Obsidian Wings (6 page)

By the time Lex finished talking, the sun had gone down.

The crew looked at each other with haunted eyes, their faces
pale, their minds frozen with shock.

She’d given them a horror story.

A story of torture, pain, control. Black despair and torment
and fear.

The sadistic members of COS weren’t happy with merely
torturing the twins physically. They wanted to see them cry, to hear them beg,
to humiliate them. To break them.

“Are they really broken, Lex?” Ellis asked. He stood off to
the side, alone, holding up his palm when one of the crew got too close to him.

“I think so,” she told him, her voice mournful. “Maybe.”

He worked his mouth, trying to speak, but no words would
come.

“Levi loves you,” she said.

Ellis bent forward, sobbing. “Levi,” he cried. “Levi.”

Rune strode to him and pulled him into her arms. She
embraced him and she embraced the pain from the covered fang. Right then, she
needed the pain to keep her mind from exploding.

“He saw me,” he said, his voice thick. “Levi
saw
me.”

“I see you, baby,” she whispered, but knew it wasn’t enough.
And maybe none of them believed they’d get the twins back, but not one of them
would stop trying.

“There has to be something,” Strad said.

Rune glanced at him. His eyes were full of murder. Before
Lex had finished speaking, he’d reached for his spear, his face blank. She
recognized the killing rage with which he held his favorite weapon.

Yes, there had to be something. Some clue, something they
were missing, that would lead them to the twins.

But if so, they weren’t finding it in Lex’s grim account.
She’d felt emotions. Pain, fear, horror. She’d heard words. Mostly she’d been
somehow inside the twins, had felt what they felt, but there was no way to know
where they were.

COS was hiding, and they were hiding well.

“They could be anywhere,” Owen said. “COS could have them in
a basement in the city, or underground in Hawthorne Forest.”

Rune closed her eyes against the burning pain of the
insidious fang and flinched the tiniest bit from Ellie’s body. When she opened
her eyes, the berserker watched her.

Ellis gently extracted himself and turned his back to wipe
his wet face. “Why can’t we find them?”

“COS had a long time to prepare for this,” Jack said.

“They may not be keeping them in River County,” Raze told
them. “On the night of the new moon, they’ll bring the twins back for the
ritual.”

Rune shook her head. “They’re close.”

Lex agreed. “I couldn’t have found them if they’d been far.
They’re here.” She made a fist and hit her leg. “They’re
here.
”

“Strad,” Rune said. “Ask the birds. I feel it in my gut.
They know something. Maybe they saw COS on Hook Road. They know
something.
”

“Any little bit of information can help.” Ellis stared up at
Strad. “Please. Please.”

The berserker’s sharp gaze softened as he looked from Rune
to Ellis. “I’ll talk to them. If the scepters know anything, they’ll tell me.
But they don’t.”

For whatever reason, Strad had no doubt.

Ellis took Strad’s hand. “Thank you. Now help me understand.
Why would a man deliberately torment another person? It can’t just be hatred,
can it?” He peered around at the crew. “COS…they’re people. They were once
children. All of them have brothers or sons or fathers. What makes them want so
badly to hurt another man?”

But the crew had no answers for him.

At least none that would satisfy him or make him understand.
Such brutality would always be beyond Ellis’s comprehension.

He was too good, too
pure
, to understand the monsters
that lived inside the dark corners of one’s mind.

Rune understood them, though, and she shook with dread and
fear.

No matter when they found the twins, the boys were not
coming out of there the same as when they went in.

If they came out at all.

Stop it. We will save them.

Only what if they didn’t?

Strad handed Ellis off to her. “I’ll contact you after I’ve
talked with the birds.”

“I’ll come with you.”

He shook his head. “If I take you up there, they won’t tell
me anything.” He smiled. “And we’d probably have a full scale battle on our
hands.”

She nodded, then gave him a weak smile. “Don’t look so
shocked, Berserker. I know it’s not a good idea for me to go to Spikemoss
Mountain.”

“I’m used to you arguing,” he said, and leaned down to kiss
her forehead. “I’ll call you as soon as I can.”

“Be careful.”

“Always.”

“Strad,” Lex called.

He went immediately to her side and knelt down beside her
chair.

Her expression was somber, her face gleaming beneath the
tall pole lights. “I need some of your rage.”

He inclined his head. His long, black hair streaked over his
shoulders and down his back, and for an instant Rune had the almost
uncontrollable urge to go to him, wrap her arms around his huge, kneeling body
and hold him.

But she was Rune, and she stood silent and still and did not
move.

“If I could,” Strad said, “I would give it all to you.”

Lex smiled, very slightly, a tired, sad smile that was not
really a smile at all. “It would kill me, Berserker.”

