Overworld Chronicles Books 1-2: Sweet Blood of Mine & Dark Light of Mine (33 page)

I pounded my fist on the grass in frustration. If the vampires were this good, I was screwed. Having my ass relentlessly kicked by a girl was not the best thing for my ego either. After countless lost bouts, I finally earned a draw from her. We were both panting from the exercise.

"You're not bad," she said as we sat on the porch swing to recover from the intense workout.

"If by not bad you mean I'm a notch above useless, then thanks."

"No, I really think with some practice you could beat me."

"And your brothers are better than you?"

"Much better. And stronger."

"Great. I hope they don't figure out where you are."

"They're out of the state right now on assignment."

"Isn't this an interesting sight," said a male voice.

Elyssa and I leapt to our feet, swords at the ready. Shelton smiled back, his staff pointing at us.

"How did you find me?" I asked.

"I'm a detective."

"You're a sorcerer, not a detective."

"There's no reason I can't be both, kiddo."

"Who is this?" Elyssa asked.

"This," I said, waving my hand at Shelton, "is Harry Shelton. He tried to capture me and my dad for the bounty."

Her eyes narrowed. "What is he doing here, then?"

"Yeah, what are you doing here?" I asked him. "You said you wouldn't get involved."

He shrugged. "I got to thinking about things. About how you got out of my containment circle—"

"He got out of a circle?" Elyssa asked.

Shelton gave Elyssa an appraising look. "It held his dad just fine. But not him."

"That's impossible," she said. "You can't escape a circle if it's done properly."

"Like I said, his dad was good and trapped, but he stepped across the line like there was nothing to it."

Elyssa's forehead crinkled. "That doesn't make any sense."

"Sure it does," Shelton said. "He's part human."

"Justin is part human?" she asked, her eyes full of disbelief.

"Yeah, just don't let it get around," I said. "Don't want to ruin my inhuman rep."

"What does that mean?" Elyssa said to Shelton. "I've never heard of half-human demon spawn."

"Good question," Shelton said. "Wish I knew the answer."

I cleared my throat dramatically. "I hate to break up all the discussion about my humanity or lack thereof, but why are you here, Shelton?"

"Well, kid, I felt terrible about leaving you to do this on your own. I dug into the politics of this situation and it turns out some rogues took your dad."

"I already told him that, thank you very much," Elyssa said.

"Well, if you'll let me finish, little lady, you might find out where I'm going with this." He rested his gaze on her for a moment before continuing. "Since they are rogues, there is nothing politically preventing a sorcerer from taking action against them."

"You're going to help?" I said.

"I'm thinking about it." He nodded his head at Elyssa. "First, maybe you can explain why Little Miss Templar is here."

Elyssa and I looked at each other awkwardly. I finally answered.

"We used to date."

"Before I knew he was demon spawn," she amended hastily.

"You weren't complaining," I said.

"That was before you tried to rape my mind!"

Shelton held up his hands. "Whoa, boys and girls. Let's get back to the matter at hand and leave the lovers' spat for later."

"We are not lovers," Elyssa said, crossing her arms and scowling.

"You Templars think you're so much better than anyone else, don't you?" I said.

"Enough!" roared Shelton. "I'm not gonna involve myself if you two don't shut up and act professional."

I narrowed my eyes and took a couple of steps toward Shelton. "I know you're not here just from the goodness of your heart. Spit it out. What's really in it for you?"

"You saved my life, kiddo. Easy as that."

"Sorry, but I'm calling bull." And then something occurred to me. "Is the Red Syndicate offering a bounty on the rogues?"

Elyssa pulled out her smartphone and tapped on the screen. "Yes they are," she said, showing me a website. "Over two grand each."

"You've gotta be kidding me," I said. "Does every supernatural group have a website?"

"Not every supernatural group is stuck in the Dark Ages," she replied.

I looked back at Shelton. "Money is your game, huh?"

He had the gall to smile back at me. "Okay, so there are bounties. I admit I'm not doing it entirely out of the goodness of my soul."

"I should have known," I replied with an eye roll. "Anyone who'd capture a father and son for a bounty just because the in-laws don't like them is a lousy person."

