit down and let
me talk.”

Rune sat down.

“You should have told me, you know,” Tina said.
“About your feelings for him.”

“There wasn’t anything to tell.”

“Obviously there was, but whatever. When Strad and I met, I
was working as a waitress in a diner beside a hospital. I may have told you.”
She paused. “Strad had been in a fight and was pretty messed up. He’d gone to
the hospital for stitches.” She pointed to her head. “You know how badly he has
to be hurt to go to a hospital.”

Rune nodded. She’d seen the scars on Strad’s head, starting
high on his forehead, wrapping around his temple and disappearing into his
hair.

“Anyway, he went in, got stitched up and came into the
restaurant for some dinner.” Tina smiled. “He was all enormous and bloody and…”
She shuddered. “Who would have thought I’d end up with someone like that?
Certainly not I.
Not my parents.

“But I was vulnerable.” She darted her gaze at Rune. “I told
you about the COS man I was seeing.”

“Yeah.”

Again, Tina smiled, as though those troubled times escaping
COS were bittersweet. Perhaps they were. “My ex got one good look at Strad and
it didn’t take him all day to leave me alone.” She paused. “You know, he really
did love me. My ex, I mean.”

“But he was bat shit crazy.”

Tina inclined her head.
“A little.
He was so zealous he was dangerous. All that really mattered to him was getting
the approval of his superiors.”

Rune shifted impatiently. “What does that have to do with—
”

“I’m trying to explain to you about Strad. Maybe you don’t
know him as well as you think you do.”

Rune’s mouth was as dry as old carpet.
“Meaning?”

“You’ve seen Strad fight.”

“Yeah.”

“He’s different then. You know…”

“All his suppressed rage comes out.”

“It’s frightening.”

“It’s fucking terrifying.”

“If he loses control during sex and all that passion come
out…”

“Oh shit,” Rune whispered.

“Exactly.”

“But?”

Tina shrugged and made a wry face. “Maybe you’re better off
staying out of his bed. I know you addicted him to your blood.”

“You say that the same way you’d say I got pregnant to trap
him.”

“He wants to be with you so badly because he’s addicted to
your blood. It’s not like he loves you.”

Rune drew back, a little shocked at Tina’s viciousness. “I’m
staying out of his bed because he isn’t finished with you.” She shook off the sudden
image of him in bed with Tina. “The addiction, our feelings for each other,
anything else is not your fucking business.”

“He’s dangerous.
Dangerous especially to
you.
You two let off sparks I can almost see when you’re together.” She
clenched her fists. “I thought it was aversion.
That you two
rubbed each other the wrong way.
Boy,
was I
ever wrong.” She didn’t even try to make her laugh sound anything other than
bitter. “But those sparks…if you’re not careful, they’re going to cause a fire
that will destroy you both.”

She remembered the insidious fear she’d always had of the
berserker and knew she’d sensed something. Deep down, she’d
known
he was
a danger to her. “Tina—”

“Imagine all that rage coming out when he’s on top of you.”

Rune shuddered. Yeah.
Scary as fuck.
“He wouldn’t hurt me. He’s stronger than that.”

“Would you be willing to take that chance?
To test it?”

Rune hesitated, flashing back on the amazing kiss in her
office. Yeah, she’d test it.
Had
tested it.
The
passion was there but Strad hadn’t gone nuts and fucked her into a coma.

Once more, she stood. “I’m not testing anything. The
berserker is not mine to test. I have to go to work. You’ve reminded me that I
need to pay SCOS a visit. Let me know if you think of anything you might have
forgotten to tell me.”

Tina twisted her hands. “Find my kid and I’ll forgive you
everything.”

Rune wasn’t going to try to make excuses or argue that none
of it was really her fault. It was. She nodded once,
then
strode from the room.

She believed Gunnar. Tina knew something, but understanding
just what that was would be a problem.

She sped away from Strad’s apartment, needing to put some
distance between herself and the hurting blonde.

She refused to think about Strad. She needed to think about
finding
Matthew,
not how having sex with Strad might
put her in the ground. It wasn’t death that scared her. It was what came
before. For all she knew she might be immortal, as terrible as that was. Yes,
there were worse things than death.

Before she could lose herself in those thoughts, her cell
rang. She glanced at the display before putting it to her ear. “Elizabeth.
What’s up?”

“I’m sending you and your crew to Willowburg. Rue Canyon
Road. There’s a clinic there—”

“I know it.” Lex had nearly died there. That clinic was
where Rune had fed her to save her life. It was where Lex had become addicted
to Rune’s blood.

