Green shadow, p.23
Green Shadow, page 23
“Well, young man, I happen to have two places open. One is in the stables. We’ve got a new team of horses, and the stable hands have requested more help. The other is as an apprentice hunter, a Jack. Of course, you would have to be prepared to kill if the mark required. It is the nature of the job.”
The kid shuddered, and I reached out to squeeze his shoulder in support. Then, opening my empathic senses, I started emitting low levels of calm. I’d decided that as long as I didn’t go far enough to take away a person’s choice, it was okay to use my magic as a support: the same as I would use a kind word or a hug.
“The stables, please. I like animals.” His voice was low but not so quiet that Curtis couldn’t hear.
“An excellent choice. I will have Chris write up the contract. You will have a three-month trial and training period. If you work out, I will sign you on full-time. Agreed?” Curtis held out his hand, and the young man looked stunned. He looked back at me, seeking my approval.
“I’ll come with you tomorrow and make sure he doesn’t pull anything sneaky.” I winked and ruffled the boy’s hair. That seemed to set him at ease. Reaching out, he shook hands with his new boss.
“One more question, Garry. Why didn’t you apply to your Tribe for relief? They should have provided your family with compensation after your father passed.”
A spark of anger entered the young man’s eyes.
“Head don’t care for anyone who ain’t a dragon. Mum went to him, and so have others. He brushed them off, made empty promises, then sent thugs to make sure she didn’t come back a second time.” His pupils were slitted with his anger. I sent more calming vibes, and his beast backed off, giving his human half a chance to calm down.
“Things been worse the last year. He bought some of the gangs, including my old one. The snake’s using them to make trouble for anyone not toeing the line.” The boy almost spat on the floor, then thought better of it.
Curtis’s face clouded over. His eyes turned a milky white. He didn’t say anything, and I silenced the kid as he opened his mouth to speak. Then, pulling out my phone, I shot a message to Chris. Within seconds she was in the room and standing next to Curtis.
While waiting for Curtis to come out of his vision, I digested what I’d just learned. If I could prove what Garry had just shared, I could force Jasper to step down as the head. The problem was finding the proof. No doubt someone as cunning as Jasper would hide their trail well.
Curtis sucked in a huge breath, his eyes clearing. “My apologies Lucan, young man. I can’t always predict when my sight will come.” A crooked smile lifted the corners of his mouth, and he placed a hand on his secretary’s.
“Anything we need to know?” I knew better than to ask about the vision. Curtis would only tell me if I needed to know.
Curtis shook his head. “Nothing relevant at this time.”
I nodded.
“Garry, please return tomorrow. And let me know if you have any more hardworking friends looking for work. I cannot guarantee they will find it with me, but I know many guilds are looking for support staff. I can put in a good word.”
A smile split Garry’s face.
“I will, sir. If I may, my brother is fifteen. He’s been lookin at getting into a gang to help. Can I bring him with me?”
Curtis nodded. The odd twinkle in his eyes told me one of his visions was slotting into place. It frustrated the shit out of me that I didn’t know everything going on in his head, but I’d reluctantly accepted it.
Curtis turned to me. “Lucan, before you go, a client would like to meet with you about a job. He called just as you left. I was about to have Chris message you when you arrived.” Pulling a piece of paper from the pile, he set it on the desk. “Tonight, room B1, seven pm.”
I nodded at the order.
B1 was the basement room where we met potential vampire customers. Curiosity nipped at me. Why the hell would a bloodsucker want to hire me for a job? They’d never once requested me in all the months I’d worked here.
As I turned to leave with the kid, Curtis called out to me. “Congratulations, Lucan. You’ve righted the lost key. We’re back on track.”
Elation filled me. For months I’d done acts of kindness, hoping to fix my mistake. A joyous laugh escaped. Today, I wasn’t even thinking about the key. I’d helped someone solely because it was the right thing to do.