He gave me a hurt look. "I'm not that bad. Besides, you'll need the extra help."

I put my hand on Elyssa's shoulder and regarded him with narrowed eyes. "I won't lie. I can use all the help I can get. The difference is I trust Elyssa with my life even if she thinks I'm a monster. You, on the other hand, are a mercenary. If things get a little hairy, I can't count on you because all you care about is money.

"We plan to sneak in and out with my dad. If we're lucky, we won't even have to talk to a vamp, much less fight one. How does that figure into your bounty hunting?"

"I don't plan on running in guns blazing, kid." He leaned on his staff. It was not the same one I'd destroyed, but looked similar if a little more worn around the edges. "I want to do a stealthy hit and run, too. I figure I can capture a few rogue vamps along the way and bounty up with the Red Syndicate."

"If you come with us, you'll have to stick to our plan," I said.

"Make him swear on his soul, Justin," Elyssa said.

Shelton blanched. "C'mon, you can trust me. I promise."

"Swear it on your soul," I said.

"Look, if something happens and I accidentally break that pledge, it could strip me of my powers."

"I don't know you, Shelton," I said. "I can't risk Elyssa or my father's life on the possibility of you going off plan. Either leave or swear you'll follow mine and Elyssa's orders and not purposefully do anything that would compromise our operation."

Elyssa pulled out a thick piece of chalk from her pouch and drew a neat infinity symbol on the porch concrete. "Swear it and seal it, sorcerer."

Shelton cursed a blue streak and dithered, staring at the symbol. Finally, he walked over and repeated the pledge. Elyssa made him repeat it with her exact wording. Shelton cut the tip of his pinky finger and pressed a drop of blood into the center of the infinity symbol. The air popped and I heard the same electrical crackle I'd heard from the circle he'd tried to trap me and Dad in.

"Damned self-righteous Templars," he muttered.

"Pig bounty hunters," Elyssa said, baring her fangs with a grin.

With a team like this, I was more certain than ever we were going to die.

Chapter 30

"Are you really going to get help from that little felycan tramp?" Elyssa asked as we hopped into the black van she'd driven.

I'd told her where my Jetta was so I could recover it. It also happened to be very near Stacey's hideout. "She's actually a decent person once you get to know her."

"Never trust felycans. They're finicky and dangerous. One of them almost killed my oldest brother, Michael."

"Wow, they're that strong?"

"This one was. He broke into several animal shelters and let all the animals go."

"What's wrong with that?"

"He also severely injured security guards and staff, not to mention clued some of them in to his supernatural abilities."

"Is there a law against that?"

"Spreading knowledge of the supernatural to mortals is forbidden. It's one of the first laws the Overworld Conclave enacted."

"I haven't exactly had time for Supernatural 101."

"The Overworld Conclave is the worldwide supernatural government. Every year they hold a caucus where delegates meet to decide on rules."

"Delegates from different supernatural groups?"

"The major groups. Loners like your kitty cat friend don't normally participate. Doesn't mean they don't answer to the law, though."

"And that's where you come in."

"We're considered the only impartial party to the Conclave. Every nation has its own police force. I guess we're kind of like the supernatural version of Interpol."

"With swords. And ninja outfits."

She grinned. "Kinda cool, huh?"

I laughed. "Man, I feel like a baby. Supernatural nations, the Conclave, Templars. It's enough to give me a supernatural headache." I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment. "Do the spawn take part in the Conclave?"

"Yeah, they're major players, but their internal politics are even more complex than vampires if you can believe it."

"I can believe anything at this point. At least I have super cop to protect me."

She chuckled and stared at the road. After a moment, she spoke again. "I meant to thank you earlier."

"For what?"

"For what you said about me to Shelton."

"Oh." I pondered it a minute, trying to remember exactly what I'd said. Then I saw the Jetta sitting in the dark to the side of the road. "There it is."

She pulled off and I hopped out with a red gas tank in hand.

"I can't go any closer to her lair," Elyssa said. "She'll sense me and freak out."

"I don't blame her," I said with a grin. "I'll bet you're not even a cat person."

