The Bloody City (24 page)

She was about to lower the ring, when something flickered in the corner. She widened her eyes and then lurched back when Rose suddenly appeared, full-bodied and staring at her with her empty dead gaze.

“Damn it,” June gritted out. “Still not used to that.”

“She’s here?”

“She’s in the corner,” she whispered. She had no idea why she was whispering. “You can’t see her?”

“No.” Disappointment laced his voice. “It feels colder, though. Like it did in the hallway at the clinic.”

Rose remained in place, staring.

“Well, if you can’t see her, might as well get rid of her…”

Before June could lower the ring, Rose stepped forward.

“Gah.” June backed up against Micha’s chest.

“What?” Micha asked.

Rose spoke, her voice toneless. “If you ask the vampire the right questions, he will not lie to you.”

June’s skin crawled. “You mean Occam?”

“Is she talking to you?” Micha asked.

“She said if I ask the vampire the right questions, he won’t lie to me.”

“What questions?”

Rose took a few more slow steps forward. June backed up farther, pushing at Micha. He took a few steps back, allowing June to cower like the mouse she was.

“He knows your enemy,” Rose said. “He knows him better than anyone.”

“My enemy?” June said. “Robbie?”

Micha stepped around June. “Ask her if she knew what Eric Greerson was going to do to me.”

Rose flicked her gaze from June to Micha.

“She’s looking at you.” June grew slightly more fascinated than scared. “She’s aware of you.”

Micha moved toward the corner.

“She’s not speaking,” June said. “She’s just looking at you.”

“Rose, are you there?” His voice had a high uncertain pitch.

Rose continued staring.

“She’s not speaking. Can we stop this?”

He walked back to June and plucked the ring from her fingers.

“I don’t think—” June shook her head.

Rose vanished.

“She’s gone.”

Micha held the ring out defiantly. A chill lingered on the air, making the hair on June’s arms stand on end.

“It’s not going to work, Micha. I believe you when you say ghosts can’t hurt you, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to keep pulling them from their…rest, either.”

He lowered the ring. “I just want to talk to her and ask her if she knew. Can you ask her? Next time you see her?”

“She’s never responded to anything I ask until today. She just comes and tells me cryptic things and then disappears.”

He thrust the ring at her. “Take it back.”

“I don’t want it.” She held her hands up. “It’s yours.”

“It might come in useful. You might need to talk to her at some point.”

“I don’t want the power to summon a ghost.”

“Occam gave this to you for a reason.”

She frowned. “To freak me out, to make me think he hurt you.”

“No.” He took one of her hands. “He didn’t force it off my finger. He asked me for it, no threats, no mocking.”

“What are you talking about?”

He placed the ring in her hand and closed her fingers around it. “I think he knew what it would do. He meant to give it to you, so you could see Rose.”

“That doesn’t make sense. He doesn’t know I can see her.”

“I think Occam knows a lot more about what’s going on than we realize.”

Reluctantly, she shoved the ring back in her pocket. “I’m tired of this shit,” she murmured.

“So am I.” He stroked her hair down the side of her face. His hand was soft, warm. Alive. “I’d do anything to be back in my apartment above Michigan Avenue, sitting at my desk and looking out at the skyline. Answering a thousand e-mails, worrying about my workload the next day.” He dropped his hand. “But I can’t have that. I probably never will again.”

“I know how you feel. I don’t know if I’ll ever see my crappy little apartment above my shop again. Or get drunk on a Saturday night with Diego in our usual dive and fight with his stupid roommate.” She paused. “I don’t know, though, if I could go back in time and never come here, if I’d do it. I’d miss out on the good things I found in Chicago, too.”

“Surely, meeting me was not worth losing your normal life.”

“My normal life wasn’t that charming, either.” She smiled. “Besides, I wasn’t talking about you. I meant Dipity.”

He grinned and glanced at the mattress. “Want to snuggle on my awesome bed? I kinda missed sleeping with you next to me.”

“Only kinda?” She tugged him toward the mattress. “Sam said no sex.”

“Sam can go to hell.”

She bit her lip. “I think he’s already there.”

They lay down on the mattress. The thing was as uncomfortable as it looked and smelled as well, though Micha’s scent was superimposed on top. She lay tangled up with him, his heart thumping against her arm. Their legs were entwined, shoes off.