Stumbling down the stairs, I didn’t care that the other hunters looked at me like I’d finally lost it. The depressed state I’d been spiraling down lifted. All wasn’t lost. There was still a chance, and I would make damn sure it counted.
Chapter 27
Lucan
Seven on the dot, I strode through the door into our basement meeting room. It was the first time I’d been here since Chris gave me a tour of the guild, and I took a moment to take it in. Along one side, bookcases lined with ancient tomes gave off a musty smell. Opposite, a massive fireplace loomed, large enough that, if I stooped, I could fit inside. A long table with ornate wooden chairs divided the two spaces. It had an elegant but cozy feel.
Shortly after I arrived, a hidden door at the room’s far end opened with a click. If I hadn’t watched as the vampire came through, I would never have known the entrance existed.
My eyes narrowed. I’d met this vamp before, and we had somewhat of a rocky history. Master Dagmar coveted what I considered mine. My dragon coiled tighter around the deteriorating mate bond, considering this parasite a threat to the frail string binding us to Mackenzie. I did too.
That jealousy made me petty enough that I had left the vampire out of the ever-growing rebellion.
I may be an empath, but I was also human, and falling into the trap of negative emotions was a flaw I was working on, with varying degrees of success.
I was big enough to acknowledge that vampire’s support would be invaluable and appreciated. But they already had their own issues to deal with. The rogue master was still on the loose, out there changing humans and inciting week-willed vampires to rebel against vampire society.
“Lucan, thank you for meeting me.” Nickoli’s cultured tone matched his perfectly coiffed hair and expensively tailored suit.
“Dagmar, what can I do for the Vampire Council?”
The council consisted of the five strongest Master vampires in the city. It was their job to control and punish vamps who broke their laws.
The man who moved towards the table and took a seat, was the oldest of their numbers. “As your Guildmaster, no doubt has informed you, I would like to hire you. This contract is strictly personal, not one issued by the council.”
I waited to see if he would elaborate on the details. Sadly, he did not. “What’s the job?”
Dagmar motioned for me to sit. Once I’d taken my place, he leaned back in his seat, elbows on the arms of the chair, his fingers steepled before him. “I can only reveal the full details once you accept the hunt.” His lips curled in a half-formed smile as he said the last word. “But I will tell you that it is an information-gathering assignment.”
I mulled that over. Information-gathering? Why would Dagmar hire me? My connections in the city were minimal. The favors I’d collected over the years, the informants who might pass on information, had burned, salted, and buried the bridge that connected us. I was about as alone as they came. There must be others with more connections. What was this bloodsucker’s angle?
“Why come to me, Dagmar? There are others in the guild with better resources who specialize in this kind of thing.”
“Because I believe you are the best person to get me the answers I seek, even with your limited connections.” It was a simple statement that left many holes but rang true to my senses.
“Alright, I accept the hunt.” I pushed my standard contract over for him to peruse. It held the clauses I’d added for Brooke and Connor and one that allowed me to cancel or hand off the case at a moment’s notice for personal reasons. Only Curtis knew that clause came into effect if information on Mackenzie cropped up, and I needed to take off.
Dagmar’s smile widened as he read the contract and signed his name with a flourish.
“So, what information do you want me to find?” I asked.
The vampire leaned forward. “I want to know what happened to Miss Green. Where she is, the circumstances of her disappearance, and what effort is being taken to locate her.” He stared at me, eyes unwavering. As if he thought he could gleen the answers from my soul if he just put the effort in.
I kept my face neutral. So sorry to disappoint. Leaning back, I studied the man. If Curtis allowed us to get this far, I could trust Master Dagmar with at least the basics. I wouldn’t release any information that could harm Mackenzie when we got her home. Physically, emotionally, or socially.
As I watched him, he watched me. His lips twitched in amusement. Dagmar seemed sincere, but he was an old vampire and had centuries to perfect the art of deception.
