Shadow Rising (26 page)

Shade nodded. “Partially, yes, and partially from my shadow dragon heritage. Come, let’s go talk in private, where we won’t disturb him.” He turned to Mallen. “Can you have someone set up wards, immediately? The entire building needs to be protected from the outer planes—the Netherworld, astral, Dream-Time, and etheric. There may be more ways for them to enter, but for now that should do.”

Mallen didn’t ask why, just nodded crisply. “Can you stay here while I summon more help? I don’t want to leave him alone.”

“Hurry, then.” Shade sounded worried, and when a dragon—half or otherwise—was worried, it was time for all of us to be concerned.

Mallen hurried out. Delilah was holding Chase’s hand.
Camille and Morio looked as worried as Shade and I wondered what the hell they’d figured out. As for me, I was busy watching the walls for any sign of bloody ectoplasm or flying objects. Life was just too spirited anymore.

A moment later, Mallen returned with several medics and someone who reeked of magic. As I stared at her, she flashed me a quick smile, and I saw the fangs descending. Fuck, she was a vampire.

Mallen nodded for us to leave, but I wasn’t ready. I motioned for the others to go, but I hung back, sidling up to the elf and the vampire.

“So, you’re one of my kind.” I glanced up at her—she, like just about everybody else, was taller than me.

She gave me a brief once-over and shrugged. “We both drink of the blood, but otherwise, I wager we’re nothing alike.” And with that rebuke, she turned to Mallen. “You wish me to begin? Please ask
her
to leave.”

My feathers ruffled, I stood my ground. “I’m not leaving a vampire in here with my friend until I find out just who you are and what the fuck you’re doing here. If you don’t like it, we can just take it outside and shake it up, sister.”

She bristled, stepping forward. “Do not tempt me. Just because Roman made you his bitch doesn’t mean that you can’t have an accident. You stab your sire and sit in a place of honor? I spit on your hem.” As she jabbed me in the chest with her finger, I smacked her a good one, knocking her back on her butt.

Obviously, she hadn’t been expecting that. “I should rip open your neck.” She jumped to her feet and straightened her dress.

“Try it. See how far you get. I’ve got the blood of one of the most notorious vampires in history running through my veins. You really want to fuck with me?” And once again, I reached out and shoved her back.

She was just about to launch herself at me when Mallen stepped between us. “Enough. Charlotine, please—the wards.” He turned to me. “Come with me—no, stop now,” he added as I began to protest. “She will not harm him, I give you my word of honor.”

“Your word better be etched in gold.” I followed him out of the room. “What the fuck are you thinking, letting a strange vampire hang out around an unconscious FBH? Are you serious?”

Mallen took hold of my wrists as I smacked him—lightly—on the chest. “I have never seen you so hysterical. What the hell is going on with you?” His close proximity left me smelling his clean, leaf-green scent. The pulse of his blood raced through his veins; the gentle rise and fall of his chest bespoke the beating of his heart.

“Mallen, back off. Please.” I waited for him to move away and quietly willed my fangs to fold back up. This thirst I’d been feeling for my friends was disconcerting and I didn’t like it. “Chase is our friend. Practically family. You bring a strange vampire—who, I might add, acts like a sullen bitch—into the room with him. Not only that, but she reeks of magic. And you wonder why I’m upset?”

“That’s why she’s here. She’s going to set up the wards to protect him. She’s a very powerful sorceress and she works in Elqaneve for Queen Asteria. She happened to be over here on a vacation and I called her in. She’s old, Menolly, very old, and she can be trusted even if you don’t like her bedside manner.”

I shook my head. “You can’t trust any vampire. Not even me—not fully. Fine, let her set up her wards. But do me a favor and get your ass back in there and keep an eye on her.”

Before he could answer, I turned and left.

As I strode into the waiting room, Shade motioned me over. “I know what we’re facing and why Lindsey’s group is feeling so lackluster.
Bhouts
.”

“Bow-uts? I’ve never heard of them.” I looked over at Camille to see if the name meant anything to her, but she looked as confused as I was. Morio, however, was looking grave.