Micha propped himself up so his face was above hers and kissed her.

When she closed her eyes, the churning crowd in the park swam in her head—the frightened faces and Robbie’s blank white eyes, surveying the crowd with cold calculation. The flames erupted all over again.

She also envisioned Sam downstairs, the pain in his eyes, the tension in his face. He was traumatized, probably thinking of doing something stupid, despite his promise not to leave. She should be down there to stop him, talk to him, whatever he needed. What the hell was she doing right now? Once again seeking comfort from Micha instead of being there for him.

Micha moved to kissing her neck. He tugged at the collar of her T-shirt with his teeth and placed a hot kiss on the bare skin of her shoulder.

She shifted against him, battling between the desire for comfort and the need for solitude.

“You all right?” he murmured. “You want me to stop?” His breath had gone shallow, his hand stiff on her side.

“I’m fine. And yeah…it’s just. It’s not a good time.”

He settled back down beside her and rubbed her hip. “I get that. I’m sorry. I just missed you.”

“I missed you too,” she murmured.

They were quiet for a few minutes.

Finally, he whispered, breaking the silence, “I think we can still work out.”

She didn’t reply. After a moment, he lifted his head and kissed her temple. He rested his hand on her chest, over her heart.

“Maybe,” she said.

She lay still, listening to his breath until it turned slow and shallow. The house was horribly quiet. Sam wasn’t moving around down below. She didn’t hear him crying, either.

She carefully sat up and grabbed her bag of chips off the windowsill. She was still hungry.

June had dozed off, and woke to muffled voices. Evening had fallen, and the room was steeped in shadows. Micha lay pressed against her side, snoring faintly. For a moment, her brain convinced her they were back at the house and she was waking up next to Micha as she did every night. Reality followed swiftly, however. Funny how hiding out in that house was comparatively better than what she was enduring now.

She strained to hear the voices. They were coming from downstairs—Sam and Cindy.

She untangled herself from Micha and sat up. Her mouth was dry from the chips.

Micha stirred and lifted his head. In the darkness, she could barely make out his face.

“I think Cindy’s back,” she said. “I wonder what time it is?”

Micha sat up. June stretched and groaned at the stiffness in her muscles. Today had been vigorous.

“Did they give you any water?” she asked.

“There’s a plastic jug over by the food. I think it’s safe. I haven’t gotten dysentery yet, anyway.”

She got up, wobbled over to the corner, and sought out the jug. The water was warm, but it felt heavenly, parched as she was.

An angry shout sounded from downstairs, making her jump and spill some down her front.

“Hey!” Sam’s voice. “Get down here.”

“We’re coming!” June yelled back. “Give us a minute.”

“We don’t have minutes,” Sam snarled.

She hoped he was just being dramatic and something else terrible hadn’t happened.

She and Micha went downstairs. She winced at the light. Cindy was there. She sat on the edge of one of the beds, brow scrunched up and tears in her eyes. The constant pit in June’s stomach opened wider.

Sam was pacing.

“You’re probably hungry.” Micha thrust a bag of chips at Sam. “I’m sure the vampires didn’t feed you.”

Sam glared at him. “Feed me? Like I’m a fucking animal?” He snatched the bag, though.

“By their standards, we all are,” Micha said.

Sam tore the bag open.

“What’s going on?” June sat down across from Cindy, on the other bed.

“It’s awful,” Cindy choked out. “It’s all over the news. They’re calling it the ‘Massacre In the Park.’ Eighty-three people. That’s how many they’ve confirmed dead. Not all were Paranormal Alliance members, but most were.”

“Oh, wow.” June sat tense, her heart pounding painfully under her ribs. “Damn. I’m sorry.”

Sam sat down beside Cindy, cramming chips in his mouth.

“I talked to some people I trust,” Cindy said. “They’re all scared he’s coming for them. Some are packing up and getting out of Chicago.”

“Maybe we should do the same,” June said.

Sam swallowed and licked his lips. “We’re safer than most. We at least have the advantage that he doesn’t know where we are.” Finally, he was talking some sense.

“What is the news saying about Robbie?” June asked.

“No one knows where he is.” Cindy shook her head. “There’s a huge manhunt going on. They won’t find him. His followers will protect him.”