Rune smiled when Lex used her name for Strad.

“What can I do?” he asked.

“Let me touch you.”

He took her hand and put it on his wrist.

The others watched. Rune barely breathed as she waited,
aware something different was about to happen.

Lex wrapped her fingers around the berserker’s wrist and
closed her eyes.

He stiffened, his breath leaving him in a soft grunt. He
looked poised for flight. But in the end he stayed where he was and let Lex do
what she needed to do.

Lex opened her eyes, and even in the relative darkness, Rune
could see a difference. The dullness had been replaced by the spark that had
gone missing the day COS had taken her.

She reached for Rune. “Now you.”

Rune knelt on her other side, mystified as she caught
Strad’s gaze. She gave Lex her arm. “Whatever you need.”

Lex wrapped her fingers around Rune’s arm in a grip tight
enough to hurt. Connected by their addictions and their blood, the three of
them…fed.

Rune stiffened, moaning as a rush of power roared through
her.

“Shit,” someone whispered.

She thought it might have been Owen, and for a brief second
she needed to include him, to include all her crew in the wonder, the bliss,
the protection.

But then, she didn’t think at all.

Just felt.

Blindly, she reached out a hand and when the berserker took
it, something changed. Something completed, shifted, and became…

Right.

They fed from the energy. From the power.

When the zings of power faded, she found Jack leaning over
her, his hand out.

He helped her to her feet, and she shook off the feeling of
cat-like laziness that had overtaken her. She wanted to writhe on the ground
and purr in contentment. But at the same time, she was so full of energy she
could barely stand still.

“You were glowing,” Jack said, a hint of envy in his voice.
“You all were. Or,” he hesitated, shaking his head in confusion, “whatever
surrounded you three was glowing.”

“A circle,” Lex said.

“I don’t know what just happened,” Rune said. “But it was
amazing. I feel almost complete.”

Almost, because still, something was missing.

Strad nodded. “Yeah.”

Lex climbed out of her chair, shoving away the helping hand
Raze offered her. “I’m good now. I’m better than normal. Physically, at least.
When we get the twins, I’ll be perfect.”

Rune shot out her silver claws, because she was unable to
contain them. There was simply too much energy. “I need a battle.”

“There’s a battle coming,” Lex said, her voice grim. She
vibrated forcefully, and then the vibrations became so fast it appeared as
though her body was still. But the crew knew it was not. Her eyes were dancing
crazily.

Lex was right. She was better.

Ellis put his arm around her. “I’m so glad you’re okay,
Lex.” But inside his eyes lurked desperate questions.

“They’re alive, sweet Ellie,” Lex said. “I have no other
answers.”

He nodded and let go of her, his fingers going to the slight
bulge of the hidden fang. “I wish I could fight. All I can do is watch as the
rest of you save the world.”

“Ellie,” Rune said, softly. “You know better. The crew works
because of you.”

He pursed his lips, then sighed. “I don’t want to whine. I
want to matter.”

“As if you don’t,” Raze said, glaring. “You’re the center of
the crew. You hold us together. You’re the…”

“Touchstone,” Rune said. There was no doubt in her mind.
Without Ellis, the crew would be different. Less. As would the world.

“Touchstone,” Lex echoed. “Yes.”

And just that abruptly, as gooseflesh erupted on her skin,
Rune realized what was missing. “We should have included them all in that
circle.”

“And we will,” Strad said.

“Yes. Let’s get our twins. The crew is incomplete.”

“Somebody give me a blade,” Lex said.

Raze grinned. He slid a blade from its sheath, and without
hesitating, threw it.

And though she knew what Lex was capable of, Rune tensed.

Lex snatched the blade from the air. “Now,” she said. “I’m
ready.”

Even the billowy hospital gown couldn’t take away from the
blind Other’s confidence, her strength, her
badassery
.

Rune high-fived her. “Damn right.”

And the dark, cold winter fled as the bright beginnings of
spring assumed command.

“Raze wanted to know what happened to me,” Lex told Rune
later, as they headed to RISC to meet the new master.

Rune glanced at the girl. “Yeah?”

“I didn’t tell him anything.”

“He can handle it, Lex. If you decide to talk.”

“Maybe,” Lex said. “I know he has a thing for me. Or he
thinks he does. But he doesn’t know what he’d be in for.”

“Yes, he does. He does know.”

“Maybe,” Lex repeated, and finished the ride staring out her
window, silent.

When Rune pulled into the RISC parking lot, she sat for a
long moment watching Lex. “Are you okay?”

“I’m better than I was before I fed from you.” Lex turned
her face toward Rune and offered her a quick smile. “My body is nearly healed.”

“Nearly?”