“Of course—I didn’t even think about them because they’re rare. But it makes sense. Bhouts…demonic ghosts. They’re not fully spirit, not fully demon. They’re from the Netherworld but can be used by someone from the Subterranean Realms.” Morio shook his head. “We’ll have to walk
very carefully on this one. I seem to remember legends of Japanese emperors summoning demons to control the empire. I think we’re just skimming the tip of the iceberg.”

Shade sat down, elbows on knees, pressing his index fingers together. “Bhouts aren’t fully of the Netherworld, either. I don’t think anybody knows where they originated but they’re…they’re in the same class as doppelgangers—creatures that are conduits. They can take control of their victim. In turn, they’re controlled by their master. The master controls the bhout—and by extension, their victim. They can see through the bhouts’ eyes and eventually gain control over the target.”

“So, the bhout is an active force used to control another?” I wasn’t quite clear on the whole thing, but whatever it was, it didn’t sound good.

“Not exactly. The bhout is an entity. Bhouts, when directed, can be used to control others. But it gets worse. Bhouts focus on magical or psychic energy. They feed off the magical force, not the life force. If there is no master controlling the spirit, they can kill their victims by draining them dry. It will break the silver cord.”

“The elfin guards! That must be what happened to them.” It was beginning to make sense now.

“Yes. However, when someone’s controlling the bhout, they can command the spirit to siphon off just enough energy to keep their victim alive and under their command. That thing in there was trying to pull Chase under its control. If it had succeeded, he would have woken up and gone about his business, but he wouldn’t be under his own control.”

“Crap!” Delilah jumped up. “Mind control, then? Via ghostly demons?”

Shade nodded, grimly. “That’s about the size of it. The bhouts feeding on Lindsey’s group seem focused on trying to control them, so they’ve most likely been summoned in. Chances are, someone’s bringing in vast numbers of them and some get free—like the ones who attacked the guards.”

Camille jumped up. “Lindsey was very tired. And her coven is, too. Could these things be directly controlling them at this point?”

Shade thought about it for a moment. “Possibly. But there’s also another possibility. The bhouts must feed. Since someone is summoning them here en masse, then the spirits will need to strengthen themselves. Lindsey’s group is well known, but the primary targets are probably more important, like Chase. He runs the FH-CSI, and his newly awakened powers are growing, making him an attractive target.”

“So meanwhile, these things can eat their fill off the people of Seattle, both Fae and FBH.” Camille fell silent, then paled. “What about Morio…me? What should we be on the watch for? Can they attack…well, I guess they can attack the Fae, can’t they?”

“Yeah. They find them especially juicy, so to speak. I don’t think they can attack dragons or vampires, so Smoky, Menolly, and I should be safe, but Iris…you, Morio…all of the Fae out in Aeval, Titania, and Morgaine’s courts? You’re all in danger.”

Mallen joined us then. “Did you find out what was attacking him?”

Shade regarded him quietly. “No. But we should take him with us to watch over him now that he’s feeling better.”

I started to say something but then shut up. Shade had his reasons for lying.

Mallen narrowed his eyes, then shrugged. “If you wish, feel free. He’s not in any physical danger.”

We silently followed him back to Chase’s room, where the detective mumbled groggily as we woke him up. “Come on, Chase, we need to take you with us.” I turned to Delilah. “Get Sharah. She should come with us, too.” I looked at her pointedly, hoping she wouldn’t say anything to give us away.

But she seemed to understand and left without a word. A moment later, she was back with Sharah in tow, a confused look on the Elfin medic’s face. As Shade and Morio helped Chase dress, we stepped out into the hallway. Sharah started to ask something, but I shook my head.

“Wait. Please, just wait and do as we say.”

“Very well. Thank you, though, for saving Chase.”

Again, I just nodded. When Shade and Morio appeared, Chase leaning on their shoulders, we headed out to the cars.
As we hit the cold, crisp air, Camille and Delilah shivered. I glanced at them.

“Put Chase in my Jag. Shade, you go with Camille and Morio. Delilah, can you take Sharah, please?”

While they arranged the drugged detective in the backseat of my Jaguar, I pulled Shade off to one side. “How do we know these bhouts haven’t gotten hold of Sharah or Mallen?”

