Goddess With a Blade (5 page)

Chapter Eight

The sun was already beginning to scorch the asphalt as Rowan tore onto the highway leading from Vegas to Barstow. Thena leaned her head against the leather seats as they sang along to PJ Harvey.

The drive was long, but even with some nasty traffic and a stop for gas and junk food, they still managed to make it through the front doors of the truckstop/diner Tammy had worked at.

Rowan hadn’t invited Thena along solely for the pleasure of her company. Thena was blessed with the ability to get people to talk to her about anything. The only other person Rowan had known who’d been better at persuasion had been a Vampire. Whatever magick Thena had was similar to a thrall, but subtler.

Thena wove a conversation into something else. A web of sorts, Rowan supposed. She learned and gleaned and maneuvered until people told her things they hadn’t expected to. Only later on they didn’t really remember much and eventually their memory of the conversation would fade completely.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her around in a while.” The waitress turned her attention from them as she scanned the diner. “I’m new so I don’t know Tammy that well. We usually work different shifts anyway. But one of the other girls, oh there she is.” She waved another woman over. “She and Tammy are real close. Kiki, these ladies know Tammy. Isn’t that funny?”

The tall brunette eyed them warily. “That so?”

Thena nodded. “You have a few minutes to chat?”

Looking around at the now quiet diner, Kiki nodded and slid into the chair across from Thena, next to Rowan. The other waitress wandered off, saying she’d cover Kiki’s tables for a bit.

“Kiki, we need to talk to you about Tammy. The other waitress said you two are tight?” Thena said, her voice soothing.

Kiki nodded and it was plain to see that she’d been worried about her friend by the way she wrung her hands. “I been knowing her since high school when we moved here. Is something wrong?”

Thena nodded. “We’ve got some bad news and we need your help.”

Kiki paled but she didn’t look surprised. “Bad news? Who are you people?”

“When was the last time you saw her?”

“It was that guy in Vegas! I knew it. Did he hurt her? Is she in rehab again or something? I don’t have any money but I can probably get some if you need it.”

Thena reached out and grabbed Kiki’s hand and Rowan touched her shoulder. “Please, when did you see her last?”

“A week ago. We went to Vegas. Supposed to be a girls’ trip, you know? But on our first night we met this dude and we let him buy us drinks and shit and he asked us, no, just Tammy, back to his room. And…” Her voice wandered off and Rowan hid a sigh. Kiki’s behavior was common among those whose memories had been wiped by a Vampire.

Rowan cut her gaze to Thena for a moment before she moved back to Kiki. “Where did you meet this guy?”

“Uh, oh God, I think it was at one of those theme dance places. Goths, chicks with wings. I can’t remember the name.” Kiki’s brow furrowed as she tried to recall.

Rowan squeezed her shoulder again. “What did he look like?”

“I can’t remember! I wasn’t on drugs, I swear. I haven’t used meth in nearly three years. The guy promised us some good shit. But I said no way. I have a kid, I can’t be messing around like that or the state will take her again.”

“I believe you. Do you remember anything else? Because, Kiki, Tammy is dead. She’s been murdered. They found her body a few days ago. I’m sorry to have to tell you like this.”

Kiki’s face crumpled. Thena moved her hand in front of Kiki’s face and murmured. She calmed. They’d have to wipe this part of the details so the cops could officially tell Tammy’s family and friends but Tammy’s friend deserved to know, even for a few short minutes. It might also shock her into remembering some small detail that might help them.

“Any details you have can help us catch the killer.”

“When I said no, Tammy said yes. She was…weak. She still had the cravings so bad. You don’t know how hard it is sometimes. Tammy didn’t have a kid to keep her good. And her ex wrote her off a year ago. She left with him, the guy. I begged her not to but she wouldn’t listen. I was pissed off and came home. I shouldn’t have left her there.”

“It’s not your fault, Kiki. You couldn’t have made her come with you. He’s the one who hurt her.”

They continued to ask questions and get some names of others around who’d need some looking into until the place started getting busy for lunch.

“We appreciate your time, Kiki.” Thena stood and held Kiki’s attention. “Can you walk us out to our car?”

