The Undead Pool (The Hollows #12)(58)
Author: Kim Harrison

Bancroft was incensed, sputtering like a boiling pot, but it was Landon’s cool lack of expression that struck me as being dangerous.

“Rachel,” Trent said, caught off guard and trying to keep things together. “I’m a loud voice in elven matters. If it was us, I’d know it.”

Would he? I wondered, looking at Ellasbeth’s utter disregard and wondering if it was her hiding knowledge or simply her dislike for anything that came from me.

“Elves would gain nothing from an end to vampires,” Trent said with a light laugh, but it was for Bancroft and Landon, not me, and I could see a sudden concern trace like a ribbon of muddy water behind his eyes. The thought had occurred to him, too.

Fine. Lips pressed, I pushed back from the table and crossed my arms. I’d aired my beliefs. Any disaster that happened from here out wouldn’t be because I’d played it safe and kept my mouth shut. “Perhaps you’re right,” I said sarcastically as Landon’s grip on his wineglass tightened and Ellasbeth frowned at me to be polite. Polite never saved anyone’s ass.

“Rachel,” Landon said, voice low and coaxing . . . and raising every caution flag I’d ever had. “I’d be very curious to see one of these FIB devices in action. To be able to track the thoughts of the Goddess would be a marvelous step in finding out who is really responsible. If they are indeed trapping mystics, then all we have to do is follow the trail to where it ends.”

Oh, if it were only that easy. “You don’t think the FIB tried that?”

“I have two,” Trent said suddenly, surprising me. “Edden asked me to put them on the outskirts of my property as part of their early detection.” His eyes went to Bancroft. “I’d be more than happy to show you how they work.”

“A pair?” Landon said, the scent of cinnamon growing stronger. “That’s even better. With two, we can ascertain if Rachel’s aura is glowing from repeated contact with the waves, or if she collects them simply walking about.”

“My aura is glowing?” I said, stiffening, and Trent raised a soothing hand.

“Not like when a wave hits you,” he said, but I didn’t feel any better. “It’s just got this silvery haze it usually doesn’t.”

Bancroft squinted at me. “Has your aura always had that black sheen? Or did that come with the mystics as well?”

Nope. Still didn’t feel any better. Ellasbeth made a little noise, telling me she hadn’t noticed till now. I took a breath to comment, then smiled as I felt a soft expanding of my awareness. The ley line running through Trent’s compound seemed brighter, more scintillating, and I exhaled as the chiming purity of the lines in the greater Ohio area became clearer. Bis was nearby.

“It came with membership to the demon collective,” I said, turning to the pool as, with the sound of sliding leather, Bis dropped out of the darkening sky, his red eyes wide and his pushed-in smile showing his black teeth. Ellasbeth gasped, and Bancroft choked on his drink. If the kid hadn’t been smiling, I’d be worried. Jenks had probably told him I might need a jump home.

“Bis. Everything okay?” I asked as Landon rose, going around the table to crouch beside Bancroft as the man whispered something to make Trent unhappy.

“The Hollows and Cincinnati are locked down,” he said, eyes darting between the people behind me. “I came to jump you home when you’re ready.”

I stood, wanting to introduce him. “Thanks. I think we’re just about done here anyway.”

Bis made the short flight to my shoulder, his bird-light weight hitting me just as I erected a barrier around my mind so I wouldn’t pass out from ley line overload. His lionlike tail wrapped round my back, tucking under my armpit for a secure hold that was a hundred times better than wrapping around my neck. He lifted his wings, touching their tips together in greeting as he looked at Trent, and the man smiled, helping Ellasbeth to her feet. “Mr. Kalamack. Ms. Ellasbeth,” he said with a formal stiffness, and Bancroft rose as well.

“Good to see you, Bis,” Trent said. “I’d like you to meet Bancroft and Landon. They study the Goddess.”

Bis nodded. “The lines are singing in step, but the music has changed,” he said, and Bancroft pressed close, intrigued. He could talk to any gargoyle if he cared to try, but getting them to talk back was harder.

Landon stuck out his hand, and the adolescent gargoyle giggled, ruining the solemn air as he carefully shook it. “Pleasure,” the younger man said. “Do you have some time? I’ve often wondered about the symbiotic relationship some of your people have with demons.”

I was kind of curious about that myself, but I was more concerned about getting home to Ivy. She was watching Nina like a hawk on cheese . . . or whatever.

“You’re welcome to stay the night,” Trent offered.

“Yes, please stay,” Ellasbeth echoed, and I quailed under her insincere smile.

Fidgeting, I looked back at my lounge chair where I had left my shoulder bag. “Ah, thank you, but no. I’d really prefer to be home tonight. Nina needs all the support she can get.”

Ellasbeth’s bristly mien softened. “Oh,” she said, expression closed. “Of course.”

“Nina?” Bancroft asked, and I went to get my bag, crouching carefully so Bis wouldn’t become unbalanced.

“She’s the unwilling scion of the only undead awake in the Cincinnati area,” Trent said.

Ellasbeth looped her arm in Trent’s to look like the perfect executive’s wife. “Rachel’s roommate is trying to break the vampiric addiction he has on her.” I glanced sharply at her. A delicate flush colored her, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say she thought it was a noble endeavor. “Rachel, is there anything we can do? Trent’s research is a hundredfold more sure now. Do you think she’d be willing to chance a reduction in her virus count?”

Shocked, I scrambled for words. “Ah, I’ll ask her, but she’s a living vampire. I don’t think it would help. But thank you. I’ll tell her you mentioned it.”

His arm still in hers, Trent looked sidelong at her in surprise. Ellasbeth was stiff, making me wonder. She seemed to understand, and that was . . . totally unexpected.

“Well,” I said, wishing the girls were still out here. “I’d better get going. Give Lucy and Ray a hug for me,” I said, and Trent nodded. Behind him, Landon and Bancroft were discussing something intently, their backs to us and the words flying back and forth fast enough to make me nervous.