Green Tea and Black Death (The Godhunter, Book 5) (24 page)

Chapter Thirty-Three

   “This is quite magnificent,” Karni looked around Moonshine's VIP level as she sipped her Mai Tai. “It really feels like we are dining in a forest.”

   “
Thank you,” Trevor said as he laid an arm over the back of my chair.

  
We were at one of the tables on the side balconies of the top floor. They were the only normal tables in the whole place. A flat-topped boulder made a great table but when you were trying to have a meal, a regular table with room for feet beneath it was better, so Trevor had placed some down each side, up there. There wasn't a lot of space between the table and the railing, so it was easy to look out over the club and enjoy the view.

  
Currently, the view included
Dark Horses,
the horse shifter band that occasionally played at Moonshine to give us some live music. They were set up on a stage nestled in the trees on the first floor and the stage itself seemed to have grown from the forest. Live plants crept over the wooden beams, hiding the man-made elements well. The Moon overhead, which was actually a security system of Atlantean craftsmanship, was also a spotlight and it shone down on the band with gentle luminosity.

 
I sipped my drink as we waited for our dinner to arrive and watched the show. Rain, the lead singer, was strutting around like he was Mick Jagger's hot, younger brother. He was doing a good job at it too. Women were screaming almost as loud as the music, waving frantically to him and throwing various items on stage. I was hoping none of them were panties.

  
The music itself was primal. They always sounded so sexy and wild. It made you want to sway and maybe grab someone to grind against. Several couples were actually on the dance floor doing just that. I smiled at them, glad the club was doing so well but then Rain looked up and caught my gaze. I lost my smile.

   “
I'll be the trembling in your breath,”
he sang,
“the trickle of blood on your flesh. I'll lift my darkness around us and protect you from the night.”

   “
What's our next move then?” Thor pulled my attention back to the table.

   “
I haven't the foggiest,” I frowned. “You don't think she was bluffing? I mean, without the rats to carry the disease, how far is this going to spread? People are more aware now, when they see the infection starting, they can simply go to a hospital to be treated. I think she's finished.”

   “
She was so smug though,” Teharon was seated next to Karni Mata of course.

   “
She was,” I ground my teeth. “It was really fucking irritating.”

   “
Pardon me,” Huitzilopochtli stood a little down from our table.

   “
Blue!” I stood and went to go give him a hug. “How are you? I'm so glad you're here.”

   “
Thank you,” he smiled and hugged me back. “I'm glad to see you as well, little witch.”

   “
Come meet Karni Mata,” I took his arm and steered him toward the table. “She just saved me a lot of headache.”

   “
A pleasure to meet you,” he bowed over Karni's extended hand.

   “
Nice to meet you as well,” she nodded.

   “
How is it that you've prevented Vervain head pain?” He settled into a chair at the end of the table as I went back to my seat.

   “
I removed some infected rats from Chinatown and protected the rest so that Xi Wangmu couldn't infect them with the plague.”

   “
Rats?” Blue's eyebrows went up. “How did you manage that?”

   “
I am the Goddess of Rats,” she said sweetly.

  “
Of course,” Blue waved his hand like he'd been silly not to realize it sooner.

  “
Now that this is done,” I spoke up. “And please don't take offense to this,” the men groaned, probably knowing where I was going. “But Brahma told us your story and I'm curious as to why you chose rats for the form your people would reincarnate into.”

   “
What did you tell them?” She looked over at Brahma like he was a moron.

  
He told her concisely what he'd told us and she laughed and hit him on the arm.

   “
You never pay attention when a woman is talking,” she shook her head. “All your brain cells migrate and you can only focus on the female form.”

   “
Well,” he smiled and shrugged. “It's how I'm built.”

   “
No, it's how
we're
built. Now pay attention this time,” she sighed. “It was not just any child who died but my stepson, Laxman. He drowned and when I went to Yama, he said that Laxman had already be reincarnated... as a rat. Since he couldn't bring him back for me, he promised me that all my male descendants would be reborn as rats and upon the very next cycle, they would be made human again, reborn as my descendants once more.”

   “
Oh,” I nodded. “So you didn't actually chose a rat.”

   “
No,” she shrugged, “but I was not unsatisfied with the choice. Rats are highly intelligent creatures, with a language of their own. They are representations of the night, as well as foresight, prudence, and the sense of smell. In India, people view them as cute animals, similar to squirrels in the United States. Most Indians will not kill a rat if they find one in their home but instead, catch them and release them in nature. It would be like killing a bunny is for you.”

   “
Wow,” I shook my head. “To each their own and all that. I don't think I could view them like bunnies.”

   “
You have grown up with a different perspective,” she waved a hand delicately. “They are both rodents, you know.”

   “
Indeed,” I laughed. “So were you a goddess before you became a rat goddess?”

   “
Ah, yes,” she nodded. “I was Atlantean and I had migrated to India but I hadn't chosen my deity identity yet. All the other Atlanteans were becoming gods but I just wanted to live normally. So I lived amongst the Indian people in Deshnok and I became a sort of mystic. Kings would come to me for advice and I would help them choose sites to build upon. I became a goddess slowly, without even realizing it. People just admired me and then the thing with Laxman happened and I began to be worshiped.”