Kiki nodded and they tossed down money for breakfast and headed outside. Thena wiped the details of the murder they’d given Kiki from her memory but left the part that they were investigators looking for Tammy. Rowan gave Kiki a business card and urged her to call if she remembered any more details.

They drove over to Tammy’s parents’ house and spoke with her mother and father, who thought that she’d fallen in with a bad crowd again and was using. They hadn’t heard from her since before the trip to Vegas. More than anything, Rowan wanted to tell them about their daughter. Hated the necessity of letting the human authorities deal with it in their official way. It would be best for them to hear it from a uniformed officer and Goddess knew they’d want to know just who Rowan was and how she knew when the cops didn’t.

The ex worked at a body shop on the outskirts of town and was openly hostile. It was clear he’d loved Tammy at one time but she’d burned him so often it’d turned into something darker. Rowan didn’t get the feeling he was capable of violence but she doubted Tammy would have called him if she needed help.

By four, they headed out of town and back toward Vegas. They’d checked out Tammy’s apartment and interviewed several people. Rowan took some hair from Tammy’s brush and a snapshot of her and Kiki to show around at the clubs in town.

“There aren’t that many clubs like that in Vegas. Not really a goth sort of scene. I can only think of two. And one of them is a place Vampires like to hang out.” Rowan turned the music down.

The scenery blurred past as they discussed the details in their tiny, air-conditioned bubble of speed.

“I’m going to give Jack the name and tell him I was there today. He’ll find out anyway when they talk to the witnesses.”

“He’s going to be pissed off you didn’t tell him before you went to Barstow.”

“I’m sure he will be. It’s not my preferred method you know, hiding things from him. But you know the cops would not have gotten half that information out of Kiki. Now she’ll know she talked to us about the details and won’t hold back with the cops. What she can remember anyway. I’m so going to kick Clive’s ass.”

“
Clive
huh?”

“He and I still hate each other but I think he’ll deal with this Vampire. He’s on the ball.” Rowan looked at the road. She was a natural liar, but Thena knew her too well.

“Hmpf. On the phone, just two days ago you told me he had a stick up his ass and now he’s on the ball.”

“He’s still got a stick up his ass. He’s the most uptight man—Vampire—I’ve ever met. And I’ve met a hell of a lot of them. But he’s not smarmy like Jacques was. And if he’s on the take, he’s doing it with some sense of caution. Say, should we stop up ahead and grab some dinner? I’m starving.”

Thank the Goddess Thena didn’t seem overly suspicious and latched on to the idea of stopping to eat.

By the time they finished a leisurely dinner and left the restaurant, darkness had begun to fall.

As they approached the rear of the lot where Rowan’s car was parked, she felt it. Felt the danger and the darkness of a Vampire approaching. She put her hand out to stay Thena. “I want you to go inside the restaurant right now. Don’t come out here. I’ll come in and get you when I’m finished.”

Thena froze, knowing better than to second-guess Rowan. “All right. But if you get killed I’m gonna hunt you down and kick your ass. Stupid fucking Vampires.”

Rowan stood still, listening, gathering, making sure Thena got inside safely. Then she moved quickly off the pavement to the bare ground behind the restaurant. She’d be better able to pull power from the earth there instead of on the asphalt.

In an economic movement, she reached back and grabbed the hilt of the blade. It warmed to her touch instantly, knowing her master. Rowan moved her wrist slightly, pulling the blessed blade from the custom sheath. The sound rang through the air. A beautiful, clear ring as it cleared the leather that bound it. That ring was the only sound now. No traffic. No insects, no birds. Nothing but death.

The Vampire approached on the wind. She’d be ready for it.

She rotated her wrist and the blade sang as it cut through the air. Rowan spread her feet apart and tipped her head back. Opening herself up, she took a deep breath, found her center and called to the Goddess. Reaching down and out, she pulled the strength and will from the earth and the air.

Everything inside her stilled. Her heart sped and then slowed, her blood thickening. Then, quicksilver, heat began to slide up her legs. Electric sensation made her fingertips tingle and her scalp itch.

White-hot light exploded outward and turned itself inside again, the power filling her up just shy of overflowing. A thousand voices filled her head, countless memories and visions swam across her vision. She was many and one. All and nothing but a servant of what was right and just.

