CHAPTER 21

I let Dan sleep and go downstairs where Zeke is sitting on the couch, with the TV on low. He looks as tired as Dan did before he went to bed.

“Papa, you need to sleep.”

He startles and turns to look at me.

“When did you get so quiet?”

“Blame it on the shifter traits I have.”

He shakes his head and gathers all the papers he has spread out on the couch. “Come sit, ma petite. I was just going over all the notes I’ve made for you.”

“Notes?” There’s a pile of papers.

He smiles. “I called a lot of contacts, and they delivered. It seems Chicago isn’t the first city this creature has been seen in. Attacks started about a year ago in a small town in Idaho. There were only a handful of deaths, and then it moved on to another small town in Kansas, and so on, and so on. Chicago seems to be the first major city it’s visited. Before this, only small towns of fewer than a hundred thousand in population has been its comfort zone.”

Wow. Papa has been busy. He hands me the stack of papers, and I sit down and start to read through all the police reports and then the entries from the Hathaway Foundation’s database. At least Hunters seem to be using that. The reports all read pretty much the same. All victims were vampires, and no one was ever able to see the creature since there were no witnesses. The creature was never in the same place more than three days. Chicago seems to be the first city it’s stayed in. Perhaps because the vampire population is bigger.

Dan’s cell rings, and I hurry to answer it, number unknown.

“This is Emma Crane.”

“Ah, Emma. I was told you wished to speak with me.”

The Judge.

“Yes, thank you for calling. I am going out hunting tonight for the creature, but I need bait. The only thing it’s going after is a vampire, so I need a vampire.”

“Did it not kill a shifter and then an Elf earlier?”

“We think those were witnesses to the attacks. If they ran, then it makes sense their bodies were not found near the attacks.”

“Was a vampire found as well today?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Ask your husband.”

“He’s sleeping, but I will when he wakes up.”

“It’s a plausible theory.”

“I know.”

“Any other theories?”

“Have you heard of the Army’s Supernatural Containment Unit?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“You’ve seen my drawings of the creature?”

“Gloria forwarded them to us. You’re a very good artist, Emma Crane.”

“Thank you. If you notice, the creature seems to have characteristics from several species. We think it may have been created in a lab by their geneticist. Or it may have been created by one of the magical Families of Power. We’re not sure, but we don’t think it’s a natural mutation.”

“I would agree.” The Judge sighs heavily into the phone. “We had already thought of the Families of Power, but the Army didn’t occur to me.”

I had the opposite reaction. The Families of Power didn’t occur to me.

“If we’re dealing with the Army, that’s one scenario, but if it’s one of the Families, we can count on heavy magical warfare if we try to stop it. Its breeders could be in town as well. Which also goes for the Army. They’ve equipped themselves with magic as well as weapons.”

“I wouldn’t discount the Families using weapons either.”

“I’m not. Which is another reason I want a vampire there. They’ll be able to hear and smell things I can’t.”

“I agree. I’m assuming the reason you wanted me to call is that you have a particular vampire in mind? One who would need to be given a direct order by the Council to volunteer?”

“I want Gloria to be our bait.”

“You are a vindictive little thing, aren’t you?”

“You have no idea.”

He laughs. “I wish I was staying in town longer so I could get to know our new little pet better.”

“I’m no one’s pet. I don’t care who you are or how strong you are, I’ll put you down.” There’s ice in my voice, and I hope he understands I’m not joking.

“I don’t doubt you would try.”

Try.

Well, if they see exactly what I can do to them, maybe they’ll back off.

“Will you order Gloria to be our bait or not?” I specifically decided to use the word our to make him think about the situation as one he can control.

“Of course. This is her city, and she should be the one who is personally dealing with the situation.”

As soon as the creature is dealt with, Gloria is going to be judged. My Sword will bring justice for all she has murdered or been aware of. Crush is a huge example.

“Do you have plans on harming Gloria?”

“She kidnapped me so murderers could go free. What do you think?”

“I think Gloria has gotten too big for her britches.”

Britches? What are britches?

“I don’t understand what britches is.”

Papa laughs, and I glare at him.

“Pants, Mrs. Crane. Britches are pants.”

“Why not just say that?”

“Because that’s not the saying.”

“You’re weird.”

“I’ve been called worse. Where would you like me to have Gloria meet you?”

“At RJ’s shop in two hours.”

“I can do that.”

“I will have backup in case the Army or the Families have people there to try to stop me. Human backup.”

“You’re involving the police?”

“God, no. I didn’t want the police anywhere near this, but that wasn’t my decision. Gloria made that call.”

“Involving the police in our affairs was definitely a mistake on her part. I’m not sure how she managed to claim Master of the City with all the errors I’ve seen her make the last few weeks.”