“We don’t, which is why I’ll have to check her out. But I don’t want to alert Mallen, in case he’s being controlled. It’s odd enough for us to remove Chase from the hospital, but right now we’ve told him we don’t know what’s causing the problem. They may—or may not—believe us. But it buys us a little time. Now let’s head out.”

He was about to head over to Camille’s Lexus when my phone rang. I pulled it out and punched the Talk button.

Iris’s voice came breathless over the line. “Menolly, we have a serious problem here. Can you come home right away?”

“What’s going on?” A cold fright took hold of my stomach.
Please, don’t let demons be invading the land again.
They’d come through at one time and torn the place to hell and gone. Iris had been lucky to escape with her life.

“The backyard is filled with will-o’-the-wisps. Bruce and I are stuck in the trailer. Hanna’s in the house with Maggie and Vanzir—he’s watching over them. Trillian, Roz, Shamas, and Smoky are trying to figure out where they’re coming from and what to do about them.” She sounded frightened.

“Hang tough. We’re on our way. Do you have any idea what brought them out or where they’re coming from?” I motioned to Delilah before she and Sharah took off. Camille and Morio were still waiting for Shade.

Iris’s voice was shaking. “No, they started to show about an hour ago and now, the yard is filled with them. Bruce and I had just come out to the trailer when they started appearing. I’ve dealt with them before. I know better than to go outside when they’re out there—they’re not good for pregnant women to be around. Bruce thought they were eye catchers at first, but I know the difference.”

“We’re on our way. And we’re bringing a whole ’nother set of problems. Can you call the Wayfarer and tell Derrick I
doubt if I’ll be in tonight? And is Nerissa there?” Nerissa had gone to work, but I wasn’t sure if she had returned to her condo or decided to spend the night at the house, and I hadn’t thought to drop in and ask Yugi before we left the building.

“Nerissa? I haven’t heard from her all day. I thought she might be with you. I’ll call her now.” She hung up on me and I quickly filled the others in on what we were facing.

“Will-o’-the-wisps? They usually don’t come out in the cold—at least not this cold.” Camille looked confused.

Will-o’-the-wisps belonged to the Fae family, pretty but tough little buggers. They were mean and dangerous, and we’d faced them once before. The results hadn’t been all that pretty then either. They were also known as Corpse Candles, a delightful name.

“They’re energy eaters,” Morio said. “Remember when we found Aeval in the crystal, in the cave? They were after us because of our magic. The whole town seems to be overrun with psychic leeches of one sort or another.” He let out a long sigh. “We’d better get a move on. I don’t know what we’re going to do, though. What can stop a will-o’-the-wisp?”

I frowned. “I have no idea. Maybe we should contact Aeval?”

Camille shrugged. “No phones out in Talamh Lonrach Oll. How can we get out there in time?”

I glanced over at Shade. We needed him here, and he wasn’t keen on carrying people through the Ionyc Seas because of his Netherworld energy. Apparently it wasn’t exactly a comfortable mix. But…Smoky…

“When we get home, you and Smoky immediately head out there through the Ionyc Seas. Meanwhile, I need to make a phone call.” I didn’t want to tell her I was calling Ivana Krask, because she’d blow up and argue with me, and we couldn’t afford to waste time in a bitchfest.

“To whom?” Camille looked at me suspiciously.

“Never mind. We’re rapidly running out of options. We’ve got a town overrun with ghosts, and now the will-o’-the-wisps are moving in. We need help. Just fucking trust me.” I pushed her gently toward her car. “Go. And the minute you get there, you and Smoky head out.”

“Menolly, be careful.” But she shut up when she saw the expression on my face. “Fine. Meet you at home.”

And with that, we split off to our cars. I glanced at Chase, safe in the backseat. How to get him to the house without the will-o’-the-wisps interfering would be another matter, but we’d deal with that when we got there.

I hit the steering wheel, angry, but at least I had enough restraint not to rip it off the column. “Why the fuck is this happening to us? Why can’t we ever catch a break?” Not expecting an answer—and not getting one—I flipped open my phone and put in a call to Ivana Krask, the Maiden of Karask. It was the last thing in the world I wanted to do, but I couldn’t see any other way out.