Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The fourth level of the Underground was buzzing. The crowd here was bigger than the crowd in the stores on Black Friday, although people were more civilized. A labyrinth of clubs, stores, and restaurants, the Underground was always awake, always busy.

I looked around. “Where’s the Green Goblin?”

“I think it’s on the other side of the level,” Orik said. He checked his phone. “Yeah, it’s down the main corridor, near the other end.”

As we set out, I was surprised that nobody gave us a second look. In fact, we looked like we fit in. That surprised me, in some ways, but then again, given I was half-demon and the right people could sense it, since Orik was a giant of a man, bulky and unshaven, and Dante looked like a pretty boy, even though he’d reined in the glam, we blended with the crowd. I moved back so Orik could lead—he knew where we were going—and we wove our way through the mix of vamps, goblins, humans, and who-knew-what-else.

The noise from the crowd was disturbing. It was as though every noise was magnified. Maybe it was the acoustics of how the level was built, or maybe it was just my nerves, but every sound seemed to echo around us.

The shops on the fourth level were less generic than on the first few levels. Down here, the fetish clubs, nightclubs, blood-bars for the vamps, and the sex boutiques reined. Scattered among them, were restaurants and taverns.

Though the entire level was lit up with recessed lighting, it wasn’t like we were in a brightly lit mall. The main color scheme seemed to be red, black, and gold, and I wondered if that was by design, or was it accidental? Some things seemed too perfect to be coincidental.

As we passed a seating area for a diner, I caught the eye of a man who was sitting there. He was gorgeous, with dark spiked hair that was long on the back of his neck, and his eyes were hazel, ringed with what looked like eye liner. He had a scruff of a beard, and his lips were beautiful. I caught my breath and froze, staring at him.

Dante glanced at me, then over at the man. “Come on,” he whispered, taking my elbow. “You do not want to play there , trust me.”

I glanced back at the man as Dante hurried me on. “Why? Who is he? He’s…gorgeous.”

“He’s Dark Fae. Don’t get mixed up with the Fae, Dark or Light. They’re all dangerous,” Orik said, also whispering.

“Penn’s Fae,” I said.

“Penn’s half-Fae . She’s different than her full-blood relatives. Full-bloods are around, but they usually reign in their glamour so they aren’t noticed as much. I will tell you this,” Dante said. “You’ll have the best sex of your life with them. But…if you want an emotional connection, you’re going to have to work like hell to find one. They use sex the way we use rewards… and punishments .”

I blinked. I hadn’t known that Dante has skanked around with the Fae. “Oh, really?”

“Story for another time,” he said, winking at me. “I’m almost over the memory.”

We were halfway across the level. By now, I’d gotten used to the sound of the crowd, and I was ignoring the neon glow of the signs on either side of us. The entire Underground reeked of stale perfume and strong booze. Everything here was glittery and dangerous, or so it felt.

We finally came to the Green Goblin. From the outside, the windows looked in on shadowed booths, and a polished bar that was filled with patrons. We pushed through the door, filing in one at a time.

The interior of the bar was luxurious, despite its name. The bar itself was a massive slab of rich walnut, polished to a high sheen. The booths, also walnut, were upholstered in a rich green velour. At the end of the bar, the staircase led up to a second level. Two girls in skimpy outfits manned the bar, taking orders, and behind the bar a bear shifter made the drinks.

I could spot most shifter variations, and bear shifters had a particular build and scent that was unmistakable. It wasn’t unpleasant, but an earthy, dangerous scent that made me want to look over my shoulder. Bear shifters were highly unpredictable, and they could go from nice to kill-you in ninety seconds.

Orik looked around the bar and then nudged my arm. He nodded toward a booth in a back. There was a man in the booth, wearing a black suit with a red tie. He was handsome and fit, more than made me comfortable, and he had wavy dark hair, alabaster skin, and his eyes were pale, ringed with crimson. Yep, vampire.

We walked over to the half-circle booth and he glanced up and gave us a nod. As Orik and I slid into the booth, Dante stayed standing.

“I’ll get us drinks,” he said. “What do you want?”

“Beer,” Orik said.

