Broken Heart 06 Come Hell or High Water (18 page)

I wondered why the hunters hadn't found us again. Maybe they would.

"So which one of you stays with Astria?" asked Larsa.

I noticed that she was looking at Astria's pile of chili fries with the same kind of longing that I was.

"If we were in Broken Heart, we could so eat that," I muttered.

Larsa slid a look at me. "That's true? About the pixie wish letting the undead eat again?"

"Oh, yeah."

We both looked at the chili fries again.

"Anise stays," said Astria, popping another fry into her mouth.

"Fine. Ren and I will go to the museum and pick up the ring," said Larsa. "We're on Fifty-first and Peoria. It's down a few miles. The Knights Inn is closer. Connor, you and Phoebe go get Ella." She tossed a look at me. "Think you can handle that, cupcake?"

"Sure, butter nips," I said. "How about you?" She wasn't offended. In fact, a smile darted across her lips. "Some people don't think you have the skills, is all."

"Well, some people think you don't have the ability to shut up," I said. "We all have our little flaws."

Larsa grinned.

I'd never been in the Knights Inn before. It had been shut down for years. However, as a human, I'd gone to the Philbrook Museum of Art many times. It had once been one of my favorite places to visit, but never as a vampire with breaking and entering on her mind. Astria had said the ring was important to Ella, but didn't really explain why.

I had also suggested that we contact Queen Patsy or even just Damian to bring in some help from Broken Heart. Everyone was against it, mostly because they didn't know anyone there, or their intentions (my opinion didn't count). Connor pointed out that the hunters had learned our location because they seemed to be in collusion with the council. I didn't agree, but I didn't have proof, either. Astria ended the debate by saying, "It is not time." Everyone accepted this vague comment, and I had no choice but to do the same.

Astria also didn't tell us why we had to get the ring tonight. I'd already asked about getting it later and making sure the girl got it after she was safe, but Astria was adamant. Also, I was the only one arguing with her.

"The less magic we use, the better," said Larsa. "We don't want the hunters showing up. Those guys are too uptight, especially Nicor. And they're still pissed off we took their half of the talisman."

"The inn's a brisk walk for us," said Connor.

"I'll appropriate a car for me and Ren," said Larsa. She looked delighted at the prospect of committing grand theft auto.

I idly wondered if that was a skill I should acquire as well. Hmm. I found myself wanting to learn more. I wanted to work on increasing my powers, my knowledge, and my fighting abilities. I knew how to use my Glock, how to do hand-to-hand fighting, how to throw my knives. I wasn't a total pussy. Still, in this company, I felt like the weakest link.

I flicked a glance at Astria. "Do you know how to fight?"

Her eyes widened. "Not really."

"She doesn't need to know how to fight," said Anise.

"Why not?" I asked. "Afraid she'll ruin her manicure?"

Larsa muttered, "Nice one." And Astria giggled.

"We are her guardians." Her tone said,
End of discussion.

I don't know why I couldn't drop the subject. Maybe because learning to fight was an opportunity for Astria to actually make a choice for herself. I was totally sympathetic to exercising some free will here. And Astria was looking at me as if I were somehow her champion. I wondered how often anyone ever asked her what she wanted.
Really
wanted.

"I think she should learn to fight," I said. "If you and Ren die, what happens to her?"

"We won't," said Anise. I noticed that Ren was giving me the evil eye. Did the guy never talk?

"They won't," echoed Astria. "I have foreseen it."

"Do
you
want to learn to fight?"

Astria used a fry to make a pattern in the chili sauce. Then she lifted her chin. "Yes," she said, "I do."

"Okay. Connor 's gonna train me," I said. "You can join us." I looked at Connor. "Right?"

" ' Twould be my honor."

Anise and Ren shot twin (
ha
) looks of annoyance at me.

"We will discuss this at another time," said Anise.

Astria looked disappointed, and I figured it was because Anise's words sounded more like,
You will learn to fight over my dead body.

"Definitely," I said. "We'll discuss when and where the lessons will begin."

"Thank you," said Astria. She smiled at me, almost shyly. "It is time. Go forth, Phoebe, and win another battle."

We left Anise and Astria in the diner. Larsa and Ren took off toward the parking lot.

"Don't you find it weird that we're off to rescue the victim of Lilith's cult and some Sumerian ring? I can't help but feel anxious about the talisman. Where is it?"

"Safe."

"Connor, I'm getting really tired of nonanswers."

Scrymgeour, who'd been waiting outside for us, whined pitifully. I squatted down to scratch his ears. I felt like a bitch for thinking of Ella as a roadblock to fixing my own problems instead of a scared little girl at the mercy of crazy demon worshipers. I felt as if I were trapped in an episode of
Unsolved Mysteries
.

I straightened, and Scrymgeour tilted his head, giving me a wounded look.

"All right," I said. "Let's go get Ella."

