Night Huntress

Her eyes were glowing as she planted her hands on the table and leaned toward him. “You hear me, demon boy? If I even think one of them is going to slip, he’ll be staring down at the tip of my fangs.”

Vanzir shivered. He might not have a good track record of saying the right thing at the right time, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew all too well how powerful Menolly could be.

“Got it.” He shoved the list across the table to her. “Here. I know where four of them live. There are others, but I have no idea where they hang out.”

She took the list and nodded. “Good. Now, what are they saying?”

“I only heard the latest news this morning, on my way here. A demon named Trytian managed to sneak over a week ago. He was slated to be executed—and believe me, executions are big business down in the Sub Realms—on the summer solstice. His father is some bigwig daemon who is leading a rebellion against Shadow Wing over there. Shadow Wing managed to capture Trytian and was going to use him as a pawn, but Trytian’s father refused to bargain.”

Demons and daemons were both on the Big Bad list, but they had subtle differences and didn’t tend to like each other. Just like devils and demons came from different branches on the hellion family tree.

“So Trytian managed to do what our cousin Shamas did—pull a disappearing act before he hit the block,” I said slowly. “Why didn’t he go home to his father?” It seemed a little too coincidental for me, but then I’d been studying Suspicion 101 with Camille and Menolly.

“He did, but his father thought he might be more useful over here. You see,” Vanzir said, growing quiet, “rumors are circulating around the Subterranean Realms about three half-Fae, half-human women who are thwarting Shadow Wing’s plans, but your names are still undercover as far as the demons are concerned. I doubt if anybody over there knows who you are except Shadow Wing and his cronies.”

Karvanak would have told him; it stood to reason. “Why would Shadow Wing keep our names secret? Seems more likely he’d slap a bounty on us.”

Vanzir shook his head. “Think about it. Shadow Wing’s power comes through fear. If he officially acknowledged you, it would be admitting he’s vulnerable, and he cannot allow that to happen.”

Menolly agreed. “Yes, that makes sense. There’s much the same social structure among the Vampire Blood Clans, but we’re not quite as paranoid. It’s good to know that not every member of the Sub Realms is looking for a vacation getaway over Earthside.”

“Well, whatever the reason, I think Trytian’s father was hoping that his son would run into you and enlist you as an ally.” Vanzir smiled. Wanly, but it was still a smile. “You have no idea how much I wanted to tell Trytian about you. But I didn’t. His father commands a large force in the Sub Realms. They could be very useful to us.”

“In theory, it’s a good idea, but we can’t form an allegiance with him,” Camille said. “We simply don’t dare get entangled in demon versus demon affairs. I don’t mean to be rude, but Vanzir, let’s face it, most demons don’t play with an open deck. What if this Trytian’s father is out for the seals himself? I’m giving you a blanket order: Don’t tell him, or any other demon, about us or our mission unless we give you our permission. Period. Done deal.” She took a deep breath, and Smoky laid a light hand on her left shoulder.

“Got it,” Vanzir said, his eyes shifting with their constant kaleidoscope of color. He looked like he wanted to say something else but kept his mouth shut.

Zach pulled the cookie tray over to our side of the table and bit into an Oreo. “So now what? Have you heard anything about where Karvanak is staying?” he asked Vanzir.

“Yeah, that was the second thing I wanted to tell you. I hit pay dirt this morning. I keep my eyes open and my mouth shut. Amazing how much you can learn when people forget you’re in the room. Anyway, you remember that djinn, Jassamin?”

I nodded. Jassamin had been a lesser djinn working with Karvanak. Vanzir had verified she’d been Karvanak’s lover, as well as a source of power. During our battle for the third spirit seal, it had come down to a tense moment in a cave, when Jassamin was about to kill Chase. That’s when Vanzir turned sides and ran her through with a scimitar. “Don’t tell me she’s back.”

