Plagued: Book 1 (46 page)

“He's a big boy.” He snapped his fingers. “Have it sorted in no time.”

Julian tumbled by grappling with the dark thing first in one direction, then the other.

“Are you sure?” I said doubtfully.

“Of course. You know, it's a
guy thing
, as you Americans say. Wouldn't want someone else taking the glory.”

He jerked me out of the way as the two pummeled each other. We had come full circle, standing now almost exactly on the spot the singer first appeared. The shoe I'd used to stab Savan lay on the ground, the heel hanging by a thread. I was trying to catch my breath, sagging next to the tall singer, when Savan popped up in front of us. I'd nearly forgotten him, the field of battle being a bit crowded. His face was swollen and disfigured with bite marks. Both eyebrows appeared to have been singed off along with several inches of his dark, curly hair. A carpet of dead insects covered the street in a six-foot radius around him. He brushed the remaining spiders from his shoulders with a shudder. Eyes black with rage, he raised his magic brush.

“Oh bugger.” The long knives shot back into Albert's hands from beneath his sleeves.

A shadow, formless yet somehow massive, blocked out the street and Savan with it. My former boyfriend went down flailing and kicking, obviously struggling.

“Blaze!” shouted the singer. “Bite him! Bite him hard! He's a bad man!”

There was a roar of sound and an unearthly howl.

Savan cried out in pain.

“There, everything in hand now.” The long knives disappeared back into his sleeves; they must be attached to some sort of hidden trigger. Looking down at me, he smiled. “Good God, darling, you smell
fantastic
.” He inhaled deeply and I remembered Julian doing the same thing the first time we met, whispering furiously to me in the noise of the techno club. “Like all the yummiest things you could ever wish for, plus fresh-baked cookies, all together in one pretty package. But that intoxicating melange of scents seems incomplete somehow. Have you lost something recently? Something significant?”

“My soul?” was the answer I thought he might be looking for.

“Oh. Careless of you. How are you holding up?”

My legs were shaking and I wasn't sure if he meant spiritually, mentally or physically. “Not very well,” which I felt sincerely on
every
level. “Not very well at all.”

Leaning down, the rock singer swept me up off my feet and into his arms before I knew what was happening. “Poor thing. Bite him again Blaze, bite him hard for present and past transgressions against a lady, the bully. Blaze and I hate bullies.”

My ex-boyfriend screamed louder.

“What is that?” If there actually was a “
that”
there, because for the life of me, I couldn't see what was tearing at Savan.

“Shadow Hound. Mine, actually. Guard, Blaze, guard.”

Savan wheezed out a hoarse “
Ooof
'
!
” and stopped moving. He was on his stomach and the thing seemed to have knocked the wind out of him. The paint brush still floated a few feet in the air, as if awaiting its magical commands.

“You've had a rough night. What was Julian thinking? Throwing you against the likes of that creature,” he indicated the fallen Soul Eater. “Blaze,” he called out to what I assumed was the shadow
whatever.
“Don't you think the poor girl has had a rough time tonight? Julian is very bad to have forced her to fight.”

There was a terrifying howl in response. The paintbrush appeared to float over, then fell as if dropped at the singer's feet. One of my arms was trailing and I felt a warm, wet
something
press into my palm followed by the unmistakable lapping of a tongue. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

“It's all right. Just my dog Blaze, full of sympathy.”

I stared, unable to make out anything.

“Here, kiss me and you'll be able to see him.”

Even in the dark shadows of the warehouse he must have sensed the look on my face.

“No, honestly. Unless you trust me, you won't be able to see him. Part of the magic,
my
magic.” He gave me a very flirty smile as he drew out the words “my magic” into something very sexy.

I stared at him, “Are you in disguise as well?”

He laughed loudly, “That is rather close to the truth, though I really am the lead singer of the Albert Einsteins. Just trust me.” Turning his head to mine, he kissed me very expertly on the lips.

His mouth tasted rich, warm and sweet. Like kissing a chocolate truffle. A Godiva truffle. An exquisitely
good
Godiva truffle, I reflected as the kiss lengthened. If this was the result of being a soul-lost slut, it wasn't so bad...

Breaking off, he said, “Now look, can you see?”

I didn't seem to be able to see much of anything beyond his eyes at that moment. They were blue. A beautiful shade of blue that shone brightly even in the half light of this shadowed stretch of concrete.

“Here, let's try one more time.”

And before I could protest, he kissed me again, softly, slowly, and I began to forget why it was we were doing this. His kiss was different from Savan's, maybe because I knew about Savan now that his
glamour
spell had worn off.

“Mmmm, lovely,” he sighed. “I rather hope you can't see him yet.”

Looking down, I jumped, well, as much as you can while clasped tightly in a man's arms. A massive shape shimmered into clarity. It was some sort of a huge, wolf-like creature. If wolves had long prehensile tails, forked tongues and stood as tall as a pony. The tail curled around Albert's waist and the thing looked adoringly at the singer, panting mightily.

“This is your
dog?
”

“Yes, it is.” His voice took on a playful tone. “Who's a good, puppy? Eating up the nasty man, weren't you?”

Thinking it was a command, the beast turned back to Savan, grabbing a leg. Savan screamed in protest. I guess he could see him as well, even without the kissing.

“No, no, you don't have to eat him yet. Uncle Julian has questions for the bad man, that's a
gooood
puppy.”

The beast dropped Savan's leg and made little bouncing moves for all the world like he was in doggy bliss.

“Look, Blaze. Our new friend can see you now. Dance for her.”

Wagging his long sinuous tail so hard it shook his hindquarters, the dog began to jump and spin. He really did look like he was dancing. I should have been afraid, but he was acting so silly and dog-like, I started to laugh.