Coming to a decision, I ran through the essential information in my mind. How Master Dagmar reacted would dictate how I went forward. “I can answer some of those right now, but I will have to insist you sign an NDA.”
Dagmar’s smile showed a hint of teeth. “And why, may I ask, do I need to sign a non-disclosure agreement? I believe I hired you after all.”
I thought about that for a moment. Making sure my emotions weren’t clouding my choices. I didn’t want to fail for selfish reasons if this was another key. Then, concluding that I acted in Mackenzie’s best interest, I moved forward. “Because the information I am about to share is sensitive. Mackenzie was betrayed, and I will not have that repeated.” I leaned forward. “You have hired me, yes, but no contract in the world would make me do anything that would put her in further danger.”
Dagmar’s gaze sharpened, and he sat straighter in his seat. I approved his change in demeanor.
“No matter how we annoy each other, I think you can be an asset.” It was true. From watching Dagmar’s interaction with Mackenzie at the treaty signing, I knew the man possessed a complicated type of honor.
A look of grudging respect shaped the vampire’s features. “You are far more than your former Head makes you out to be, dragon. Very well, I agree to sign.” I pushed the NDA over to him and waited until he made his mark. The NDA contained spells. Curtis kept the nature of the curse secret. Not even the hunters knew what lay in store for someone who broke their word. “There, all signed. Now, what can you tell me?”
Leaning forward, I watched as the vampire did the same. “Just under six months ago, the Dragon Head contacted a group responsible for experimenting on human children.”
Nickoli curled his lip. Children were precious in many supernatural cultures, and since vampires technically could not have young, most masters viewed children as sacrosanct.
“Their goal was to create weapons to fight the supernatural scourge.” I continued, weariness overcoming me.
Taking a sip of water, I watched as Dagmar absorbed my words. “You may have already guessed, but Mackenzie was on the run. The monsters she’d been hiding from came when Jasper called. They took her.”
“I had assumed Miss Green was on the run from an abusive relationship. It would explain why she had such trouble letting others close.”
“Abusive, yes. Ex-lover, no. She didn’t want to return to them, but they forced her hand.” I was not about to explain how Brooke factored into it. He’d asked about Mackenzie, not her family.
“That seems unlikely. Miss Green is far more powerful than she’s ever let on.” Master Dagmar was observant, and this was a reminder of why it would be a bad idea to underestimate him.
“They used a hostage and required her to swear an oath in the old tongue.”
“Miss Green no doubt left a loophole in the wording. She is far too intelligent not to at least attempt to factor in an escape route,” the vampire commented, and I inclined my head.
“She did. But it requires us to find her first.” My fists clenched. “We’ve had sightings, but she’s long gone by the time we get there.”
Dagmar’s eyes went half-mast as he contemplated the new information.
“There is only one being generating enough public interest to have sightings of her but be far enough away that you have not yet tracked her down.” Dagmar’s eyes took on a faraway look, and I could see him examining the information I’d provided. His facial muscles twitched unconsciously.
I clenched my fists on the table. What if he rejects Mackenzie for her past as I did?
“Mackenzie is Terra, isn’t she? The supernatural boogieman.” The vampire’s face was carved of stone. I couldn’t get a read on how he was taking the revelation.
I leaned back in my chair, putting distance between us. My gut tightened. If it came to a fight, I wasn’t confident I could take on a Master Vampire of Dagmar’s age alone. In my mind, my dragon bared his teeth, ready to assist.
“Oh, stop fretting.” He snapped, animation returning to his features. “I mean, Miss Green, no harm. I’ve known the woman for years. She is either the world’s best liar or coerced into doing those horrible deeds.”
I sat stunned for a moment, unsure how to take his unbending acceptance of who she was. Part of me wished we were on better terms to ask him, but I held silent.
Nickoli surprised me again when he asked, “How can I help?”
