Darkness Shatters: Book 5 (Sensor Series) (7 page)

He put a hand on her cheek and caressed it. “I have faith you’ll do your best, but only if you are willing to work with us and trust our experience in this as well. Can you do that?”

“Yes,” she said with absolute confidence her voice.

Perhaps it was time to let her take the lead and see how she handled it. Melena was getting stronger and more experienced with each year that passed. She was also as inventive and cunning as their adversaries—her thinking modern like theirs.

She’d demonstrated that much when she invaded Purgatory using RPGs and grenades. Something he never would have considered. Her leadership might be the very thing they needed to ensure success against a group that was known for their ruthlessness. It would also prove to the supernatural world where she stood once and for all.

Lucas nodded and stepped away. “Then you will have my support.”

Relief showed in her eyes.

“I’m not adverse to her coordinating with DHS.” Yerik drew their attention. “But I want to have at least half a dozen of our people join the raid as well. We can’t be sure what types of defensive measures Jerome may have set up. It’s best to be prepared for anything.”

“I would have suggested that anyway,” Melena replied in a brusque tone. “While you choose which of your guys you want to join us I’ll get in touch with O’Connell. He snuck back into Fairbanks a couple weeks ago. It’s about time I pay him a visit.”

Yerik started to reply, but his cell phone rang. He checked the screen and frowned.

“I must take this.”

No sooner than the daimoun headed off to the dining room then Lucas’ cell phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered.

“Master, we’ve got a problem.” This came from Sayer, another vampire subordinate who currently ruled the supernatural population in Juneau until a new leader could be found.

Lucas rubbed his forehead—even immortals could get headaches. “What is it?”

“Several werewolves in town have come down sick, as well as a pixie family. We have no idea what is wrong and nothing seems to cure it.”

There went their hope of this being an isolated problem. “We believe it may be the plague. It’s begun spreading in Fairbanks as well. Keep those who are sick quarantined from others of their race. I’ll be there soon to assist you.”

He hung up. They didn’t have a vampire doctor in Juneau. Lucas would need to get advice from Paula before going to help Sayer.

“It’s started there, too?” Melena asked.

“Yes.”

It disappointed him for more than the obvious reason. With no new leads on his brother, he’d hoped to stay with her and assist in planning the raid on Jerome’s hideout. He couldn’t do that if Juneau was under a crisis as well. Lucas was partly responsible for the city after failing to protect its former leader and one of his closest friends.

“It’s okay.” She gave him a weak smile. “We can hold down the fort here.”

Yerik came into the room. His expression was as dark as Lucas had ever seen it.

“The plague has spread. It has reached New Orleans and several other cities that we know about. I must go.” He looked at Melena. “Keep me updated on the raid planning.”

“I will.”

Lucas pulled her into his embrace and kissed her. “Don’t do anything foolish while I’m gone.”

“Who me? I would never…”

He flashed away before she could finish. She could yell at him later for it.

Chapter Six

Melena

“Hey, what’s up?”

Cori nodded at me as I walked into her tattoo parlor. She was checking out a customer. There was fresh ink on the guy’s arm in the shape of a skull and crossbones. How original. I’d had her put a snake made of chains on me last year that wrapped around my thigh, back, and stomach. It held a lot of significance at that point in my life and in many ways still did.

“I need a favor, but it can wait until you’re done,” I answered, leaning against the counter.

We’d become friends back when I worked at the neighboring herb shop. The one my friend Felisha had owned before Derrick killed her. Bambi—the troll with the sick husband—operated it now. I hadn’t come back to the shopping center since we’d cleared out Felisha’s things, but I needed to face the past and move on. Visiting tattoo parlor first helped, though I really did need to come here.

Cori had proven more than once that she had my back. She might be a human who weighed no more than one twenty, but her murky past had taught her how to hold her own. There was an inner strength that gave her an edge.

She finished cashing her customer out and giving him instructions on the aftercare of his tattoo. The skinny man with a shaved head gave me an appraising look before heading out the door. At least he didn’t linger.

“What do you need?” she asked.

“An hour or so of your time if you can spare it.”

“Where’s Kerbasi?” Cori peered around my shoulder as if he might be hiding behind me.

“Out in the Jeep. He’s being cranky today.”

I’d been making him stay in his shack since the day before. His running commentary on the merits of the plague was getting on my nerves. If I could have left him there for this trip, I would have.

“Figures.” She walked over to the front door, flipped the sign to CLOSED, and locked it.

“You’re not even going to ask what this is about?”

She returned to the counter, grabbed a ponytail holder from underneath, and proceeded to pull back her black hair. It barely touched her shoulders.

“I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

“It could be risky,” I warned.

“Good. It’s been boring around here lately.”

Cori leaned toward a small mirror on the counter and touched up her mascara. With her porcelain skin and dark hair, she didn’t need much make-up to appear dramatic.

“Did you hear the plague is going around?” I asked.

She poked her eyelid with the mascara brush and cursed. “Dammit, Melena. Don’t joke around like that.”

“I’m not.”

She lifted her gaze from the mirror. “Is that why Bambi’s shop has been closed since yesterday?”

“Yeah. Her husband is sick with it.”

“Why wasn’t it on the news? You’d think everyone would be talking about it.” She gestured at me to follow her toward the back storage room.

“It’s only affecting sups. There’s a magic spell on the disease so it targets specific races entwined with another spell to make it virulent enough to get past their stronger immune systems.”