“Others have stormed the clinic and are refusing to let Dr.
Haas do her work. Now they are threatening to destroy the place. I have a
feeling things are going to escalate quickly.”

“Why?”

“Dr. Haas is taking care of a human patient in the clinic.
The
Others
are furious that one of their own would
allow a human inside their clinic, let alone take care of him.”

“What human would want to be a patient in an
Other
clinic?”

 Elizabeth paused. “I should have started with that.”

A familiar knot began to twist inside Rune’s stomach.
“Who?”

“Ellis. I’m sorry I didn’t handle this well. My excuse is
that I have a lot on my mind.”

Fuck me.
“I’ll call him. Thanks.” She hung up, taking
a deep breath before calling Ellis. She’d neglected him. Now he was in the
middle of a clinic seized by
Others
and she had no
idea what the fuck was going on.

Levi answered Ellis’s phone. “Rune, I’m sorry.”

“I’ll deal with you later. Tell me what’s going on.”

“It got out of hand fast. I was getting ready to call you.”

“Explain, Levi.”

“Ellis is afraid he’s going to turn.
Is
certain of it.
I can’t deny the hospital personnel treated him
differently. Ellis got upset. I took him out of there. I brought him here
because I know this place. I trust Haas.” Levi was talking fast, as though he
was going to lose his phone, and the background noise, while muted, was
frantic.

“How is Ellie?”

“Scared.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Which of the crew are you bringing?”

“How many
Others
are there?”

“A lot, Rune.
Better bring—”

“Give me the fucking phone!”

Rune heard a struggle as someone fought with Levi for the
phone, heard Ellie’s panic as he yelled Levi’s name, and then there was only
silence.

If a crowd of
Others
had forced
their way into the clinic, Levi alone couldn’t handle them. He needed his crew.

She called Raze. “I need you at Rue Canyon Road in
Willowburg. The clinic is under attack by
Others
.
Ellie and Levi are there and in trouble.”

“On my way.”

She called the rest of the crew in as quickly,
then
concentrated on getting to Willowburg as fast as she
could.

But two minutes later, her phone rang again.

She
answered,
afraid the call would
bring more bad news.
Ellie, hang on until I get there.
“Hello?”

There was only dead air for a few seconds. Finally a man
spoke, his voice soft.
“Rune Alexander.”
He drew her
name out in a vaguely familiar—and irritating—way.

She frowned, darting between a minivan and an old truck.
“Who is this?”

“This is Tim Emerson. I thought it was time we talked.
Honestly, Alexander, I expected you to pay me another visit. You’ve been
very…slow.
In more ways than one.”

“What the fuck do you want?”

“You, Alexander,” he said, after a pause. “I want you.”

“Sorry, dude. I’ve cut back recently.”

“On?”

“On dating pieces of shit.”

She could almost see him shudder. When he spoke, his voice
was high and offended. “You
really
think I’d want to date you?”

She sighed.
“No, dude.
Not
really
.
Why don’t you tell me what you do want before I end this fucking call?”

Now it was his turn to sigh.
“So
antagonistic.
I need you to come to the church.
Now.
Is that clear enough for you?”

“Why?”

“Let’s just say I believe you can do something wonderful for
me.”

“You’re wrong. I might, however, do something painful to
you.”

“That’s a chance I’m willing to take.”

“Dude, I’m on my way to an emergency. Whatever crazy shit is
in your head right now, you hang on to that. My crew and I will be in to see you
soon. Count on it.” And she started to take the phone from her ear.

“I have the child.”

And just like that, she got it. She finally got it. She
began to shiver. “You’re Tina’s ex.”

“I knew she wouldn’t keep her mouth shut about her sordid
past.” His tone was mild, as though they were just a couple of people talking
about a boring television show. “Here is my warning to you. If you call anyone,
if you let anyone know what I’ve told you, I won’t hesitate to finish him off.
We’ve gotten everything we’re going to get from the kid. I’ll trade him for
you.”

“How’d you do it?”

“What?”

“Take him. How did you take Matthew?”

He laughed. “It was easy, Alexander. The big bald babysitter
was most helpful when I showed her cash.”

“You had Sherry killed in Texas.” It wasn’t a question. She
knew he had. Tim Emerson had reached out to his slayer connections and they’d
snuffed out that girl’s life like it was a dim candle flame.