I’d expected there to be more negotiation for his aid. My brain raced. Finally deciding that I needed to extend the olive branch, I said. “Contact anyone you know in other cities. The further away, the better. Have them send along any information on Terra and offer a reward if someone can follow her to her base. What we need now is information. Until we know where they are holding her, we cannot begin the final strategy for the rescue. There are too many variables.”
Nodding, the vampire began to stand.
Holding up a hand, I stalled his departure.
“I have another favor to ask. Separate from all this.” Dagmar sat back down at my words. When he didn’t say anything, I continued. “I need a safe house in your territory for a group of people to meet. Somewhere Jasper and his elites can’t find us.” The people I was pulling into my inner circle for the rebellion were also all invested in getting Mackenzie back. It would be nice to have a home base to accomplish both goals.
“You are part of the rebellion.” There was a smug air to the vampire, even if he didn’t show it. “I’d heard rumors that a group was gathering to take down the Dragon Head.”
“Yes,” I didn’t elaborate on my involvement.
A light entered his crimson eyes. “Why are you taking down the Dragon? Is it because of what he did to Mackenzie?”
“Partly. Jasper served Mackenzie up to her enemies and wouldn’t hesitate to warn them if he caught wind of our rescue efforts.” I rubbed my palms on my pants. “He has also proven he’s not what the tribe needs.” I didn’t mention his ability. I still wasn’t sure how his magic was connected. “He supports the Purity Movement, and that group is willing to murder innocents to achieve their aim.”
“He’s not the only Head or Alpha to do so,” Nickoli drawled.
“The rebellion has circumstantial evidence suggesting Jasper has manipulated the other leaders. If we remove him from the equation, we might be able to reverse his influence.”
Dagmar’s brow pinched. “You’re not telling me everything.” There was an accusation in his tone.
“I’m telling you everything I can,” I let him see the honesty in my gaze.
Dagmar took a moment to decide if I’d given him enough to make my request worth his while. In the end, he nodded, “I will grant you a safe harbor on two conditions. One: I receive an invitation to the meetings held there.” That request didn’t surprise me. Now that he had an ‘in’ to the rebellion, he would want to keep his finger on the pulse. “And two: you keep me in the loop regarding Miss Green. I want to be informed when you have leads or a plan of action to rescue her. Do we have a deal?”
Reaching out, I took his hand and prayed to the Old God that I wasn’t making a huge mistake.
Chapter 28
Lucan
Two days after meeting with Dagmar, I arranged another gathering for the resistance. Nickoli gave me the address for one of his top-side properties, and I passed the location along to the others.
For the most part, vampires kept to the Warrens—a series of tunnels that used to be the old transit system—a city beneath the city. It was prudent for them to have a place they could walk around all day, considering direct sunlight killed them with limited exposure.
The Warrens contained six sections. Each ruled by one of the five Master Vampires who made up the Council. The final remaining sector, the Night Market, which lay beneath New City, belonged to all. Nickoli controlled the section under the Working District and had many lieutenants reporting to him. Since he was a crafty old bloodsucker, he’d purchased several properties above ground with subterranean connections. A vampire never knew when he’d need a convenient escape route.
Looking around the table, I took in each of my co-conspirators. This was our fifth meeting, and our numbers were slowly growing. To my right, Alec was in a deep discussion with Curtis. Quinn loomed behind his mate, arms folded as he scanned the room. They were the only family members here.
Tyr had finally heard back from the Fire Hall in New City and was doing his orientation; Connor and Brooke had stayed home to look after the twins. But all three were constantly in touch with Alec and Quinn.
Saber, surprisingly, had taken up a place next to me. His eyes were lidded, and he lay sprawled on his belly, his head resting on his front paws. However, his twin tails twitched, and his ears swiveled to catch every sound.
Ethyl sat next to the arcane beast. Her fascination with him and her desire to be ‘where the action was,’ had coaxed the semi-hermit to sit among us. Saber wasn’t quite sure what to make of the eccentric older woman. But when all she did was stare at him, he’d calmed down.