“We need to be the ones who find him.” Sam stood. “If he’s coming to the vampires, I hope he comes quick. What if he starts killing more people to draw me out?”

“So I take it you didn’t find Muse?” June asked Cindy.

Cindy wiped at her eyes. “I went to the apartment building. I didn’t go inside, though. I sat in the parking lot and called out to her with my mind. Nothing.”

“I wish we hadn’t argued today,” Sam said. “I wish I’d brought her with me.” He glanced at June. “Both of you. I don’t want you dead, either.”

“He won’t kill her,” June said. “She’s too important to you. Robbie will use her. He’ll dangle her to try to get you to come out.” She took a breath. “I hope to God he at least let Trina go. She’s of no use to him.”

Sam scoffed. “They definitely killed her. She’s of no use to him, precisely.”

June jumped to her feet. “She was innocent! She didn’t deserve to be tangled up in this, and she sure as hell didn’t deserve to die.”

Sam turned to her, eyes glittering. “Neither did those people in the park. But a lot of innocent people died, because that’s the way Robbie wanted it. A lot more innocent people will die.”

“You didn’t have to kidnap Trina to make a point to Occam. You weren’t responsible for what happened to those people today, but if she’s dead, that is your fault. Occam wouldn’t have hurt Micha even without us taking Trina.”

Sam grabbed her arm. “You know him so well, don’t you? Why don’t you go suck your vampire boyfriend’s cock and get us some information?”

She slapped him across the face before she could stop herself. “You’re an idiot! You’re smart, but you never think!”

Micha jumped between them. “Hey, hey.” He held his arms out, keeping them away from each other. “It’s not the time for this.”

Sam rubbed his cheek, glaring at her.

June backed off. “I know what it feels like to get mixed up in shit you never wanted to be involved in. To be an innocent bystander and get sucked in without warning. But you don’t take it out on the people who care about you!” She turned and stalked toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Sam called.

“To suck my vampire boyfriend’s cock!” She flipped him off and left the room.

“Don’t leave the house,” he yelled.

“I’m not as dumb as you!”

The hallway was dark. She inched her way down the stairs. She had no idea where to go. She just needed to get away from that room for a few minutes or she would beat the hell out of Sam. She was trembling with anger, with grief. Would Trina’s family ever know what became of her? Would her boyfriend search for her? Would her body turn up?

Below, the house was dark and silent. She walked through what seemed to be a living room, the shapes of furniture looming in the darkness. She searched for a light switch or lamp.

“Won’t make a difference,” a voice said behind her. “No bulbs.”

She jumped and gritted her teeth. “Damn it, Occam. Why can’t you say hello like a normal person?”

A low laugh. “I’m not a normal person.”

Now that her eyes were adjusting, she could make out a figure sitting on the couch a few feet away.

“Are we alone?” she asked.

“How forward of you. Are you coming on to me, Little Red?”

“I just want to make sure I’m not about to become a vampire juice box. Are your friends lurking nearby?”

“We’re alone.” The figure shifted. “Come join me for a chat.”

“Sure, why not?” She walked to the couch. “Have you just been sitting down here waiting for me?”

“I knew you’d come looking for me eventually. I heard the fighting upstairs just now. I figured at least one of you would storm off.”

She sat down, well away from him. His smell drifted over nonetheless, not entirely repulsive this time, cigarettes and a faint hint of—cologne? Was he sprucing himself up for her?

“I didn’t come looking for you,” she said. “I just…had to clear my head.”

“Trouble in paradise?”

“Paradise.” She huffed. Rose’s words rattled around in her head. Since she had him alone, she might as well ask some questions and see if they were the right ones.

“You’ve had a rough day,” he said.

“No kidding.” She sat back. The couch was lumpy and sagging. “Can I ask you a few things?”

“I was hoping you would.”

She tucked her hands between her knees. “I could start with the obvious, like where’s Robbie and what’s he planning, but you wouldn’t tell me that, would you?”

“Maybe you overestimate my knowledge, or my ability to care where Robbie is and what he’s planning.”

“Robbie didn’t come to you just once, asking for your help.” Faint voices drifted from upstairs. She hoped no one came down to look for her. “You said he showed up multiple times. That got me thinking.”