When she opened her eyes, it was with the queer sense of double vision Rowan always had when the Goddess filled her. As if Brigid herself was just under Rowan’s skin. And that was true in a way. Brigid blessed her with her strength and her presence and not a moment too soon because the Vampire alighted to his feet in front of her.

There was no wind but Rowan’s hair moved on the breeze of her power. It surged through her body, building in her muscles. She’d be strong and fast. Unbeatable. And supremely pissed off. This Vampire had no idea what he was fucking with.

Which told her this was not her killer.

“Vampire, why are you here?” Her voice was deeper than normal and it vibrated with otherworldly strength.

The Vampire stared at her a moment, not knowing if he should be afraid or not. A trickle of bloodlust slid through Rowan’s gut, anticipating his fear when she drew his attention to the blade. For the moment, she let him speak.

“You are meddlesome, bitch, so I’ve come to take care of a problem.”

He didn’t feel immensely old. The old ones like The First and those of his age felt so very cold and empty. And they had a certain scent, almonds. Even now that she knew the whole story of her parents’ death, the scent of almonds comforted her. Still, this Vampire was dangerous enough and she wouldn’t forget it.

“Have you now?” Rowan moved and with a quick turn of her wrist made the blade sing. A song of death.

The Vampire noticed and she laughed. “Ahh, he didn’t tell you what to expect? Or does he not know? Hmm.” She cocked her head as they continued to circle one another. “Lazy. You’ve come here expecting a feeble little human. You deserve to die for being so careless.”

“You
are
a feeble little human.” But his voice didn’t sound so sure.

To underline her point she moved in and sliced through the tendons in his forearm. The blessed blade left a sizzling line of scarlet in her wake.

His scream only filled her with pity. She reined in her desire to mess with him and decided to question him instead.

“Now that I’ve got your attention, why don’t you tell me who you are?”

He moved and so did she, warily dancing and looking for weakness.

“I’m Charles Rossinni. And you’re going to die.”

She stopped and wrinkled her nose. “Is that the best you’ve got? Listen, Chuck, since I’m going to have to slay you and all, I’ll give you a tip. When in doubt and out of scary material, just flash fang. Less is more when it comes to this stuff. That’s way more frightening than hackneyed movie phrases.”

Angered, he lunged at her and she ducked neatly, slicing the other arm. The scent of his blood painted the air.

“You can do this the easy way. Tell me why you’re here and I show you mercy and slay you quickly. Or the hard way, I slash and stab, stab, stab you until you tell me anyway. Oh, don’t look shocked! I was The First’s foster daughter. Any conscience I may have had over killing, he snuffed out at a very early age. Lucky for you, I got some mercy from my mother. Not enough to let you walk away from trying to kill me, but enough to kill you quick. If you cooperate.”

He lunged at her again and grabbed her hair this time. Damn it, she’d have to keep it in a ponytail more often. One of his nails dug into her neck and she felt the warm ooze of her blood on her skin.

Her lip curled. “Gross. I hope your shots are up to date.”

He moved quickly, knocking her off her feet but she countered just as fast and rolled, jumping to stand again in short work.

His fist shot out and connected with her cheek in a solid punch, raking his nails over the flesh as he pulled back. The sting made her eyes water.

Now she was really pissed off. He’d punched her and blooded her twice. His nails had delivered a nasty shot of Vamp chemicals almost like venom. She was immune to the killing effects of it but it still hurt like hell.

As he continued to attack her, circling and lunging, it became clear he wasn’t going to tell her anything. Ah well, she needed to move this along then.

Preternaturally fast, he lunged, lifting slightly off the ground but she ducked, kicking out, rewarded with the satisfying snap when she connected with his knee. The air rushed out of him in an oath when he hit the ground.

Spinning, she connected the heel of her hand to his nose, knowing she’d broken it when she heard the crunch. She followed with the hilt of the blade to his windpipe.

His choking sounds in her ears, she turned, facing east, knowing the time had come. Murmuring a blessing, she brought the blade to her lips and kissed it at the hilt.

Sensing her distraction, he attacked her from behind but she was faster than he knew. A deft movement of her wrist and arm brought the blade up as she spun to the side. A croak of surprise came from him as the long blade embedded in his chest. The stench of his blood and burning flesh from the surface of the blade making contact filled the air.