Cass comes down the stairs, yawning for all he’s worth. He must have gone to sleep for a while as well. He sees me on the phone and frowns, coming over to sit down beside Zeke. He sat next to our father and not in one of the armchairs next to the couch. That’s a huge step forward for Cass. Zeke hands him the stack of papers I’d discarded, and he starts to read.

“So, two hours and she’ll be there?”

“On my honor, she will be there.”

“Good. I have plans to make, so I need to go. Again, thank you for calling.”

“You are very welcome, Emma Rose Crane-Richards.”

I hate that he used my full name. Hate it. But tit for tat.

“Goodbye, Bjorn Johan Svensson.”

He laughs, outright laughs. “You are a treasure, Emma. Goodbye, child.”

He hangs up, and I let out a sigh. I will be glad to never see the Council again.

“Was that wise?” Zeke asks.

“No, but he used my full name, so the snarky brat in me had to respond.”

Zeke smiles softly. “You are a treasure, Emma Rose.”

“He said the same thing.”

Zeke’s face screws up. “I don’t like that.”

“I didn’t either, but what are you going to do with a vampire that old?”

“Chèr, wha’ are you planning to do tonight?”

“Making Gloria a target so the creature comes to us.”

“Wha’ if it doesn’t? It might smell the trap.”

“I don’t think so. The feelings I got from it were more like it had no choice in the matter.”

“Feelings?”

“In Mari’s memory, I got to taste and feel the emotions on all sides. The creature, it felt almost sad. I can’t explain it. While it was very violent in its killing, it was very sad as well.”

“Maybe it doan wan’ to kill. Maybe it really is forced into it.”

“That’s what I want to find out. If it can be saved, then I want to help it.”

“If it was designed to kill and to obey only its creator’s orders, then I don’t think you can save it, ma petite.”

“That’s never stopped me from trying before.”

“No, I suppose not.”

“Cass, are the Hunters still in town?”

“Yeah.”

“Think they’d help us out tonight? Whoever is behind this creature is sure to be there, and I don’t want to worry about a flank attack from them.”

“I’ll call Stanley and see. Just doan get your hopes up, chèr.”

“I’m not.” I pull up Dan’s contact list and call Blade.

“Richards, why are you calling me? Is Rachel in the hospital again? I told you if you let her get hurt one more time, we were going to beat you until you can’t walk.”

“Well, good to know you’re threatening my husband.”

“Uh…Rachel…”

“Hmm?”

“I, uh…”

“We’ll discuss that later. Since you have my phone, I’m using Dan’s. I need a favor for which I will owe your MC a huge favor in return. You can say no.”

“What is it?” he asks warily.

“I’m going out hunting tonight. There’s a creature stalking and killing vampires. I need someone to back me up in case the person or persons responsible for this creature’s creation is there. I can’t watch it, the vampire, and my back. Well, I could, but it wouldn’t be easy.”

“I don’t know if Arson will allow that. We’re humans, not other Supernaturals.”

“I understand if he says no.”

“Whether he says no or not, I’ll be there.”

“And that’s why you won’t die over that comment to Dan.”

He groans. “Don’t threaten me with death, girl.”

“It wasn’t a threat. Just a statement of fact. If Arson doesn’t want the club involved, that’s fine. Just let me know. No texts, though. Call me back.”

He’s very quiet for a full minute. “Sure, Rach. When do you need me?”

“An hour and half from now, set up outside RJ’s shop. We’ll be leaving from there.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Thanks. See you tonight.”

I disconnect the call and put Dan’s phone on the coffee table. “What do you think, Cass? Given what we know about the previous attacks from other towns, you think it’s a monster created by the Army or the Families?”

“Hard to say, chèr. Could be ei’der. Woan know ’til we get dere tonight.”

“I placed a call to Alesha Blackburne. She had no idea and was livid. She promised to find out if it belongs to the other Families. She and her brother wouldn’t create something like that. Given what I know about them, I believe her when she said it didn’t belong to them.”

I agree. They’re very honorable people. I may not appreciate that Papa is her fated mate because he’s very much in love with Nancy, but as a person, I respect her.

“I need food. Cass, can you call the Hunters? Papa, did Alesha give you the spell she uses for vampires?”

“She did. It’s in my email. I’ll go print it out for you while you feed the bottomless pit.” He smiles affectionately and kisses the top of my head before standing. “Off you go, ma petite. We have much to do before we leave.”

Food, then I need to wake Dan, and then I need to learn Alesha’s spell. I want an ace up my sleeve against Gloria and any Elder who happens to be in the vicinity.

They won’t see me coming.