Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
The fight theatrics had been dialed up to level eleven for the grand finale. This time, the boxing ring had been placed deep in the bowels of an enormous dry-docked shipping tanker, enclosed on four sides by the ship's thick metal hull. It was an odd place to stage a feast and watch people attempt to kill each other, but apparently that's what the affluent folks of San Francisco had paid several hundred bucks a ticket for.
At least there weren't any thick cables, so no indication a harvester machine had been placed nearby. One less thing to worry about.
To avoid getting arrested a second time, Zee had glamored himself. He was Jasyn - with-a-y , and as boring as when we'd snuck into Reynard Technologies. But his quick smile still dazzled, and his swagger was just as eye catching as always. Not to mention his height. I didn't have the heart to tell him nobody was likely to buy the act when he seemed so proud of Boring Jasyn.
"This is so fucked-up," Jasyn-not-Zee muttered.
"You didn't have to come. "
His humanlike eyes narrowed. "Like I'm going to let you two have all the fun."
"This is unlikely to be enjoyable," Victor droned. Poised and distinguished in his expensive suit, he blended in, but his sharp irritation made each glance cut.
Neither of them wanted to be here. I'd told them some of the plan. Had I told them all of it, I was fairly certain one of them would have locked me in the attic while the other stood guard. The deception wasn't ideal, but it was the only way. And it would be my last.
After tonight, any further deception would be pointless.
"Drinks, gentleman?" a server asked.
Zee scooped up one each for us, and two for him, then downed one before the server had a chance to leave. "I could really do with one of Tom's top-shelf specials."
"He'd have loved this." The lights, the glamor, the live band. All his bartending dreams in one place. Instead he was stuck behind the SOS Hotel bar.
"Yeah." Zee sat back and scanned the scene. "He'd drug all these fancy people up to their eyeballs, then make them forget. Hey, you don't think he's ever done that to us, do you?"
"Probably not?"
Zee snorted, grinning, until his gaze snagged on someone in the crowd. "Holy fuckballs, look what the gremlins dragged in."
I followed his gaze, eventually making out a familiar pigtailed young woman surrounded by suit-clad bodyguard lookalikes. "Oh no."
"Victor, your delightful family is here." Zee smiled wolfishly.
Victor whipped his head around. "That is unfortunate."
They still wanted Victor's head on a stake, or his finger on a cushion, and that had been before we'd decapitated the vampire queen and ruined all their evil plans to take over the world. They probably wanted to turn him into sushi, burn us to ash, then sprinkle those ashes in a bath of acid just to be sure.
"Should we leave?" Zee asked, glancing between us.
"I think that may be wise," Victor said.
"No," I said. Both of them stared. "Look, we can't keep running—I can't keep running. You can go, if you like. It will be safer for you. But I... I really need to do this."
Zee's Jasyn-faced frown was born of frustration. He dropped back in his chair and folded his arms. "Claymore's great an' all, but you know there are other gargoyle security guards?"
"It's not just about Claymore, Zee. It's about the hotel, and everyone in it, and us, and Razorsedge, and pets in pies, and Shadow, and gremlins, and even Karaoke Kris. It's all of it. I have to do this." Taking a breath, I sighed hard. "I think maybe we have to do this. We're the only ones who can."
"Look, I am a two trick pony. I know it." He held up two fingers. "I got sex, and songs. That's it."
"You're wrong, but go on."
Zee blinked. "C'mon, I am the best at sex and songs."
"What Adam means, Zodiac, is that you're entirely capable of a great deal more, but refuse to acknowledge it because with power comes responsibility, and you've shirked responsibility since making a life for yourself here, coasting along on sex and songs because it's easier than utilizing your full potential as a potent warrior and effective leader."
Victor's summary silenced us all.
Zee blinked again, then kicked his heeled shoes onto the table, crossing his legs at the ankle. "Holy fuck, Dr. Fancy Fangs, you gonna psychoanalyze me some more? I could use some therapy. Lay it on me."
Victor tilted his head and tucked a long lock of hair behind his ear. "Very well. You use humor and sex as a shield, keeping everyone at arm's length to protect your empathic heart. It's easier and safer to disconnect."
Zee's short human lashes fluttered. "Is that all, doctor?"
Victor held his gaze and said simply, "You are a warrior, capable of great things, Zodiac."
They held gazes, like the locking of horns. "That's not what you said to me when we first met on the hotel steps."
A muscle twitched in Victor's jaw.
I remembered that moment on opening day. Right after Victor had left his car, Zee had sauntered over to welcome him to the hotel. They'd exchanged a few lines, and whatever Victor had said sent Zee off in a huff.
"I was ignorant." Victor dipped his chin. "Prejudiced, and frankly, scared, although that is no excuse for my rudeness."
