Souls of the Damned (Kat Redding) (7 page)

Whenever I feel like shit, and trust me, I felt just about as low as you can get without someone dying, there is one place I know I can go to lift my spirits. That is, unless I’m forced into a fight, which seemed to be happening more and more lately, but in general, the place made me feel better.

I was happy to see the parking lot to the Bloody Stake was full once again. While the Left Hand was active, the bar had practically been a ghost town. It was good to see Bart’s business back on track. It meant life was returning to normal.

Well, as normal as it gets around here anyway.

Apparently, Bart had been cleaning up the place a bit recently. The sign above the bar still was the same old overdressed vampire getting repeatedly staked by an underdressed woman, but the lights seemed brighter than they had before. When the stake struck home, the entire lot lit up in a splash of bright red.

See, I was smiling already.

I pushed through the front door and stepped into the packed bar. Bart was busy at the counter, talking with a couple of older men with so many scars, I knew they’d fought their fair share of supes. One of them was missing an ear and half of one of his hands. He raised it high and brought it down hard, very nearly knocking his beer from the counter as he demonstrated his latest encounter.

Bart nodded and said something gruff to him before glancing at me. He winked and then went back to the story with a grim smile that said he didn’t quite believe what he was being told.

I considered heading over to the bar to order a beer or two, but decided against it. It wasn’t like alcohol would muddle my head and make me forget Jonathan, especially so few. If I wasn’t so worried about Sienna, I very well might have done it, but I really didn’t want to risk feeling the slightest bit fuzzy if she were to have another attack.

While I’d originally come to relax, I realized it might be better if I did something constructive instead. There was another reason I often came to the Bloody Stake, and he was sitting across the room in a booth all his own.

Or at least I thought he was. A pair of couples stood between me and where Mikael Engelbrecht usually sat. I tried to peer around them, but the group was taking up too much space. The two guys looked to weigh in at well over three hundred pounds. The women weren’t much lighter.

My first inclination was to walk straight ahead and push past them, almost daring them to object. It wasn’t so much that I was itching for a fight, but rather, my vampire was. I’d pulled my gun multiple times recently and had yet to fire a single shot. After my encounter with Baset, I was ready to break someone.

I went around the group instead, putting myself closer to the bar and the two older men. If I started a fight, Bart very well might put a bullet through my head to be done with me. I’d caused him nothing but trouble lately and I didn’t intend on continuing that streak.

“The bastard had me by both arms and was trying to damn well rip them off, let me tell you,” the earless man said. His voice was slurred, telling me he’d already had quite a few to drink. “Well, Jim here bashed the fucker over the head with his walker, knocked him sideways, where I could shove a poker square up his vampire ass. You should have seen fangboy squeal.”

I couldn’t help but smile. The story was definitely far-fetched, but with the way the old man said it with such conviction, it was clear he believed what he was saying. More likely, the guy had gotten in a fight with a kid who wore fake teeth and dressed like Dracula for fun.

Mikael came into view and I slowed. He was sitting alone, which was enough of a shock on its own, but his appearance was what really surprised me. His hair hung loose around his face, like he’d forgotten to grease it up with his breakfast this morning. His hands were clasped before him and he was jiggling his leg up and down. He didn’t look up. I doubted he knew I was even there.

I watched him for a long minute. This wasn’t like Mikael at all. Normally, he had a woman or three pawing all over him and was grinning like he’d stolen the milk right out from beneath the cat’s nose. He was constantly aware of everything going on around him to the point it was often creepy, yet here he was, oblivious to his surroundings.

This wasn’t the same man. It couldn’t be. I wasn’t even sure what I could call the sight before me. In a constantly changing world, Mikael had always been a constant.

“Mikael?” I said, approaching. He didn’t look up. I’m not sure if he didn’t hear me or if he had simply ignored me, so I repeated myself, louder this time. “Mikael!”

He flinched and glanced up at me. He made an effort to stop his leg from jiggling and ran his fingers through his hair to get most of it out of his face, but that only made him seem that much more nervous.

“Ah,” he said before glancing around the room. “You’re here.”

I slid slowly into the seat across from him. “Were you expecting me?”

He forced a laugh. It sounded hollow, frightened even. I shuddered at the sound.

“No,” he said. “I guess not.” He sniffed as his hands returned to the table. They were shaking.

“Is everything okay?” I asked. If Mikael was this worked up about something, then it had to be pretty damn bad. The guy lived by supplying information about vampires and werewolves to other supes. You had to have balls and a backbone as strong as steel to do that. Anyone else would have been dead long ago, yet Mikael had hardly flinched.