“No, but there’s another creature running around with the Rāksasa. I don’t think she’s a djinn, but I hear tell Karvanak has her under his thumb. This morning, I caught sight of her near the burned remains of the shop. I tracked her as far as I could.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a map, slamming it on the table. As he unfolded it, I spotted a precise red line outlined along the streets. As I leaned in, he moved aside to give me room to look.

“I traced her route in red. I figured maybe there was some importance as to why she was taking the route she did.”

“Thanks,” I said, peering intently. “She took a lot of twists and turns. Do you think she knew you were following her?” I glanced over at him.

He shrugged. “I wouldn’t be surprised. Karvanak is probably running on the cautious side at this point. He’s been outed—at least to you—and he doesn’t underestimate his enemies. In the year or so I was in his servitude, I began to understand just how vast his intelligence is. Rāksasas are terribly cunning. No, it’s his debauchery that’s his downfall.”

Zach broke his silence. “Why did you work for him if you don’t like what Shadow Wing is doing?”

Vanzir arched his eyebrows and let out a snort. I grimaced. Iris, my sisters, and I’d heard the story. Zach hadn’t. I wondered if he’d manage to keep his cookies down.

“Work for him? Try again, buddy. I was presented to him as a gift. Nakul, another general in Shadow Wing’s army, won me in a gambling bet. I stupidly wagered more than I had during a game of q’aresh. I know I had the better hand, but Nakul cheated. When I told him that I couldn’t pay up, he dragged me before Shadow Wing. Shadow Wing ordered that I serve Nakul for seven years. He got bored of me a year into the deal, and that’s when he gave me to Karvanak, as a birthday present.”

Zach looked queasy. He still didn’t understand just how vile and cruel the world could be, which surprised me, given his background and heritage. It wasn’t that he was such an optimist, but he preferred to hold onto more hope than was good for him. “Why not just free you?”

Vanzir snorted. “Every move in the Sub Realms is about gaining the upper hand. If you can ingratiate yourself through a bribe—or a gift—you do so, because it might save your butt later. Nakul knew that Karvanak has diverse tastes in his bedmates. He has a thing for women with magical energy and for hot young demon ass. The women he drains of power each time he fucks them, and the men he just brutalizes. When he wears out a new playtoy, he eats them. He did things to me that I’ll never forget. I still owe him five years of my life, but I don’t think I’d survive them. Karvanak is vicious in his fuck fests.”

I grimaced, my eyes on the map. Next to me, I could feel Zachary tense. Even though he was a member of the most powerful Puma Pride in North America, and even though they could get downright nasty at times, they didn’t hold a candle to the violence rife within the ranks of the Demonkin. Life in the Sub Realms was lived on a kill-or-be-killed basis. Look out for number one, or find yourself staring at the tip of a blade . . . or worse. Vanzir had plenty of reasons to hate Karvanak.

The twisting red line on the map led to a building in south Seattle, in the Industrial District. “Vamp club? She a vampire?” I asked.

Vanzir shook his head. “No, she’s not. That’s the Fangtabula. She entered, but I didn’t see her leave, although I waited around for a while. I want to say she’s a djinn, but she doesn’t smell right. She does have demon scent on her, but I don’t know if that’s just because she’s cuddling up to Karvanak.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a scarf. “The woman dropped this, though. It reeks of her.” He laid it on the table.

Camille hesitantly picked it up, sniffed it, then shook her head. “Sex,” she said. “I smell sex but can’t fix any particular impression other than that.”

The scarf made the rounds until it came to Roz, who gave it one whiff and dropped it like he’d been stung.

He glanced at Camille. “You’re right on track. I can tell you exactly who this belongs to. I never thought I’d see her again, though.”

“Who is it?” I asked.

He let out a long sigh. “Her name is Fraale. She’s scary-ass freaky and one of the most openhearted women I’ve ever met. Just the right type—if you prefer life on the edge. But I can’t imagine her hiring on to assist the demons. Seriously. If she’s there, she’s in trouble, too.”

Menolly stared at him, her eyes widening. “Fraale? Are you sure?”

“Who the hell is Fraale?” I asked. “You sound like you know her.”