Zee pursed his lips, folded his arms, and glared at Victor as though still trying to figure out his angle. Moments later, his face brightened. "Hold up, did you just call me the best , Fancy Pants? Did I hear all that right?"
Victor sighed through his nose. "If you wish to summarize it as such."
"Say it. Say Zodiac is the best ."
"No."
"Then was that all horseshit?"
Victor's mouth twitched. "You are remarkable. You are unique. You bemuse and confuse me in the most delightful ways. The best barely covers the multitude of ways in which you enrich my life and the lives of those around you."
Zee swallowed hard, having no idea what to do with that. "Okay. Fucking fine," he grumbled, reluctantly. "Maybe I got more than two tricks. But Adam's just as bad, pretending to be nobody when we all know he's a one in ten billion, fuck-off prophesied chosen one, who happens to be the last dragon hiding in a sunshine-twinky body with a great ass. I'm not the only delusional one in this threesome."
"You like my ass?"
"I love your ass."
"Focus, the pair of you."
"Right." I cleared my throat. "I'm working on accepting the whole prophecy thing. But my point is, together, I think we're the Prophesied One. All three of us. And if we don't do this, nothing will change. In fact, it will get worse. I have to do this. But I can't force you to join me. It has to be your choice."
"I am with you," Victor said, dragging his appraising gaze from Zee.
"And me," Zee said.
I nodded, my heart calm. Madame Matase was right. As long as we were doing the right thing together, we'd be okay. A heart shall rise, a beacon bright. Maybe it had never been about my beating heart, but about the love of a demon and a vampire.
Maybe fate wasn't so bad when you didn't have to face it alone.
"Alright. Nice speech." Zee spread his hands. "We're on this roller coaster. So, now what?"
"Now, I'm going to pick a fight with the commissioner." I stood and left the table, catching a hint of Zee's gasp. I hadn't told them that part. Or what came next.
"Adam, wait, think about this." Zee staggered along behind me. "You'll get arrested," he hissed over my left shoulder. "I was arrested. Remember?"
Weaving around tables and side-stepping around people, I thrust my hands into my pockets and kept on marching toward where the commissioner was seated. "No I won't."
"I was arrested three days ago!"
"But you're a Lost One. "
"Uh, so are you, babycakes."
"I'm human, can't you tell?" I tossed out a cute grin.
"Adam." Victor's voice pinged at my right shoulder. "I hate to tell you, but you're not a very convincing human."
I pulled my right hand out and waggled my round-tipped fingers. "I don't even have claws."
"No." Zee growled. "I can't watch that fuckface hurt you. I'll do it?—"
I spun and grabbed Zee-Jasyn by the arms, jolting him to a harsh stop. "No. I'm doing this. It has to be me. They won't arrest a human for fighting. Humans fight all the time."
"I can do human too," Zee said. "Jasyn-with-a-y is human right now."
I glanced at Victor and he confirmed, "Zodiac, you're an even less convincing human than Adam."
"It has to be me and the commissioner." I loosened my grip on his arms. "When I win—which I will, because I'm a whole lot stronger than Musashi—as my reward I'll demand he free the Lost Ones he's wrongly imprisoned."
Zee's face got all complicated, with flickers of fear and some anger in there too. "What if it's a fight to the death?"
"These are his games. It won't be to the death. Trust me, this is going to work. And I got a little backup plan up my sleeve that guarantees I'm going to win." I gave him a quick peck on the lips, then turned again and marched the rest of the way to the commissioner's table. Gideon Cain wasn't with Musashi, but there was an empty chair in his place. He'd be here.
I cleared my throat and shuffled a bit closer. "Excuse me."
Paul Musashi turned from his wife and scowled. "You again?" He took in Lord Reynard to my right and "Jasyn" loitering at my left shoulder, and asked, "Didn't you three learn anything from the semifinal? "
"Hi." Zee waved. "My name is Jasyn-with-a-y . Adam's fabulously handsome new best friend."
Musashi snorted. "You really must think me an idiot."
"Actually, yes, we do," Zee said.
The commissioner's eyes narrowed. "Whatever game you're playing, you should go. I didn't pursue your escape, demon, in the hope we needn't cross paths again, yet here you are. Are you really so stupid as to rub my face in it?"
Zee kept his grin. "There's no demon here, just boring Jasyn, and even he's fucked your wife."
Musashi shot to his feet. "You wretched?—"
"Commissioner Musashi," I butted in, and raised my voice to make sure we were heard. "You wrongly arrested Zee, and as justice, I challenge you to a duel... fight... thing."
"What?" My words landed like a slap to his face. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm not fighting you."
A few murmurs passed around the nearby tables.
"You're really going?—"
"You two-faced son of a gremlin," Zee sneered, muscling up to the table. "You'll watch others fight and die for fun, but you won't even enter the ring and fight this cute and hopelessly adorable human to defend your worthless pride?"