“Yeah, sure,” he said. He tried on one of his leering smiles, but it vanished almost as soon as it formed.

“Come on,” I said. “You know I can tell that everything isn’t okay. Look at you; you’re a mess.”

He glanced at me, frowned, and then looked back out over the crowd like he was searching for someone. “What makes you say that?”

“You look like shit.”

He snorted. “Funny. You smell like it.”

I didn’t rise to his jibe. His heart clearly hadn’t been in it. If something wasn’t bothering him, he would have already made some sort of crude pass at me and the joke would have been accompanied by a wink or a grin. He’d done neither.

I studied him, thinking I might be able to discern something from his looks. Other than looking as if he hadn’t bathed in a few days, and the way he moved, like he’d downed about ten pots of coffee in five minutes, I saw nothing wrong with him. It was then I realized he didn’t even
sound
like the Mikael I knew. No pet names. No heavy accent. This was definitely not the same man I’d always known.

“Mikael,” I said, leaning forward. “Look at me.”

He glanced over for a heartbeat before turning away.

“I said, ‘Look at me!’” I slammed my fist down on the table for emphasis. Everyone in the vicinity paused to look at us, which was something else that normally didn’t happen in Mikael’s presence.

He jumped and seemed to finally regain some of his composure. He made another futile effort to slick back his hair before leaning back in his seat.

“Yeah, okay. Okay.” He nodded. “Okay. I’m good.”

“You sure as hell don’t look it.”

This time his smile reached most of his face. “Everyone is allowed a bad day now and again.” He cleared his throat and some of his old accent was magically back. “You wanted to see me, my sweet?”

I refused to buy it. “You good?” I asked, looking hard into his eyes.

“Yeah.” His smile slipped and then took hold once more. “Everything is fine.”

I really wanted to press him about what was bothering him, but this was Mikael I was dealing with. The man didn’t dole out information freely, especially about himself. I don’t think there was a single person in the entire country who knew what he really was. I had some lame backstory he’d told me when we’d first met, but somehow I doubted it was true. There was more to the man than he tried to let on.

But I couldn’t force him to talk. He would only clam up. If I pressed too hard, he might even refuse to work with me again. Without him and his information, I’d be lost.

“I have a few things I’d like to discuss,” I said, after clearing my throat. “Do you think you’re up to it?”

He nodded. “Always, for you.” There was uncertainty in his eyes.

It probably would have been a good idea to leave and come back some other time, but this was stuff that couldn’t wait. With Baset breathing down my neck, I had to get my shit together fast so I could focus solely on her. There was no way I was going to let that bitch control my life, yet how could I deal with her with Sienna sitting at home, fighting to get back to a man who would destroy her?

Of course, I wasn’t sure whether or not I should talk about Sienna with him. If no one knew she was there, then no one could hurt her, right?

“Jonathan Alucard,” I said instead. “Can you tell me how he is?” Keira might have already told me, but I still wanted to verify it.

Mikael shrugged. His eyes slipped from mine and traveled back out into the bar. I followed his gaze, but no one seemed to be out of place or doing anything much riskier than drinking with monsters.

“As good as he can be, I suppose,” he said, turning back to me. “He’s kept out of trouble lately, if that is what you mean.”

I figured as much. It’s kind of hard to cause trouble if you don’t leave your hideaway. I supposed as long as there was no news about him, then he’d be safe enough.

“He’s not in danger where he is, is he?” I asked, to be sure.

Mikael wasn’t looking at me again. “Don’t know,” he said in a way that told me he really wasn’t listening.

I sighed. Jonathan wasn’t big news for him. I had no reason to ask about the man, outside my own need to make sure he wasn’t bludgeoning himself over things he couldn’t control. Mikael would know that. I was surprised he’d even given me an answer.

“Okay, then,” I said. “What about a place called Delai? Ever heard of it?”

“What about it?” Mikael’s hands were clasped in front of him again and his leg was jiggling so violently, the entire table was shaking.

“Do you know anything about it?”

He didn’t answer. He was frowning, looking off into space. I wasn’t sure if he wasn’t listening to me or if he didn’t know how to answer the question, but either way, it was pissing me off.

“Damn it, Mikael,” I said. “Listen to me!”

He glanced my way. “I am, I am,” he said. His accent was gone again.