“I do know her,” Roz said, a sheepish grin escaping onto his lips. “Before Fraale was turned into a succubus specializing as a dominatrix, she was my wife.”

CHAPTER 23

Of course, all hell broke loose. This was way too Jerry Springer for me to keep my mouth shut.

“Married? You? You’ve got to be kidding,” I said, staring at him like he had just grown another head. “I’ve got to hear that story—”

“Delilah, shut up,” Menolly said softly. So softly that I jerked around. The look on her face was anything but joking.

I bit my tongue and said, “Yeah, okay. Well, then tell us this. Is she freakin’ out of her mind, cozying up to Karvanak? Or just plain nuts?” The thought of a dominatrix succubus scared the shit out of me. My guess was she’d be tall, lean, wearing lots of leather.

Rozurial’s smile faded. “Neither,” he said softly. “Fraale and I . . . when we were . . . let’s just say that if she’s working for Karvanak, chances are she was sold into his hands, like Vanzir, and has no choice in the matter. Fraale may wield one hell of a whip, but she’s never been one to raise her hand in violence unless someone’s done her wrong. I think she might be in trouble.”

Menolly pushed back her chair. “Then it sounds like we might have two people to rescue,” she said. Roz flashed her a grateful smile, and I wondered just what the hell was going on. Roz was obviously worried, and Menolly seemed to know more than she was letting on.

I let out a long sigh. “Menolly, you ever been to the Fangtabula?”

She nodded. “Only once, and it was with Wade. Not the cleanest place in the city and definitely on the shady side. They run gambling rooms there, though every time the cops have raided them, the place seems to magically empty, and they can’t find anything. Spooks the cops like crazy to go wandering around a bunch of moody vamps.”

“I bet,” I said, wondering if Chase had been in on any of the raids. If so, he hadn’t mentioned it.

“Not only that, but I’ll bet a month’s pay they’re running a blood-whore service under the table.” She grimaced.

“Blood whore?” Zach looked confused.

Menolly gave him a nod. “Yeah. Vamp wannabes or fang girls and boys hang out. They trade blood for the sexual high that a vamp can give them. They get addicted to the high and end up wasting away unless their ‘owners’ treat them right. Some vampires take care of their pets, but not all of them. The whole situation is illegal, and with good reason. But it’s like prostitution; there’s no way in hell you’re going to be able to prevent it. I think the government should legalize it and then tax the hell out of the clubs. At least then they could slap some regulations in place so the blood whores aren’t drained or abused.”

“Sounds delightful,” Camille said as she refilled her cup with tea. “You and Wade ever think of setting up rehab for the addicts?”

“No,” Menolly said softly. She squinted. “We’ve been arguing about other issues as of late. You might be onto something, though. I’ll talk to Wade next chance I get. Anyway, back to the Fangtabula. I don’t like the feel of the club though, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Terrance, the owner, is getting down and dirty with a demon or two.”

“Good.” I stood and stretched. “Then you won’t mind playing spy for us. Somebody’s got to go in and talk to Fraale to see if she’s a willing participant in Karvanak’s game or if she’s being forced against her will.”

A faint look of disgust crossed Menolly’s face. “Well, hell.” She let out a sigh, which was deliberate, since my sister never had to breathe. When she took a deep breath or sighed or any one of those wonderful oxygen-related activities, it was purely for effect.

“Fine,” she said after a moment. “But if I do, you’re coming with me. You can be my pet for the night. You’re used to wearing a collar, aren’t you, Kitten?” She gave me a wicked grin, and I groaned.

“I’m coming, too,” Zach said, but I held up my hand.

“No. Too dangerous, even for you. Roz, do you want to come with us?” I tried to soften my voice, but the question still hit home, that much was clear by the look on his face.

“Let me think for a moment,” he said, abruptly heading into the living room. Morio, Zach, and Smoky took off after him. Camille joined Iris by the sink, handing her the tea bags as Iris brewed another pot. Menolly wandered over to the window and stared out into the darkness.

Vanzir glanced over at me. “You are a lot like me.”