Musashi sat back down smugly. "You're all insane. Get out of here before I call security and have you arrested again."
"Speaking of security. You locked up my friend, Claymore. He did nothing wrong, except try and warn your fighters. It's interesting how so many Lost Ones have been arrested under your watch."
"You should," a deep voice grumbled. Gideon Cain maneuvered to his seat and lowered himself into it. "Fight, that is." He pulled a cigar from his pocket, and a lighter, and with the end already snipped he held a flame to it.
"What?" Musashi balked, glancing at his wife for help. Hannah sat mutely, trying not to get embroiled in her husband's dealings.
"Go ahead." Gideon raised the cigar to his lips and drew on it, making the end glow. "If nothing else, it will be entertaining." Smoke puffed from his lips with every word.
I hadn't expected Gideon to want the same thing I did. What trickery was this now?
"It's only fair, as you say, Mr. Vex."
"Uh. Yes."
Musashi's mouth guppied. Whatever hold Gideon had over him, it was enough to force his hand. "Alright. Fine!" He picked up and flung down his napkin. "This is absurd. He's half my size. The fight will be unfair."
"Because these fights are known for being fair ," Zee crooned sarcastically.
I pulled my hand from my pocket, braced on the table beside his wine glass, and leaned over Musashi. "If I win, you'll free all the Lost Ones you've wrongly imprisoned."
Musashi's face paled. "I... Mr. Vex, I've no idea what you?—"
"If the commissioner wins, you'll sign the hotel deed over to me," Gideon said, butting in.
That hadn't been the plan.
"Adam," Victor warned.
I wasn't going to lose.
Straightening, I nodded, and extended my hand to Musashi. We quickly shook. "It's a deal."
Gideon's lurid grin swelled. "Best prepare, both of you. There's much at stake."
Zee ushered me back to our table where he shook off his glamor, returning to his more typical, glorious self, but still in the mostly austere suit—at least, austere for him. Jasyn hadn't fooled anyone .
The first warm-up fight was already in full swing—a pair of angry werewolves—but I barely noticed.
"Adam." Zee leaned on the table, and kept his voice low. "We all know Victor likes watching men wrestling in suits?—"
"I do—" About to deny it, Victor cut himself off and reconsidered. "Never mind. Continue."
"But there's got to be a safer way."
"How?"
"Kidnap Musashi? Make him sing Rick Astley's greatest hits?"
"I fear Mr. Astley only had the one hit," Victor said.
Zee frowned. "It's weird that you know that."
"Making people sing Rick Astley's songs is not going to work in every scenario, Zee," I told him. "I've got this. Gideon's help is a little concerning... but when I'm done, Musashi won't have a choice. He'll free the Lost Ones. Will you both just trust me in this?"
"What if he knows jujitsu?" Zee asked.
I shrugged. "I can take a few hits."
"The hotel . . ." Victor began.
I landed a hand on his and squeezed. "I wouldn't risk the hotel if I wasn't certain of the outcome."
"If you beat him, nobody will believe you're human," Zee said soberly.
"Half don't anyway. It's inevitable."
"We can still leave. Claymore's probably living his best life. In a tiny cell. In the desert. With no hope of freedom." He huffed. "Fuck. We have to save the big oaf."
"Next up," the announcer boomed. "A special finale treat. The commissioner versus Adam the Alpha!"
"It's going to be alright." I shrugged off my jacket, then in the same movement, scooped up the champagne and downed it, wishing it was whiskey. "I've got this. "
"Do you even know how to fight?" Zee asked. Then added, "In a way that doesn't involve eating people."
"I've seen fights."
"This is a terrible idea," Victor said, echoing Zee's exasperated expression. "You're asking us not to intervene?"
"Not exactly. Watch the crowd. Look for any kind of trick, or something I won't be able to see coming from inside the ring." I unbuttoned my cuffs and rolled up my sleeves, Victor style. "I don't trust Gideon. He's too smug. Keep an eye on him."
"And if shit gets bad, I'll swoop in and rescue you," Zee said with glee. "Got it."
"No, Zee. You can't be involved in the fight or they'll use it as an excuse to void it and arrest you again. It has to just be me in that ring. Nobody else goes in there. Not you... and not you, Victor."
"Ugh. So we gotta sit back and watch you get pummeled?" Zee huffed. "This is the worst plan."
"I concur."
"Look at you both, agreeing on something finally."
They scowled in unison.
They were the reason I was doing this. Them and the hotel, and all the Lost Ones who'd slipped through the cracks and had nobody in their corner to fight for them.
"You guys are the best."
"I can't say no to him." Zee slouched in his chair. "You tell him, Fancy Pants."
Victor wouldn't stop me. He never had. Instead, he said, "We will be vigilant."