We headed toward the I-44 freeway. I was glad to be stretching my legs even though vampires didn't require exercise. Besides, I really didn't want to have to deal with Nicor and his bunch; especially if everyone was right about the hunters being able to track magic signatures. Just on the other side of the freeway I saw the large neon sign of a castle. THE KNIGHTS INN gleamed red underneath it.

We didn't talk much on the way there. Scrymgeour followed us. Every so often the Chihuahua would dart away, chasing things I couldn't see, and return looking satisfied. I didn't sense any demon activity, so he could've been eating bugs and rats for all I knew. Blech.

When we arrived at the edge of the rusted fencing, I peered at the scraggly grass poking up through the cracked blacktop. The building was shaped like a castle, its paint made to look like stonework. It was obvious it had been empty for a while. And it definitely had that hollow feeling of something forgotten.

"Why do they leave the sign on?" I asked.

"Who knows," said Connor. "We can get in through the underground garage."

"How do you know about that?" I asked suspiciously.

"I'm psychic."

"Har-de-har."

He laughed, then pointed at the side of the building. Above a dark tunnel was a rusted sign: EMPLOYEE PARKING.

Connor scooped up Scrymgeour and wrapped an arm around my waist. Then, with one powerful push of his legs, we rose into the air and went over the fence. He landed with ease, letting me go as soon as my feet hit the ground.

"I could do that myself, you know," I said.

"Yeah, but I'll take any excuse I can get to put my arm around you."

"Smooth talker."

It didn't take long to make the journey across the weed-filled, cracked outside parking lot.

Our footsteps echoed in the tunnel that led to the underground parking. Even with my vampire vision, I couldn't make out much, although it smelled dank and dusty. When we were far enough inside, Connor touched my elbow. I paused. "What?"

"
Solas
," whispered Connor. Red orbs burst from his palm and floated above us, lighting our way.

"You can do fairy lights?" I asked, amazed. I'd seen other Sidhe create them. They were so pretty.

"It's not difficult magic. I'm half Ghillie Dhu, remember?"

A Scottish fairy, a protector of trees, a cavorter in nature. I couldn't reconcile Connor with such images. But imagining him as a demon was easy. I didn't know if that reflected something about Connor - or about me.

The tunnel ended and we entered the parking structure. The red orbs danced around us. We stepped onto a sidewalk, and I studied a metal door that probably led up into the hotel.

"Are we going back to Jennifer 's?" I asked.

"No," he said. "And we canna risk Broken Heart, either. You thinkin' this might be a good place to sleep?"

I was, sorta. Then again, I wasn't sure hanging out in the same place where a bunch of kidnapping murderers had occupied the space was necessarily a good idea. I might not have a choice, though. Dawn was creeping ever closer. I realized that I'd have to trust Connor to watch over me, or stay with me, if I did go toes-up in vampiric rest.

"Definitely sunproof," I said. "But nothing to sleep on." I wondered if the hotel had any sheets or blankets left, and if they did, if they were even worth using as covers. Who knew what crawled among the abandoned relics of this place?

"We must be careful about the magic," he said apologetically.

"I remember," I said. "Asking you to whip up a bed would be like setting off a demon alarm." Then I glanced pointedly at the red lights dancing above his head.

"I told you. That's not demon magic."

How could it not be? It might've been something he learned as a Ghillie Dhu, but wouldn't it still be a beacon to the ones who hunted us?

Connor wouldn't jeopardize us, and I was surprised that I trusted him. At least for now.

"I think we should separate," he said. "You check the lower floors, and I'll start on the roof and work my way down."

"What?" I couldn't explain my reluctance to be parted from him. Maybe it was the bond solidifying, or maybe it was the flare of foreboding I couldn't shake off.

"Afraid of the bogeyman?"

"You are the bogeyman."

"And you're the one who sucks the bogeyman's blood."

"I don't feel like the late-night-horror-flick villain," I groused.

"Maybe you should practice more."

I laughed.

"If you need me," he said, "use our connection." He tapped his temple.

Connor believed I would love him, but he hadn't yet said a word about loving me. That I had even entertained this idea made me feel like I'd fallen into a dark, cold pool of water. I didn't know what the right thing to do was, not really. How much was my choice? How much was dancing to the tune of a prophecy that Astria still had not revealed to me?

Ella first,
I thought.
Then the rest.

Connor dropped a kiss onto my forehead, which startled me. It smacked of spousal affection. "Scrymgeour will stay with you."

The Chihuahua whined.

"Now, lad, we talked about this. When I'm not here, you'll protect our lady."

That was the second time Connor had called me his lady, and it had an old-fashioned feel that I liked.

Scrymgeour dutifully
tiptiptipped
to me and then sat, his sad eyes on his master.

Connor directed the fairy lights to me. With one last quick smile, he turned and headed toward the exit tunnel. I waited until I couldn't hear the ring of Connor 's boots on the concrete before I turned toward the metal door.

"Let's go look around, Scry," I said.

The hellhound yipped at my heels as I pulled open the door and headed up a concrete staircase. The door at the top of the stairs gave way with a hard shove. The lights revealed a hallway with doors open on each side, and another set of stairs at the end.