But Lex wasn’t ready to talk about it, and it was with
shameful relief that Rune acknowledged that. She wasn’t exactly eager to hear
about Lex’s torment.

“I discovered,” Lex said as they walked to the building, “I
can survive anything that happens to me. I can even handle what the twins are
going through.”

“But?” Rune opened the door.

“I don’t think I can survive losing them. I don’t think I
can.”

“You can,” Rune said. “You won’t want to. But,” she added,
unable not to, “we’ll find the twins. Alive.”

“Not if we don’t hurry,” Lex said, her blunt honesty almost
too much for Rune.

Ten days. They had ten days before the church killed the
twins. And that wasn’t a hell of a lot of time.

When she walked into the conference room with Lex, she
didn’t automatically seek out the vampire master.

Someone else held her immediate attention.

“Elizabeth.” She was a little surprised by how happy she was
to see the woman. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”

Elizabeth Peel still wasn’t healthy, but she no longer
looked like she was about to kiss the grim reaper. She sported half-moons under
her eyes, stark against the pallor of her face. “Rune,” she greeted. “Hello,
Lex. I’m happy to see you’re both well.”

“Are you back?” she asked Elizabeth.

“I’m going to ease into work, but yes. I’m back.”

“Good. How are Fie and George?”

Elizabeth sighed. “George still isn’t conscious. Lane placed
Stefanie in emergency foster care until I can prove myself a worthy mother.
It’s a long process.”

Lane was with River County Children’s Services and one of
the few people Rune would have trusted with Fie and George. “Fie will be okay
for now, then,” she told Elizabeth, who, despite her attempts at remaining
cool, was showing signs of worry. “You can trust Lane.” Still, she was
concerned. The child was a necromancer, and there were those who would be eager
to exploit her.

“Yes,” Elizabeth said. “But Fie needs to be with me. I do
hate delays.”

“Rune,” Bill Rice called.

Raze and Jack walked into the room, followed by Owen and,
though Rune knew what it cost him, Ellis.

She drew in a deep breath and didn’t pull away when Lex took
her hand. It was time to meet the vampire.

With her crew beside her, she walked to Rice, the master,
and the two vampires at Kelic’s back.

“Ah,” said Rice. “Shiv Crew. Meet master vampire Simon
Kelic. Simon, this is Rune Alexander and her crew.”

Before Rune could say anything, Ellis rushed forward. He
yanked the fang from beneath his shirt, then shook it at the vampires. “Back!”

The two vampires with Simon hit the wall with a force almost
strong enough to leave two vampire shaped holes in it. They screamed, covered
their eyes, and then their flesh began to bubble and blacken.

“Ellie,” Rune yelled. “Put it away.”

Simon crouched behind the table, his arms over his head.

“Oh, my goodness,” Ellis said, watching them with part
disbelief, part delight. “It really works.”

Jack grinned.

Rune strode to Ellis. “Put it away, Ellie. Please.”

But she was glad Ellis had taken the initiative to reassure
himself. And she was overjoyed the tooth only affected her if she touched it.
To the vampires, the mere sight of it was agonizing.

And now they knew.

Half an hour later the vampires were once again
calm—relatively speaking—and their burned flesh had healed. But not one of them
would get near Ellis.

He was thrilled.

Elizabeth and Bill apologized profusely, maybe to make up
for Rune and the crew’s lack of remorse.

Simon spoke only once to Ellis. “What
is
that?” His voice was hoarse as he darted his stunned gaze from
Ellis’s face to his shirt, where Ellie had finally hidden the fang.

“Something to keep the vampires away,” Ellis answered. He
smiled.

And finally, they got back to business as Rice once more
began to make introductions.

Rune took Simon’s proffered hand.

He was around five feet ten inches tall, maybe closer to
five eleven. His hair was on the short side and dark blond. He must have been
twenty five, thirty at the most, when he’d turned. His eyes were green and
friendly.

Just an ordinary guy.

But Rune knew better than to underestimate the monsters.
Simon’s physical appearance didn’t matter. He was a vampire. A master vampire.

“May I ask,” Simon said, “what you are?”

“No,” she replied. “You may not.” She didn’t want to tell a
fucking vampire master that she wasn’t sure exactly what all she was.

She withdrew her hand and introduced her crew. Simon
appeared sufficiently impressed by them, especially by Raze and Jack. Every new
person they met was impressed by the sizes of Raze and Jack.

Strad was one of the giants as well—the biggest of them all.
But Strad wasn’t there. He was on Spikemoss Mountain with his birds. With Cree
Stark.

Then she forgot about Strad as Simon caught sight of Lex.

If he’d been alive, his breath might have caught. His face
might have paled, his lips tightened.

