At home in Otherworld we had had servants to help, although when I was young my father made me do a good share of the work to teach me discipline.Why he had never held Delilah and Menolly up to the same standard, I didn’t know.Being the oldest, I had been shouldered with a lot of the burdens after my mother died, and I seldom heard a word of thanks from my father.
The housekeeper had done her best to comfort me, quietly helping me when Sephreh was off on his missions.I had clung to her skirts more than once, crying after Father had chastised me for being lazy or for making a mistake.He didn’t accept anything but perfection and success, and more than once he reminded me that I was thedaughter of a soldier, and that I needed to act like one.
“I’m sorry,” I said.“I don’t mean to sound harsh.”The last thing I wanted to do was to sound like my father.
“No, you’re right.I shouldn’t slough off my duties onto Iris’s shoulders.It’s not fair.”Delilah shrugged.“I’ll do better.”
We moved to a booth, where Delilah and I ordered burgers and fries, and Menolly ordered a bottle of blood.We were just starting to eat when the door opened and Chase came scurrying through.He looked around frantically, then narrowed his gaze on us and rushed over to our table.
“Help,” he said, trying to keep his voice low.“There’s something following me and it’s not human.It’s right outside.”
With a groan, I pushed my plate back as we slid out of the booth, and the three of us headed to the door.If it were another demon, we couldn’t let it into the Wayfarer.
CHAPTERSIX
As we racedout of the bar, the first thing I noticed was a group of patrons from a club across the street.They were running around, screaming.A woman darted into the street, right into the path of an oncoming car.She screamed as the lights flashed on her.But before the car could reach her, Menolly switched into blur speed—all vampires could move faster than most of us could track with our eyes—and she launched herself into the street.She grabbed the woman around the waist, rolling out of the way seconds before the collision.
As I looked beyond them to the club, a creature was coming through the door.I grimaced.The freak looked like a warthog on two legs, with a pig-like face and tusks jutting out of its mouth.Whatever the fuck it was, it was wearing leather armor and carrying a two-headed battle axe.
“Cripes!What the hell?”I turned, looking for Chase, and saw him next to Delilah.
The crowd was quickly dissipating.People were getting the fuck out of Dodge, and I didn’t blame them.I hurried over to where they were standing, keeping a close eye on the demon that was standing there in front of the club.I knew he was looking for Chase.
“What the hell?I take it you were in the club?”I asked as I grabbed Chase’s arm and turned him to me.His look of stark terror told me that he had picked up on the fact that Pig-man was looking for him.
“Yeah, I was looking for a suspect I needed to talk to.”His voice strained with the effort to keep it together.“That…that…thing just showed up and made a beeline my way.I figured I needed to lure it outside so it wouldn’t hurt anybody else, and…here we are.”
“Crap.”I glanced across the street again.Pig-man was two steps into crossing the road, and he was focused on us.“You have to get out of here.”I thought for a moment, then snapped my fingers.“The safe room!”
“You can’t take him into the bar,” Delilah said.“That thing will follow him and attack anybody who gets in his way.You know there are some—” She paused as Menolly let out a yell and headed toward the demon.
“We’ve got to help her,” I said.“Come on.Chase, go talk to Jocko and see if there’s anybody who can act as backup.”I pushed him toward the bar, then yanked off my stilettos and tossed them on the ground.With luck, nobody would steal them.
As I headed into the street, I ran through my repertoire of spells.I wasn’t even convinced that any of my spells could affect this creature.But then, I thought—my energy orbs might.I could cast magical missiles of energy that exploded on contact.Sometimes I actually managed to hit my mark.
I began to ready them, building the power from my core into my hands.As I prepared the spell, Delilah raced to meet Menolly, and they turned to face Pig-Man.They converged on him at the same moment, colliding from opposite sides.I winced as all three went down.Menolly immediately jumped to her feet and gave Pig-Man a massive kick.She was wearing three-inch stiletto boots, and her heel slashed his face.
I shifted, trying to get a good aim at him without hitting my sisters.Menolly wouldn’t be hurt—maybe a little singed—but I could damage Delilah.
“Move!”I yelled as the magic swirled into my hands.
Delilah rolled away, coming to her feet in a crouch, and Menolly jumped back.I let off a round of magic missiles, the orbs of light landing directly on Pig-Man’s chest.He let out a shout as smoke wafted up, but managed to stay standing.He didn’t look all that hurt.What the hellwashe?I knew he was a demon—I could smell it on him, but what kind or how powerful—that was another question.
“Watch out,” Menolly warned.“He’s a walking tank.”
“Move it,” a voice came from behind.Jocko pushed past me, carrying a very big club.Behind him were two men I knew to be regulars—they were vampires.They moved in as we backed away.Pig-Man’s eyes widened as they strode across the street.
Jocko was wearing jeans and a ragged jean-jacket without sleeves.The vamps were wearing all black, and by their movements, they meant business.I caught my breath as they closed in on the demon.He took a step back as Jocko lifted his club and—before Pig-Man could run—he let go with one hell of a swing.
Pig-Man screeched, sounding a lot like a harpy, and he turned to run.The vamps sprang into action.Without missing a beat, they took him down, one on each side of his neck.The demon struggled, then—with a loud squeal—vanished without a trace.
The vamps frowned.With a shrug, they dusted themselves off and headed back to the bar, followed by a bewildered-looking Jocko.
Menolly, Delilah, and I followed.No cops had arrived to find out what was going on, so I wondered what kind of calls they considered serious.But Chase solved that mystery was when he joined us as we headed back into the Wayfarer.
“I called the station and told them if they got any reports from the Go-Go Bar to ignore them.I told them I had matters under control,” he said in a low voice.“It doesn’t seem wise to draw too much attention to this situation.Especially for me.My boss doesn’t like me, as it is.If Devons finds out that I’ve suddenly become a demon magnet, he’ll kick me off the force.
Chase’s boss wasn’t quite as bad as Lathe had been for me, back in Otherworld, but he was pretty crappy.He didn’t like the FH-CSI, nor did he like the fact that Chase was in charge of it.