You Both (Vampire Assassin League Book 29) (2 page)

“I got an assignment for you.”

“Look! There is your target.” Ethelstone pointed out a thin fellow with a thinner bag at his back.

“Target?” Nigel asked in his ear.

Athlerod swung his arm backward. Ethelstone jostled him at the exact moment his brother tossed. They both watched as the pebble glanced off a balcony across the street, denting the metal, before slamming into the hood of a yellow taxi on the street. The front of the car exploded, screams and shouting erupted, and both men scooted back.

“Uh oh,” Ethelstone finally said.

Nigel replied. “Oh, crap. That doesn’t sound good. Where are you two?”

“Um. On a roof.”

Sirens were starting to wail below them. Ethelstone slanted a glance at his brother, met Athlerod’s look, and sent a finger across his lips in the universal sign to say nothing. Athlerod nodded.

“Doing what?” Nigel continued.

“Oh. Nothing...much.”

“Well. Get your butt to the airstrip. You have a flight.”

“Where are we going?”

“Iceland.”

“Reykjavik?”

“Yeah. You have a place there, right?”

“
Ja.
” Ethelstone agreed.

“Good. Then get moving.”

“We will be there within the minute.”

“Wait! I never said—”

Ethelstone didn’t hear the rest. He grabbed Athlerod’s collar and jumped off the building with his twin.

She should have advertised for a roommate.

And she would have...
if
she hadn’t seen too many fright movies featuring roommates. And if the plumbing didn’t need so much work, especially in the spare bathroom. The pipes were a mess of rust. The heat was also an issue. Every room was chilly unless she stood right beside a radiator. And the kitchen was a conglomeration of appliances that would look good in a World War Two movie.
A roommate?
Heck. She’d have to get the place overhauled first.

Stephanie held the flashlight with a shaky hand as she negotiated the steps to the basement. This was so insane. First she was calling vampires? Now she was actually checking up on what one of them told her, as if he knew her circumstances? She’d acted like a novice, for pity’s sake, not a veteran reporter with a hefty resume supporting her. She hadn’t found out anything. Then the power had gone out. It figured that nuance of the evening would correspond to that Akron fellow hanging up on her.
And why not?
That matched her life anymore. She was living in la-la-land. Ever since a previously unknown great-uncle had died, leaving her a ramshackle Victorian house – along with a quarterly trust account to pay utilities and taxes – she’d been in a zone approaching fantasy. It was a small town girl’s dream. Well...it was if the small town girl dreamed of the big time amid worrying over things like rent. Groceries.

“A future,” she added verbally.

This was another reason not to get a roommate – she talked to herself.
And, look at that.
Akron had been right. One of the latches on a basement window was definitely loose. It fell open and swung uselessly, even after she hooked it back over the peg. She’d have to get it replaced.

“But for now, I’ve got duct tape. And I’m not afraid to use it. You got that, window?”

Stephanie yanked a strip off the roll, and secured the window to the frame. It wouldn’t stop a burglar, but it might keep some of the environment out. That was a decided plus. It was literally
freezing
down here.

The flashlight shook even more as she ascended the steps. She was going to light the stove, brew a nice hot cup of tea, put another log on the fire in the parlor fireplace, snuggle into a blanket...and think about her sanity. She was trying to write free-lance for a newspaper, but vampires?

“Honestly, Stephanie. You are losing your mind.” She shook her head after the comment and shut the basement door.

“Miss Bowker.”

Stephanie spun. A huge black shape loomed from the landing, sending her back a step. The wall stopped her. The flashlight dropped with a thud and rolled down the hall.

“I am Akron Profit.”

The introduction wasn’t necessary. She’d recognized the voice instantly. It had been shiver-inducing over the phone. In person, it was terrifying. Cold gripped her chest, stopping her next breath. Fear grabbed her throat with a stranglehold.

“Ah. I see you have already ascertained that.”

He wore a hooded cape. It shadowed his features as he stepped closer. Stephanie couldn’t help it. Her gaze flew to meet his. He had incredibly dark eyes. Riveting.

Enthralling.

“You are very tall.”

Her mind felt fogged. He called her very tall? Not really. She was a fraction of an inch under six feet. It wasn’t that abnormal. She’d seen many taller women. She could find them easily if she went looking for shoes. They usually hovered around the size 10 – and up – area.