But he was a vampire, and he’d been schooling his features
for God knew how long.

Rune saw anyway. Maybe because she was a monster herself, or
maybe because she was just that observant.

Lex was introduced to him. She automatically held her hand
out for him to take.

He eyed it with something close to horror.

Simon did not like Alexis Love. And it wasn’t simply that he
didn’t like her—he was repulsed by her. He pulled back, the slightest bit, and
dug his fingers into his thighs.

The room quieted.

“What,” Rune asked, her voice flat, “is the fucking
problem?”

Lex let her hand drop to her side. “Me?” she asked.

Ellis put his arm around her, squeezing the fang with his
free hand.

Raze had stiffened and glared at the vampire. He wasn’t the
only one. The entire crew caressed silver shivs, ready to take Simon out.

The two vampires Simon had brought with him watched
impassively, standing with the characteristic stillness of the vampire.

Elizabeth stood between her people and the vampires. She
never lost her calm expression, and her voice was steady when she spoke. “Mr.
Kelic. Is something wrong?”

He shuttered his eyes and shot a smile at the crew. “I
apologize.” His voice held the slightest hint of a British accent. He glanced
at Lex again. “The last time I was this close to a demon, it nearly destroyed
me.” He studied her intently, appearing not to notice that everyone in the room
was staring at him with disbelief. “Can you tell me,” he said to Rune, “just
what sort of demon it is?”

It.

Lex’s body began to jerk with fast, hard vibrations. “Me?”
she asked again. “Is he talking about me?”

“You’re mistaken, Kelic,” Rune said. “Lex is not a demon.”

“Clearly she is,” he disagreed. “She appears to be a
Kourgya
. The vibrations…” he frowned. “But the eyes. I’ve
not seen that before in a demon.”

“Are you stupid?” Rune asked him. “Are you a
stupid
fucking vampire?”

He focused on Rune. “I do not believe so.” His words were
suddenly stilted. He knew he’d fucked up. He gave an odd little bow. “Again, I
apologize.”

“You’re not very old, are you?” Rune asked, genuinely
curious. He couldn’t have been an old vampire—he was too socially awkward.

“No,” he admitted. “I’m not.”

“What do you mean?” Lex asked. “Why did you call me a
demon?”

The vampire blinked, a spark of confusion in his eyes. And
maybe a touch of fear.

“Lex, he has no idea what he’s talking about.” Rune squeezed
Lex’s hand.

Simon gave a quick nod. “Your mistress is correct, Ms. Love.
I was mistaken.”

“Mistress?” Lex asked.
“Mistress?”

“Dude,” Jack said. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

The vampire ignored Jack and kept his stare on Rune. “I’m
not old, that’s true. But I have the keen senses of any vampire. Are you not
her…” he gestured. “Do you not command her? Call her?”

“But what do you
mean?
” Lex asked.

Finally, Simon faced Lex. “All demons must be held, for lack
of a better word, or they will grow sick and their power will fade. I sensed a
connection between Rune and you.” He inclined his head. “Unfortunately for me,
I was careless with my words. Perhaps the connection I perceived was nothing
more than the bonds of friendship.”

The crew looked at each other, quick, uneasy glances that
spoke volumes. They all remembered Lex’s episodes. They remembered her getting
better after she met Rune. Maybe Ellis’s exercises and dances had not made her
better. Maybe Rune’s blood had not made her better. Maybe
Rune
had.

And maybe, just maybe, that was why Rune had been able to
heal her.

Because Lex was a demon—half demon, at least—and she was
Rune’s to call. To hold. To command.

Of course, what Simon sensed could have been Lex’s addiction
to Rune’s blood.

Rune rubbed her temples
. Fuck me.

“What does this mean?” Lex asked, her voice a monotone.
“That I’m a slave to someone? Again?”

Rune ground her teeth. “Lex, you know better than that.
You’re not a demon and I’m not your fucking bitch of a mother. We’re exactly
who we were before this dead fuck came in here and opened his mouth.”

Simon sighed. “I’ve made mess of things.” He took
Elizabeth’s hand and looked at Rice. “I will assume this means Spiritgrove is
off the table.”

“Do not assume anything, Simon. Will you excuse us for a
moment?” Elizabeth asked.

“My men and I will wait in the hall,” he said, a hopefulness
in his tone that was impossible to mistake.

Elizabeth nodded and waited until the vampires had cleared
the room before she spoke. “I’m sorry our meeting went so far off track, but
the fact remains that we need a decent master in this city. He’s awkward, but I
like him. He’s the least…vampire-like vampire I’ve ever met.”

“He’s a clumsy moron,” Rune said.

But she knew Rice and Elizabeth had already decided. River
County had a new vampire master, and his name was Simon Kelic.