Cori was silent as she put on her leather jacket and a knit cap. I didn’t say anything as she made her way around the shop shutting things down. By the looks of it, she’d decided not to come back for the rest of the day. Probably just as well. It’d be dark soon and with the snow coming down again there wouldn’t be much business anyway.

She paused while counting out the cash in her register drawer. “So you can’t use your blood to break one spell without canceling the other.”

“Pretty much,” I confirmed.

“Whoever set that up really thought it through.” She locked the cash in a safe and grabbed her purse. “Alright, I’m ready. Are you driving or am I?”

“Separate cars. I need you to distract a DHS agent and get him to open his office door. I’ll move in after that, but I don’t want him to see me coming until too late.”

I’d scouted the place out a couple times. There were cameras strategically placed around the building. No outside guards, but the doors looked rather sturdy. O’Connell knew he wasn’t supposed to be there since he’d agreed to leave the city last year—and stay out—so he’d never open up for me. Considering I was coming to ask for help, I didn’t want to damage his place getting inside. I just wanted to shake him up a little.

“Are you sure he’ll open the door for me? DHS probably figured out I’m your friend.”

They’d followed me around for a while back in August until I confronted them. It was only after I promised to feed them information about something big coming up that they’d gone away, though obviously not for good. I had to assume they chose to send O’Connell back because we’d served in the army together. Maybe they thought I would be sentimental and not retaliate against him. He’d no doubt neglected to mention we were never friends.

“They’ve probably identified you, but if you put a scarf around your neck and pull your hat down the agent shouldn’t recognize you. It’s me they’re more worried about,” I reassured her. “Just don’t do anything to make him pull his gun.”

She smiled. “I think I can handle it.”

“That’s what I’m counting on.”

***

I parked down the street from the old mechanic shop O’Connell had leased. It was a small, unassuming place with one small window and a door next to it where the office must have been located. There were also two bay doors, but those were the only entry/exit points.

DHS had used a similar place the last time they were here. This one had an open parking lot surrounding it and cameras on every corner so you couldn’t sneak up on the building. The restaurant located across the street appeared to have regular customers, ensuring no one could attack openly without drawing the attention of humans. At least not during business hours and I wanted to be home before Emily returned from school.

“How long must we sit out here?” Kerbasi asked from the passenger seat.

“Not long.”

Cori was pulling up now. She was going to pretend she needed work done on her car—which was believable if you heard how awful it sounded—and didn’t realize the place was no longer a mechanic shop. It had just closed four months before so it wasn’t entirely implausible. The main thing I needed her to do was draw O’Connell away from his camera screens. Based on my previous surveillance, he was the only one from his agency in town. For now.

“I could have gone in there and spoke to him for you.” The guardian put his hands up to the vents, attempting to warm them.

“Nah. I’ve got a different plan.”

He glanced at me. “I admit I’m curious to see what it is.”

“Just a little something to shake him up. He broke our deal and needs a lesson.”

“I could help,” he offered.

I wished I could say he was being generous, but he really just wanted something to do. The guardian didn’t know how to spend his time now that he didn’t have prisoners to torture. All he could do to me was talk me to death.

“Just stay invisible or better yet, stay in the Jeep.”

“I’ve already stayed once today.” He gave me a stubborn look.

There were only so many things I could order him to do. Anything else required major bribery and even that didn’t always work.

“At least stay invisible until I’m done giving him a hard time…please.”

He sighed. “Very well.”

“Oh, look. He’s opened the door for Cori. Time to go.”

We got out of the Jeep and crossed the street, working our way there while I tried to keep out of O’Connell’s line of sight. He hadn’t stepped outside, which helped. Cori was still talking to him as I crept along the front of the building with Kerbasi invisible behind me.

“Why would you rent a mechanics shop if you aren’t going to do repairs?” she asked, crossing her arms. “That’s awfully misleading.”

“Look, lady. It’s not like we’re advertising. You shouldn’t have even bothered coming here.” That was O’Connell, disdainful voice and all.

I took the last couple steps and came up next to Cori.

His eyes rounded. “Melena! What are you doing here?”

“Funny. I could ask you the same question and did you grow your beard out just for me? It’s so cute!”

O’Connell always been a clean-cut guy who dressed impeccably, but right now his brown hair was long enough to cover his ears and he had a scruffy beard. Guess he thought that would be enough of a disguise that I wouldn’t notice him lurking about town. That and his clothes, which looked like they’d seen at least a hundred washes and still had some stains on them, especially his jeans.

He jerked back and moved to slam the door. I kicked it just before it closed. “I don’t think so. We need to talk.”

“I can explain.” He put his hands up as if I was pointing a gun at him.

“Sure you can.” I glanced at the others. “Let’s go inside where it’s warmer.”

I grabbed the DHS agent by his collar and dragged him into his office. There was a desk against the far wall with a chair in front of it. I shoved him onto the seat.

“Didn’t we have an agreement?” I asked.

He glanced at Cori. She’d pulled off her cap and was now unwinding her scarf. “Hey, I recognize you. You’re one of Melena’s friends.”

“One point for the DHS agent,” she said, smoothing down her hair.

“You could get into a lot of trouble for helping her.”

She put a hand on her hip. “I’m pretty sure you want to hear what she has to say.”

Not that Cori knew anything yet, but she trusted me enough to know I’d have a good reason for my visit here.

“What do you want?” O’Connell gave me a suspicious look.