"I prefer dogs." She got out of the van and held out her hand, palm up. "I'll take your Jetta back."

"Why?"

"Because if she delivers some moggies to you, you'll need the van."

"Will moggies freak out if you're around?" I asked in all seriousness.

She shrugged. "I'm not a felycan expert but I don't think so. Whatever the cat woman tells them to do, they should do."

"I hope so." The last thing I needed was giant alley cats savaging someone's toy poodle.

"I have no idea how to fit those creatures into the plan," she said with a protracted sigh.

"Backup."

"If we need backup, it'll probably be too late."

"Stop being so optimistic," I said and hopped in the van. "I'll see you back at the house?"

She nodded. I drove the short distance to the old warehouses and sensed Stacey nearby, although there was something alien about her presence. I clambered to the top of one of the buildings and scanned the rooftops. Goosebumps crept up my spine. The hair on the back of my neck stiffened. I spun. Something huge crashed into my chest and hammered me into the ground. Feline fangs glistened inches from my face. Did everyone have fangs except for me? A pair of amber eyes bore into mine. A rather large black panther with incongruously blonde-tipped fur frosting its ears sat atop my chest.

A tongue eclipsed my view and licked my nose. I sputtered. The huge cat licked my cheeks while a rumbling purr thundered in its chest. I wiggled. Managed to dislodge the big cat and scrambled to my feet. The panther yawned wide and gave me something approximating an amused grin.

"Stacey?" I said.

The big cat stretched. Bones popped. The huge paws shrunk and the black fur retracted. The panther yowled and roared over the sound of cracking bones and the mushy sounds of muscle and sinew rearranging itself.

The horrible noises were enough to make me want to faint.

"Are you having an episode?" a very naked Stacey said, walking towards me without the least hint of embarrassment. I couldn't stop looking at her soft curvy bits as they jiggled and swayed with her catlike stride.

"I think I might have one now," I said in hoarse reply. I tried to remember why I'd come here in the first place. Oh yes, the moggies. "Did any of your companions decide to help me?"

"Indeed, my dear. Two tommys have risen to the occasion."

Stacey's nakedness had made something else rise to the occasion. I shook my head and tore my eyes from her chest. "Two tommys?" I was a little disappointed there were only two, but then again, I'd probably need a cattle truck to haul any more of them. Two shadowy figures appeared, leaping though a hole in the roof. They stood as high as panthers. Bony ridges ran along their spines, their paws wide and disproportionate. Although they looked clumsy, they flowed along the roof with deceptive grace and speed. One was black with white spots, the other orange with dark stripes. Otherwise, they looked the same size as the original moggy I'd encountered, with the same bony spine protrusions, scruffy fur, and long thick whiskers.

"So the dhampyr girl is helping you," Stacey said in a low growl.

I didn't bother asking how she knew. "She is."

"I find that very surprising. Her kind does not usually mix with ours."

"She's a good person."

An amused smile lit Stacey's face. At least I think it did. I was trying hard not to stare at her boobs. "Are you a good person, my lamb?"

"I think so, my little kitty cat."

She laughed. "You are simply too much." She scratched the orange moggy behind the ears. His golden eyes narrowed in pleasure and a deep purr rumbled in his throat. "This is Marmalade, and that is Dots."

I wrinkled my forehead. "You've gotta be kidding me. Did you give them those names?"

"That is what they were called before they fled their uncaring masters."

"Lovely."

"They
are
quite lovely. Give them the respect they deserve and they will honor you with their loyalty and service."

"How do I tell them what to do? Do I need to learn cat language?"

"Oh no, my precious," she said, giggling. "Simply tell them what to do."

I decided to test that out immediately. "Come here, Marmalade."

He looked up at Stacey. She took his great head in her hands and kissed him on the nose. "Who's my good boy?" she said in a cooing voice and then made some mewling noises at him.

He licked her cheek and trotted over to me where he sat at my feet and stared curiously into my eyes. I reached out cautiously and scratched his huge ears. The resulting purr sounded like a Harley motorcycle. His fur was rough and spiky and his jaw stretched wider than a normal feline's. Otherwise he was just one big warm fluffy ball of love.