My heart sank. I was wasting my time here. Whatever was wrong with him was keeping him from doing what he normally did. He was my main source of information. He was the only person who could help me when it came to secrets and impossible knowledge. Well, outside a demon anyway. And I really didn’t want to have to take Beligral’s word.

“Mikael, please,” I said. “I need to know if there’s anything you can tell me about Delai or a creature named Di’leviathan.” I used the angel’s full name in the hopes that it would startle the Swede into paying attention.

His brow furrowed, and for a moment I thought I had gotten through to him. “What did you say?” he asked before shaking his head and turning away.

Fuck it. I wasn’t going to get a single answer out of him that I wanted. The man was seriously distracted and I doubted I could come up with anything that would make him pay attention, outside of shooting him in the face.

I stood, angry that when I needed him most, Mikael was lost in la-la land. “Thanks for nothing,” I grumbled. I started to walk away.

A hand like a vise latched around my wrist. I tried to jerk away, but it held strong. I looked back to find Mikael staring at me. The skin of his hand felt feverishly hot.

“Let go of me, Mikael,” I growled. My hand twitched toward my gun. This wasn’t the place to draw and Mikael wasn’t the sort of person you aimed a gun at, but you didn’t touch me without permission either. “Now.”

Mikael was breathing fast and hard, but at least he was looking at me like he actually saw me this time. “Can’t you feel it?” he asked. “There’s something in the air, something new.” He took a deep breath like he could smell whatever it was he felt. “It’s like I can remember it, but can’t. It shouldn’t be here. They’re all dead.”

“Who is?” I asked, my blood running cold.

Mikael’s grip tightened so hard, it actually caused me to hiss in a breath. No human was that strong.

“You must be careful,” he said. His eyes bore into mine, pinning me in place. “Something is coming, something terrible.”

And as if on cue, the door to the Bloody Stake opened. Mikael released me from his grip. He sat back, looking agitated as he watched the doorway. I turned to follow his gaze, terrified.

Adrian Davis strode in with his lunatic vampire, Davin, trailing behind him.

Something terrible indeed.

Adrian paused just inside the bar. He scanned the room until his eyes fell on me. He didn’t do anything more than look at me, yet I could
feel
his interest. The Oath bond between us all but quivered in my head, as if he’d plucked it to let me know I was wanted.

Our eyes met for just a handful of seconds before he turned and walked toward the table by the window where we’d first met. Three people were already sitting there, but with one look, he had them up and running out the door. Davin’s cackle could be heard over top of the noise of the bar.

“Is this what you meant when you said something terrible was coming?” I asked Mikael, but he’d apparently checked out again. He was staring at his hands, mumbling something to himself.

I glanced around the Bloody Stake, taking count of the number of people. It was unlikely Adrian would do anything drastic here one way or the other, but I still wanted to get a count. As long as no one here antagonized him, I was pretty sure they’d be safe.

But I really didn’t want to talk to Adrian. The guy creeped me the hell out and had forced the Oath on me on top of that. He might have made me immune to silver in the process and has kept other supes off of me, but that didn’t make up for everything else he’d done. The guy was an asshole of the highest order.

Bart caught my eye. He moved his hand and I noticed the hilt of one of my old knives sticking out. He was holding the silver blade, knowing I’d be the only person in the room, outside maybe Adrian, who would know exactly what he held.

I waved him off. I didn’t want Bart to get involved in this. Adrian was my problem and I was going to deal with him on my own.

While walking out the door might be tempting, I chose to see what the werewolf wanted. I was vaguely surprised he’d brought Davin with him considering the vampire was completely insane and partially crippled thanks to Jonathan removing his fangs.

Davin was also a high-end sorcerer who had hidden most of his talents back when he’d worked for a vampire master. He could cast energy shields with the best of them and was the one who’d figured out how to reverse the Oath. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be in this mess and Adrian would probably already be dead.

I strode across the room, wishing I could find a way to kill both of them without repercussion. I was physically unable to harm Adrian, but maybe I could find some other way to finish the prick off after taking care of his sorcerer. Maybe it was time I told Jonathan everything I knew about the wolf.

Then again, I didn’t think the former Denmaster could handle Adrian and his wolves right now. I wasn’t sure he could do much of anything, really.

“What do you want?” I asked, stopping a few feet from Adrian’s table.

“Please, sit,” he said, indicating the chair across from him. Like before, he’d taken the chair that would allow him to keep an eye on the door and window, while putting my back to them. I hated sitting like that and he knew it. Davin was snickering in his seat, watching me as if I was there solely to entertain him.