   “
Why don't you like to leave your temple?” Yes, I can be pushy. I was just so curious about her.

   “
I've seen the world,” she shrugged. “I know its secrets. I just want to relax in my sanctuary. Though I must say, I may have found a reason to venture out.”

  
She and Teharon smiled at each other. Oh so sappy but I was excited for him. Teharon deserved love. As soon as the thought entered my head, my love magic rose up and discretely fluttered out of my chest and over to the couple, a single butterfly hovering between them. I smiled in delighted surprise. I'd never seen my magic behave like that before.

  
It glowed a little but no one seemed to notice it, including the two people sitting with it between them. Then it sparkled, glowing brighter, until the glow grew large enough to enclose the two of them. It pulsed once and the butterfly disappeared, as if it had never been. A blessing, I knew it instantly. I'd just given my first blessing.

  
Teharon looked over at me and smiled. I smiled back.

  “
Vervain,” Blue caught my attention. “I actually came by because I wanted to pose a question to you and your Squad.”

   “
Really?” I leaned forward in my seat. “Go on then.”

   “
I find myself bored of late and I don't want to be at odds with you again,” he gave me a sheepish grin. “I was wondering if you, all of you, would allow me to join the group and help where I can.”

   “
Holy Blood Biting, Blue,” I laughed. “Really? You gonna come over into the light for good?”

   “
I'd like to try it.”

   “
Well, I have to speak with the others,” I looked around at the members who were present and they nodded their approval, “but I'm sure they'd be happy to have you with us. We can use all the help we can get.”

   “
Wonderful,” he smiled wide enough to flash his vampire fangs at me.

   “
I think you're a little late to help with Xi Wangmu but I'll be sure you're in on the next piece of action,” I sat back in my chair to allow my Froekn waiter to put my dinner down.

  
Blue was thrilled and I was glad to have him on board finally. It was a relief to know I'd never have to worry about fighting him again. He ordered some food too and we all ate in between bouts of companionable banter. It was so nice to have a night like this, happy, secure, and well fed. I was with good friends, sitting between two of my men, and eating good food in my own nightclub. It was time to take a breath.

 
I got up to use the restroom and suddenly remembered my vampire stalkers.

   “
Blue,” I tapped him on the shoulder. “Could I talk to you a sec?”

   “
Sure,” he got up, folding his napkin precisely and hanging it over the back of his chair. He followed me along the railing and over to a hill. It was right next to the stream that flowed over the second story and down into the waterfall. I sat down and he followed.

   “
I noticed awhile back, before we made up, that I was being tailed by vampires,” I took a breath to continue but he cut me off.

   “
What? How many? When?”

   “
Okay so that answers my question on whether you knew,” I frowned. “This was after we had our falling out and I figured you were just keeping an eye on me so you could get revenge or something but now I've been seeing them again, mainly cars with really dark windows following me suspiciously. I couldn't figure out why you'd still want to keep tabs on me, so I thought I'd ask you.”

   “
It's not me,” he frowned thoughtfully, “but I'll definitely look into it. I don't like the sound of that, Vervain. Please be careful when you leave the house. Try not to go out alone.”

   “
I can handle vampires,” I laughed. “I'm just curious as to what they want.”

   “
You and me both,” he nodded.

   “
Well, worry about it later,” I got up and he followed suit. “I need to go use the restroom. You go back and enjoy your dinner.”

   “
Don't discount the viciousness of my children,” he warned as I walked away.

  “
I won't Blue,” I smiled at his concern. “I'll be careful, I promise.”

   “
Okay,” he headed back to the table, still frowning.

  
I wandered down the stairs to the first floor. Halfway to the bathroom, Rain walked up and blocked my path. He had that look on his face, like he was going to mess with me. He must have had some sort of psychic vision and decided he was going to lay it on me in ridiculously difficult riddles again.

   “
No,” I backed up. “Please, not tonight. I'm having a really good time and I just want to continue to enjoy my evening, Rain. Don't go Psycho Horse on me.”

   “
Psychic, V,” Rain laughed, “not psycho ,and it's nothing really. Just a quick observation.”

   “
No doom and gloom?” I watched him warily.

   “
Nope.”

   “
Promise?”

   “
I pinky swear,” he held up his little finger.

   “
You're an asshole.”

  “
Yes,” his mouth stretched into a lazy, sexy smile, “But the women love that about me.”

   “
Not this woman, now just spill already.”

   “
No spilling,” he pouted. “Just an observation, like I told you.”

  “
Fine,” I sighed. It was like pulling teeth. Huge horse teeth. “Observe.”

  “
Well, you've seen Hell now,” he sighed back at me. “I just thought it might be about time you saw Heaven.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

   “
What did Rain say to you tonight?” Trevor pulled off his shirt and threw it in the hamper.

  
We had just got home from Moonshine. Kirill was staying in his room tonight so I could spend some quality time with Trevor. It felt strange not to have him there but I was looking forward to being alone with Trevor.

  
I glanced at the closed bedroom door and felt a little twinge in my chest. I wanted to be with Trevor, I just didn't want my lion to have to be alone. It was the first time I'd ever really felt the heartbreak involved in loving more than one man. I knew there was going to be difficulties, I just hadn't expected this to be one of them.