“Club soda,” I said. “I’m driving.” I turned to Lazenti. “And you?”

He cleared his throat. “Jack Daniels, no ice.” Vamps could eat and drink like most people, but the food and booze didn’t affect them. They needed blood to live, and usually drank bottled blood when they were hanging out with the living.

Dante nodded, then headed to the bar. He returned a few minutes later with our drinks, then slid into the booth, as well. We all moved in on one side, so Lazenti wouldn’t feel like we were trying to hem him in.

“So…” Lazenti looked around the table. “You wanted to see me?”

I tried to think of a way to start. “Yeah…we were hoping you might be able to provide us with some information.” I glanced over at Dante. “I guess we should be upfront. Here’s the problem: we’re investigating a death, and because of that investigation, we infiltrated some forums. Our victim’s name was there, as was your handle. We’re wondering if you’ve noticed her there, or if you might have some info on the group. Because, it doesn’t seem like a group you’d frequent, being a vampire.”

He held my gaze. Vampires could magnetize with their eyes, but it didn’t feel like he was trying to glamour me. “So Carson said.”

“Are you willing to talk to us?” I wasn’t even going to ask his real name. First, I knew we wouldn’t get it. Second, I didn’t want to endanger him. Or us, and if we knew his real name, we might become targets.

“Ask your questions. I’ll answer…or not…as I see fit.” He took a sip of his whiskey, then leaned back against the upholstered booth.

I didn’t even ask if we could record him. I’d decided that we’d do so on the sly. That way, he wouldn’t have to say no. I glanced around the room to make sure nobody was in earshot. The booth next to ours was empty. “Are you a member of Brim Fire?”

“Yes, and no.”

“Do you believe in the tenets of the group?” I could tell he wasn’t going to be direct, so I decided to walk around the subject. It felt like we were playing twenty questions.

Lazenti swirled his drink. “Okay, Carson says you have a good reason for asking. But remember this,” he said in a low, gravelly voice, “You owe me one. On my terms, whenever I need it. I won’t force you to do anything illegal, but when I snap my fingers, you jump.”

I considered the bargain. “You tell us whatever we need to know about this. And I owe you one . Not two…not three…but one.”

He considered the deal for a moment, then stretched out his hands. “I’ll tell you whatever I can. Gentleman’s agreement.”

I placed my hand in his. His fingers were icy cold. “Agreed. Now answer my question.”

Lazenti shifted on the seat, straightening up. “No. I do not support their goals. In fact, I’m part of a covert effort to take them down.”

“Who’s in charge of your group?”

“I can’t divulge that information.”

I figured as much, but it was worth a shot. “All right. Do you know Letty Hargrove?”

“We met in the forums. I’ll tell you this much: she doesn’t belong there. I haven’t seen her post for a week or so, but every time she did, I got the sense there was something going on behind the scenes. She’s been a member since about two weeks after I joined, which means three months? Four?”

“What makes you think she doesn’t belong there?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Energy. I may be a vampire, but I’m not unattuned and I’m also very observant. Before I was turned, I was psychic, and that’s continued and grown stronger over the years. Letty…is not a true follower of the Brim Fire. I doubt if most of the other members on there can tell, but I sense that her heart wasn’t in it.”

“When’s the last time she posted?” We already knew the answer but I wanted to see what Lazenti had to say.

He thought for a moment. “I’d say a week? Why?”

“Do you know if she has any enemies there? Anyone who might be trolling her, or who doesn’t like her?”

He finished his drink and raised his hand, motioning for the waitress. “Another, please. How about the rest of you?”

“Do they serve food here?” Orik asked.

“Yes, we do. Would you like a menu?” the waitress asked.

Orik scrunched up his face, then said, “Do you have cheeseburgers?”

“Yes, with fries or onion rings.”

“A cheese burger, double-patty, with fries. No pickles on it, just ketchup and mustard, please,” Orik said.

Dante asked for a bowl of soup, and—giving in—I ordered some calamari. Once the waitress left again, I turned back to Lazenti.