Still, I sat anyway. The faster this was over with, the faster I’d be on my way home and into a shower. My skin was crawling just being near these two, and Baset’s stench didn’t help. I knew what Adrian wanted me for and some of it wasn’t exactly PG.

“Okay,” I said. “I’m sitting.”

Adrian flashed me a smile that came nowhere close to his eyes. I was reminded of a robot feigning a smile in an attempt to look human. Adrian was clearly anything but.

“You make yourself easy to find,” he said, calm and emotionless as ever.

“It’s not like it’s ever hard for you,” I said. The Oath made sure of that.

“True. But for others who do not share our bond, it is almost too easy. You come here whenever something happens. All one has to do is wait and you’ll show up.”

“So?” I asked. “I like the place.”

“You’re too valuable to lose.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, well, I can take care of myself. Thanks for the concern. Was that all you wanted?”

“Gently now,” Davin said with a snicker. “There’s no need for a spat.”

I ignored him. “Come on, Adrian. Tell me what you have to tell me. I have things to do.”

“I am aware of your movements,” he said. “Even if I don’t know where you always are.”

I cocked an eyebrow at him. “Really? You’re going to get all Zen on me now? If so, can we just cut this short? I don’t have time for idiotic riddles.”

His eyebrow twitched. Score one for me.

“I would like to know what you know about the Denmaster.”

Oh crap, he wanted to know about Jonathan. My heart did a little hop, but I tried not to let my discomfort show. I leaned back and gave him my best smirk.

“He’s alive,” I said. “Anything else?”

Davin clapped his hands together and laughed. “Funny,” he said. He wiggled his tongue through the gap in his teeth.

“I know of the downfall of the Luna Cult,” Adrian said. “I know that a few have survived the massacre, but I do not know who.”

“Your informant was one of the dead, huh?” I asked, mostly to be flippant.

“She is,” he answered without so much as a twitch.

I’d sort of gathered Adrian had someone within the Cult feeding him information, but never had proof. I still didn’t know exactly who it had been, but at least now I knew Nathan and Keira weren’t one of them. I suppose that was at least one good thing that had come out of the destruction of the Cult.

Bart approached the table, cutting the conversation short. From the way he was looking at both Adrian and Davin, I knew he didn’t like them. He might not know exactly who they were or how dangerous they might be, but he didn’t let that stop him. He walked right up to the table to stand beside me, arms crossed, a scowl spread across his face.

“Can I get anyone anything?” he asked. He glanced at me and I knew he was asking if I needed his help. It was kind of flattering that he was willing to stand by my side, but there was no way I was going risk getting him hurt for me.

“We’re good,” I said, forcing a smile. “We’re just having a little chat.”

Davin giggled like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard.

Bart’s scowl deepened. He eyed Adrian a long moment before speaking again. “I don’t like you.” He stated it flatly, almost as if he was telling him the night was dark.

“Noted.” Adrian didn’t show the slightest hint that Bart’s words bothered him. Why would he? He already thought he was far above places like this.

“Once you leave, I never want you to come back. Got that?”

Adrian shrugged.

“You either.” Bart glared at Davin, who only laughed.

I was afraid I was next on the list, but Bart simply gave me a look that said he would be there if I needed him, before he turned and walked back to the bar.

“He’s protective of you,” Adrian said.

I shrugged it off. “I seem to do that to people. Not sure why. Maybe it’s my sparkling personality.”

“Perhaps,” Adrian said, not getting my sarcasm. He paused a long moment before changing the subject. “How is Jonathan’s mental state?”

“How the fuck should I know?”

“You and he are practically inseparable.”

I snorted. “Good thing your source died,” I said. “She wasn’t a very good one if she thought there was anything between Jonathan and me.”

Adrian gave me another lifeless smile. “I have more than my source to confirm that. I know the two of you were close, closer than I would prefer. I’ve let it pass because I knew you wouldn’t want me to interfere.”

“Gee, thanks,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “But I haven’t seen Jonathan in months.”

Adrian studied me before speaking. “Do you know where he is currently located?”

“No,” I lied. “I wish I did.”

Adrian continued to study me. I chose to stare at Davin instead. It probably made it so Adrian knew I was lying since I wouldn’t meet his eyes, but then again, with the way the lunatic was giggling, it was hard not to focus on him. Was it me or was the vampire acting crazier than usual?

“I know you have had contact with him,” Adrian said. “Or at least, have the possibility of contact.”