“Physically fit.”

So she worked out a little. He found that worth commenting over?

“You are not Scandinavian descent, are you? Hmm. Your hair is more...an ash brown shade. Nor are your eyes blue. Interesting.”

He called her hair ash brown? She’d always considered it dirty blond...and why on earth should that matter? The fog grew denser. Almost physical. It was difficult to see clearly through it.

“You are a beautiful woman, Miss Bowker. Very beautiful.”

A swell of warmth loomed through her chest at his words, easing the restriction on her lungs. Stephanie managed to pull in a gasp.

“I don’t believe I could have chosen better.”

Chosen...?
He was listing traits as if looking over prime stock. She needed to make sense of what he said. Deplore it. Strenuously berate him. And she would have if her brain and mouth would cooperate.

He answered as if she spoke aloud. “I have decided to answer your questions, my dear. But not here. And not now. You are about to begin a journey. A rather unbelievable one. You need to suspend reality. And judgment. And someday...I believe you will thank me for it.”

It got darker. Her limbs were useless. Paralyzed. Any thought process joined in. She was surrounded by an impression of amazing warmth. Protective. Safe. It enshrouded her. They were moving next, the sensation akin to floating on a sun-dappled pool, surrounded by luxury.

This was really insane
.

The foggy feeling swelled to consuming level. And then she felt...nothing.

~ ~ ~

“Whoa.”

Athlerod stopped at the top of the steps. Ethelstone bumped into him with a force that sent him back a step. The ladder rattled.

“What is it?”

“Uh...” Athlerod replied unhelpfully.

“Well? Move in already, and let me see!”

“Oh. Have some...patience, brother.”

Athlerod snickered as he said it. His brother was chuckling at him?

“
Move, you
haestpeis!
”

Ethelstone shoved. Athlerod’s head struck the doorframe with a thud. He spun, and shoved back and Ethelstone fell. He ripped the railing of the steps loose, but it didn’t do much to slow his landing. He smacked onto his back on concrete, creating cracks that radiated outward through the cement. It didn’t help that Athlerod laughed at him, either. Ethelstone was on his feet the next moment and leaping. He snagged his brother about the belly with an arm. The motion propelled them both. They slammed into the jet interior. The fuselage shuddered with the impact. Something fell in the galley area with a clatter. Ethelstone didn’t waste a second. He wrestled for the top position, and the advantage, grunting as if it was an exertion. Then he lifted his head.

And lost his ability to do anything other than gape.

The world ground to a halt, even his need to best his brother. Athlerod easily grappled to the upper position, and then straddled him. Ethelstone didn’t care. He lay on his belly and stared. And when that wasn’t sufficient, he pushed upward to get a better view. The move lifted Athlerod. His brother didn’t help. He didn’t take any of his weight off Ethelstone. It didn’t matter. Nothing was of any consequence except—

“Fine. You win, Ethel. It’s a woman,” Athlerod announced.

A woman?

Athlerod needed better descriptive skills. There wasn’t a woman sitting in a captain’s chair facing them. It was a goddess. A real goddess. She was perched on a chair as if considering lesser beings. She sat motionless. Serene. Completely unruffled at their entrance. Her eyes were open and staring. He couldn’t tell what color they were. The woman was truly beautiful...except even that word fell short. If there was a more descriptive one, he’d use it. She had incredibly long shapely legs, too, skimmed by skinny jeans. Long fingers, too. He glanced at how elegant they looked resting atop the arms of the chair.

The door closed automatically behind them. A hissing sound accompanied the sealing. And then the intercom buzzed on. And the familiar voice of a newly created vampire, the pilot, Vaughn.

“Well! Well. Sounds like I have you both tonight! Glad to hear you’ve finally arrived...and with your usual debonair élan. Welcome boys! Strap yourselves into a seat for take-off already. Or...whatever. But no fighting. No damage. Got it?”

“Vaughn?”

Athlerod answered. Ethelstone hadn’t moved his eyes from the woman.

“In the undead flesh.”

“You can fly? Already? It’s not too soon to be out?”

“We’re going to Iceland. It’s the dark season up there. We should be fine. And...these cockpits are equipped with UV-blocking glass. Total UV blocking. I have as much chance of catching a sunbeam up here as I have of...well. Stow it. We’ve got a long flight ahead of us. We don’t have time for chitchat. You lads ready?”