He tapped his fingers on the side of his glass. “Well, I don’t know if this counts, but there’s one guy in there who always argues with her on ethical issues that don’t pertain to the group. But he seems to be invested in making life difficult for a lot of people. In particular, he seems to engage Letty more than the rest. It was as though he suspects she won’t back up the things she said. She argues with him some, but tries to ignore him more often than not.”

“Do you remember his name? Do the moderators or admins try to stop him?” Dante asked.

“That’s the thing…Terra224 is one of the moderators. So, nobody can stop him other than the rest of the admins, and nobody seems to give a damn that he acts like an ass.” Lazenti shrugged, stopping as the waitress approached with his drink.

“Here we go. Your food will be ready in about five to ten minutes,” she said, setting down the vamp’s second drink, then disappearing as quickly as she’d arrived.

“So, a moderator’s giving her trouble. Do you have any idea who it is, in real life? Where he lives?” I smelled a steak going by and my stomach rumbled.

Lazenti paused for a moment and I thought he was going to refuse to answer. But then, he took another sip of the drink and set it down, seeming to have decided something. “Tell me what’s going on?”

I glanced at Dante, who nodded. “All right, as you know from working with us before, we own an investigations company. We were hired to investigate Letty Hargrove’s death.”

That brought a reaction.

“Letty’s dead?” The look on his face told me that either he was an incredible actor, or he had nothing to do with her demise.

“I guess you didn’t read about it on the news. Letty either jumped or was shoved out a window on the fourth floor of Windchime Magical Academy. Her sister doesn’t think she would be capable of suicide, and from what we’ve found so far, we don’t think she killed herself, either. We found evidence that she was involved with Brim Fire, which didn’t jive with her nature. Except that she taught an intensive course on demonology. Carson recognized your name in the forums on the Dark Web. So, we are looking for as much information as we can find.”

I normally didn’t talk about cases, but I had the feeling that, if we didn’t try to find as much information as possible, we’d never figure out what happened to her.

Lazenti glanced around. “We can’t talk here, not the way we need to. Eat your food and we’ll go elsewhere. But I can’t be seen leaving with you. Give me an address and I’ll meet you there later.”

“Your word?” I asked.

“Sure, my word. Honor-bound. We’ll talk later.” He finished his drink.

I scribbled down an address. “If you don’t mind meeting in a graveyard?—”

“Is it consecrated ground?” Lazenti asked.

I shook my head. “Trust me, it’s not. It’s abandoned, overgrown, and pretty much left to the dead.” I paused, then added, “It’s where I buried my mother. I couldn’t afford anything else.”

Dante placed his hand on my shoulder. “Kyann?—”

“No, it’s all right. There aren’t any security cameras, there aren’t any guards. We’ll see you there in an hour. It’s on the Eastside. Can you make it?”

He nodded. “I can make it. I’ll be there.” Without a word, he picked up the paper, slid out of the booth, and vanished out the door.

“Why did you pick that place?” Dante asked.

“It seems appropriate. Nobody will be there. And…it’s been too long since I said hello,” I said.

The rain was down to a drizzle. The steady downpour had let up as we drove across the I-90 Floating Bridge. Now, the clouds were whipping past the waxing crescent. Waves rolled on Lake Washington, occasionally splashing up and over the edge. Orik and Dante were quiet, wrapped up in their thoughts, as I was in mine.

An hour later, we pulled into the Fairlane Cemetery in Redmond. Officially established as Redmond in 1887, (it had gone by several other names before that), the city was part of the Greater Eastside. It was the home of Microsoft, a rural community turned urban, and the downtown area was growing leaps-and-bounds, with apartments going up everywhere. It was also the home to Marymoor Park, with over six hundred acres of fields, trails, a dog park, and the Clise Mansion which could be rented out for events. Each year, the park provided a venue for Cirque du Soleil, numerous bands, and the ‘movies in the park’ events.

Fairlane Cemetery was on 192 nd Drive Northeast, off of the Redmond-Fall City Road Northeast. The gates had long been broken.

When I buried my mother, it was already on the skids, and it had cost me next to nothing to lay her remains to rest. The owner of the cemetery warned me that the upkeep was minimal. The graveyard was barely maintained by a trust his great-grandfather had set up. Which meant the lawn got mowed, at best, once every few months and only in the accessible places. The headstones were eroding, some already fallen over, with their names weathered away.