“Good dog,” said the lead singer of the Albert Einsteins. “Can you really see him clearly? Perhaps I should...”

I put my hand up between us. “I can see him fine.”

Julian came over, wiping his knife on a strip of cloth.

“You took your time, Albie,” he gasped out. He was breathing heavily, sweat running down his face.

“Better late than never.”

“You can put her down now.”

“No, I don't think I can. You're feeling very weak, aren't you? Poor thing.” He held me tighter and honestly, it felt very comforting.

A look passed over Julian's features that I couldn't read. “Alexandra is very resilient.”

“No,” I protested, “I don't think I am. Everything hurts.” It did, too, especially the back of my head where it connected with the metal security gate.

“See?” said Albert.

I put my head on his shoulder and Julian frowned.

“Better tie the scoundrel up, Julian; there's a good lad. Blaze has got him under control for you.”

“Why didn't you call the hound sooner?”

“Left him back at the hotel, didn't I? Never said I was wanted in my capacity as demon slayer. Strictly paparazzi pretty boy mode. Took a few minutes to get him from there to here.”

One of Savan's surviving goblin minions, sensing the tide of battle had turned against his master, galloped right past us, making for the street. It's odd, rocking gait covered a lot of distance with each stride.

Albert pointed with his chin after the fast retreating form. “Better deal with that first, Julian. Can't have a goblin running loose. It will make straight for the zoo, like they always do, and start eating all the monkeys.”

Julian glared at him, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. “Why can't you get it?”

He shifted me in his arms a little and raised one eyebrow. “Paparazzi pretty boy, remember?”

“Bite me, Albert.” Julian ran after the goblin.

While Julian was otherwise occupied, I lay quietly in the singer's strong arms feeling too tired to even ponder over the magical mayhem I had been a part of. Particularly how I ended up being comforted by the lead singer of the Albert Einsteins. How come the cute guy stuff decided to come rushing in all at once instead of spread out over months – or years? And did there always have to be weapons and blood involved with supernatural men? Couldn't I just meet a nice boy from the Science Club? Cute and slightly geeky. Braces and a buzz cut instead of blades. I sighed.

Albert seemed content with the silence and the hound kept an eye and several massive clawed paws on Savan.

Julian staggered back to find me still in Albert's embrace. He was carrying my little evening bag and handed it over.

“Found this,” he panted, taking deep breaths and pointing in the direction of the street. “Over there.”

I must have dropped it when Savan dragged me back by the hair. I hadn't even noticed.

“Thank you. My cell phone's inside.”

“Why were you kissing Albert?” His voice had a flinty edge.

“So his dog would manifest,” I said truthfully. “You know, part of his magic and all. Isn't the Shadow Hound cool?”

Julian turned towards Albert, “You bastard.” Then to me, “He could have made the hound manifest at any point.”

“But he said...”

“He lied.”

The singer's eyes twinkled and the dimples on his cheeks peeked out. He really was extraordinarily handsome. “Couldn't resist, could I? Just look at that mouth, who wouldn't want to kiss it? She not only smells heavenly, she tastes
even better. A little bit of fairy magic right here on earth.
” He gave me a wink. “And once she gets her powers...”

Julian's head snapped around. “
Enough
, Albert!” There was a sharp bite to his voice.

I wriggled, trying to squirm out of Albert's grasp. His words, like Julian's, didn't really make any sense. No surprise there. Supernatural men talked very oddly.

“Now, now, you're still in shock. Better let me hold you.”

I stopped wriggling, saying instead in my iciest voice, “Put me down.”

Standing somewhat unsteadily on my feet, the enormous dog bounced over and knocked me right back off them onto the ground. It stood over me and started to lick my face furiously.

“
Ack
,” was all I could manage to say.

Simultaneously, the singer pulled the hound off and Julian picked me up, dusting me off and making growly noises I hoped were not directed at me. I did not like Julian when he growled.

“See, Blaze thinks you are eminently kissable as well.”

“
Ack
,” I said again with feeling.

Julian pushed the animal away. “Get him off, Albert!” Pulling the Fudo cord from his waist, Julian began the process of binding Savan's arms and legs, saying, “Albie is Daemon, well, half Daemon.”

“The naughty half,” Albert laughed.

“Demon?” I asked. “Do we like demons?”

“Not demon. Daemon,” the singer said in his deep, lazy voice, so different from Julian's clipped style of speaking. “Amazing difference a vowel can make, isn't it? Nearly as diverse as demons, we Daemon. Run the spectrum of good and bad, like anybody else. Mostly good though.” He laughed again and the dog thing bounced up – a very short bounce given its size – licking him wetly on the cheek. “Down Blaze, there's a good puppy.” He wiped at his face with one sleeve. “Daemon's were always a link between humans and,
hmm,
how shall I put it? The other world. Yes, the other world, that sounds right. Watch out for you lot generally we do, like guardian angels. Got a mandate from heaven and everything.”

Julian gave the other man a withering stare muttering, “Mandate my ass.”

“Now Julian, don't be like that. From now on I declare myself this young woman's guardian angel. I
like
guarding you and your kissable mouth. Introduce us properly, Julian, where are your manners?”

“Alexandra Carpenter, this is Albert.”

“Albert Pantera of the Albert Einsteins. I know.
Everybody
knows.” Wavy brown hair brushing his shoulders, sky-blue eyes, sculpted mouth, strong jaw and stronger shoulders. I glanced at Julian and Savan and thought of Hiro. Were
all
supernatural men this handsome? Staring at Albert I had to say, “You don't look Daemonish, however that looks.” In fact, he looked delicious and he kissed me. Kissed me on the mouth. My heart started beating awfully fast again remembering the smooth feel of his lips on mine.