I looked away from Davin and decided to answer this one truthfully. It might be the only way I could get him to believe me about not knowing where Jonathan was hiding. “I do.”

“But you have not called upon him?”

“Nope. I figured if he wants me, he’ll come to me like everyone else.”

I could tell that didn’t make Adrian happy. It didn’t make me happy either, but what else could I do? I wasn’t about to barge in on Jonathan if he didn’t want me to.

“I would like to know how to contact him.”

I laughed. “Right. Like I’m going to tell you that.”

“It would make things between us . . . better.”

“I don’t care about making things between us better, Adrian. In fact, I wish you would just crawl away somewhere and get yourself killed. You are nothing but a nuisance.”

“One who has paid you great dividends, have I not?”

Damn it, he had me there. Still, I didn’t like him. I didn’t like how he wanted me to become his mate. I didn’t like how he thought he could just come waltzing in here, asking for information like I’d give in and hand him everything he wanted.

Then again, wasn’t that what I did to Mikael very nearly every week?

“I don’t care what you have given me,” I said. “I haven’t asked you for your help. I just want you to leave me alone.”

“That’s never going to happen,” Davin said in a singsongy voice.

“All I am requesting is information,” Adrian said. “Is that too much to ask?”

“Why, yes. Yes, it is.”

For the first time since he’d walked through the door, Adrian showed real emotion. His fists clenched on the table and his eyes narrowed. He was very nearly sneering at me.

“You know,” I said, enjoying this far more than I should, “I was kind of hoping you’d forgotten about me. You hadn’t shoved your nose in my business for so long, I thought you might have gotten the point and pissed off.”

“That will never happen,” Adrian said, echoing Davin, though in a much more serious tone.

I smiled sweetly. “We’ll see.”

Adrian took a deep breath, filling his massive chest, and then let it out slowly though his nose. His fingers unclenched and his face smoothed out. He was once more the emotionless asshole he normally was.

“If you will not tell me what I wish to know, then I require you to pass on a message for me.”

“Yeah?” I said, not liking his use of the word
require.
“And why should I do that?”

“Because if you don’t, I will kill someone.” Adrian glanced around the bar. “Perhaps it will be someone here. Maybe the barkeep. I could skin him slowly while he screamed. Even the strong ones scream in the end.”

Damn it, I knew he would do it. As much as I’d love to shove it in Adrian’s face and tell him to fuck off, I knew he would act on his threats. When he said something, the fucking wolf meant it. He didn’t care who he hurt, just as long as he got what he wanted. Hell, I’d killed quite a few of his wolves and he barely showed much more than mild irritation. Killing someone he didn’t know? Well, let’s just say I doubted he’d show the slightest ounce of remorse.

“Fine,” I said, crossing my arms. “What do you want me to say?”

“I need you to contact the Denmaster. Tell him I have a place for him at my side. Any and all of his werewolves or surviving Cultists would be welcome. They would not be subservient to me in any way. They would be an arm of my House. They could share space with me, keep an eye on me if they so chose, and in doing so, would reap the benefits of all I have achieved.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. Hard. “And why should he believe you?” I asked, really hoping Jonathan wouldn’t even consider such a thing. If he moved in with Adrian, I’d never talk to him again.

“Because his power base has been shattered. Because he is alone. He could use someone to pick him back up and help him achieve the power he once had.” I think he very nearly smiled at that.

I really wanted to tell Adrian to shove his offer up his ass, but kept my mouth in check. See, I
was
getting better at keeping my anger at bay.

“If and when I talk to him, I’ll tell him,” I said. “He hasn’t exactly been rushing to talk to me.”

“You’ll find a way,” Adrian said.

“And what if he refuses your offer?” I asked. “I seriously doubt he’d take you seriously considering everything you’ve done to him.”

Adrian shrugged. “Then I will leave him to die on his own. If he refuses to join me, I care nothing of what happens to him. I am simply giving him a chance to save those he cares about most.”

“But you won’t hurt him?” I needed to hear him say it.

Adrian’s eyes gleamed. “As long as you do your part, I will not.”

Davin stood and walked around the table. He stopped beside me and leaned down so our faces were near one another. He whispered so low, I could just barely hear him, though I was pretty sure Adrian heard every word.

“Things are never as they seem,” he said before giggling madly.

“I will await your word.” Adrian rose. “Don’t take too long.” He turned and walked away.

Davin gave me a finger wave before following after him. “Ta-ta,” he said.

A moment later, they were gone.