I pulled into the parking lot. The asphalt was broken, most of the lights were broken out, and there wasn’t another car in sight. As I turned off the ignition, the silence was only interrupted by the drizzle spattering on the windshield.

“I buried my mother here twenty-six years ago,” I said, staring at the dark gloom of the cemetery. The gravestones were grim reminders of how quickly the past could be forgotten.

“Do you ever come here to visit?” Orik asked.

I shook my head. “Her spirit’s no longer tied to the earth. I chose this place because it’s out of the way and seldom occupied, but it is a harsh reminder of her death. And sometimes, I need to remind myself of how quickly life can be swept away. At least I avenged her murder. And then Penn saved me from turning into what my mother’s killer had been. I’ll be right back.”

I got out of the car and walked over to the newest row of tombstones. My mother had slept her for twenty-six years. I knelt by the small stone that marked her body. It was overgrown, and I reached out and pulled a few of the weeds.

“Hey, I just wanted you to know, I never forget you,” I whispered. I knew she wasn’t here, but it seemed the right thing to do. I hadn’t sensed her spirit in all the time she’d been gone, and that was what cut the most. “I hope you’re doing okay,” I added, before returning to the car.

As I settled back in the driver’s seat, neither Dante and Orik said a word.

“When do you think Lazenti will be here, and are you sure he’s going to show?” Orik asked.

“I’m sure,” I said. “I think…I get a read on the guy, and even though he’s a vampire, I feel an odd affinity with him. He’ll be here. And when he does, I’ve developed a theory that I want to run by him.” I was about to turn on the music when the bushes ahead rustled, and out stepped Lazenti. I unlocked the doors and opened the window. “Come on in, have a seat in the front.”

“Are you sure you want to do that?” he asked.

“I know what I’m doing. After we’re done, I’ll rescind the invitation.” I knew all the tricks on keeping vampires out. I’d never invited one in before, at least not into my car.

“All right.” Lazenti climbed in the passenger seat. “You sure you trust me?”

I laughed. “I don’t trust you. But I have the feeling that we may be able to help each other. I’ll lay out my guesses and you can tell me if I’m right, if you choose.”

“Well, let’s hear it,” he said.

“You’re working with the Vampire Federation to infiltrate Brim Fire. I don’t know why, but they’re on your target list. You spotted Letty as standing out from the others in the forums because you’re doing the same thing. I imagine the actual fanatics in the group have a certain ‘feel’ to their posts.”

“What else?”

“Letty was working for someone else, like you are. We don’t know who, but my guess is that you and Letty may have had a couple talks about this. I’d like to know what she said. I won’t say a word about you—or the Federation. I have some investment in this, but not like you’d think. I’m half-demon, so I’m interested in what these people are trying to do—not because I think they’re right, but because I know my own nature, as much as I can given my past. And I don’t think a lot of demons running around the world is a good idea.”

Lazenti blinked, giving me a long look down his nose. “I knew you weren’t fully human but I wasn’t sure what you were. So, you’re half demon? What kind?”

“I don’t know, to be honest. My mother never told me what kind, or who my father was, other than he was a demon.” I shrugged. “Someday I’ll find out. Now, are you going to tell us about Letty, or have you changed your mind?”

He let out a sigh. Vampires didn’t need to breathe, but they could sigh or whistle as they chose…if they chose.

“All right, I’ll tell you what I know. But on one more condition.”

“And what’s that?” I asked.

He grinned then, looking all too seductive and delicious. I was startled to find myself responding to his looks, because he wasn’t putting on any glamour.

“Well, I wouldn’t mind working with your organization, as the need may be. I share my info with you, and then…you throw a few jobs my way.”

Feeling like he wasn’t going to be as easy as Benny was to deal with, I glanced back at Dante and Orik. “What do you think?”

“We could use someone on the inside of the Underground,” Dante said.

“If he gets out of control, we can stake him,” Orik said with a menacing grin.

“Oh cripes, fine. We’ll discuss the details later. Now, tell us everything you know about Letty,” I said. “And I mean, everything.”