The engines purred loudly. The cabin shuddered and began moving. Athlerod sighed and stood up, releasing him. Ethelstone took a bit longer to stand. He didn’t take his eyes off the woman as he gained his feet. Something was really weird. He couldn’t quite place it. It couldn’t be her beauty. They’d accompanied some of the most gorgeous assassins on many occasions. Angelique. Reika.

This was different.

And he didn’t know why.

“Hey, Ethel. You’re staring.”

“Do you think she can hear us?”

“No. I think she looks enthralled. And you just let me call you Ethel. That’s twice now.”

“Oh. Well...don’t do it again,” Ethelstone replied automatically. Athlerod was right. She did look like she was in a trance. That was even weirder.

“Why not? It’s your name.”

“Stop it.”

“You have a girl’s name. Ha. Ha. Ethel.”

“Fine. You want to call names? You need to remember yours is Athle.”

“Now, wait. That makes me sound like an asshole.”

“I don’t see the problem.” Ethelstone couldn’t prevent the snicker.

“
Pokker.
”

“
Rasshole.
” The name-calling was automatic. He wasn’t really paying attention. There was something truly odd about the situation. Athlerod was obtuse. Or he didn’t sense it. A vibration of some kind was in the air, one that didn’t come from the jet’s engines.

“Wait! I’ve got it. We can shorten names and still be
skoruligr.
Our manliness stays intact. So. Listen! You can call me Rod. And I will call you Stone. That sounds much better. You agree?”

“I wonder who she is.”

“What? Who cares? It’s not like we haven’t seen women before.”

Ethelstone had gained his feet, and swayed in place. He tensed both leg muscles to stay in one position as the plane gained speed for the take-off. He watched the woman’s body shift slightly as she rocked with the plane’s movement. She was belted into place. A shoulder strap kept her torso upright. A lock of her hair slid forward on her shoulder. The plane slanted. Ethelstone skidded forward but kept from falling. Athlerod wasn’t as lucky. He tumbled headfirst into a chair opposite the woman. It should have amused. Ethelstone should be hooting with laughter. His expression probably mirrored his brother’s as Athlerod gained his seating and looked over at him.

For once, Athlerod looked completely serious. And then one of his cell phones blasted out. That was one difference between them. Ethelstone was the muted one. Where he used a slight buzz, Athlerod had his phones cued to the sound of horns. A plethora of Viking horns. Announcing a raid.

“Ooh. Listen to that. I have a call this time. Me. Not you.”

The sound of horns blasted the cabin again. The woman didn’t move. She hadn’t jumped at the sound. Ethelstone took a step nearer. Waved a hand before her face. Her focus didn’t shift. If this was a thrall, it was a severe one.

The phone went off yet again.

“Would you answer that already?” Ethelstone asked.

“I was going to. I was just watching you.”

“Me?”

“You’re acting really strange. You know that? Hello?”

Ethelstone swallowed. A tingling sensation accompanied it. His eyes widened, and he turned his head away to disguise it. And then he stiffened. He and Athlerod had been inseparable from birth. They’d been shipwrecked together. Almost died, and been changed into vampires, one-after-the-other. His brother had been at his side for over a thousand years now. He’d never hidden anything from him.

Until now.

“
Ja
. This is Athlerod. Where am I? Aboard the jet. Heading to Reykjavik. Yes. He is here, too.”

“Hey Ethel. I mean, Stone. He wants to talk to you.”

Ethelstone took the phone without looking. It felt smooth and hard in his palm. He
felt
it! Alarm bells started ringing through his skull. Then they spread into his ears. That was going to be difficult to hear through. And worse. There was a distinct tingling feeling happening throughout his arms now.

It was Akron on the line. He had the deepest bass voice in the league. It conquered the bell sound easily. “Ethelstone?’

“
Ja
.”

“Why are you both aboard that jet?”

“The kid gave us instruction. I heard it. He speaks for you. Or...has that changed?”

“Oh. He definitely speaks for me. But he obviously needs to speak faster. Or use smaller words with some associates.”

“We’re not supposed to be going to Iceland?”

“I’ll be succinct. You had the assignment to Iceland. Your brother has a different one entirely.”