Kat gripped the edge of the bar when her knees went weak. Steadying herself she jumped when Michaelâs voice came from right behind her.
âBe careful how hard you pull that catâs tail, love,â Michael reminded her then nodded at Trevor before going to meet Kane on the roof.
Trevor frowned at the startled look on Katâs face. âWasnât that a vampire?â
âNo, that was a gentleman and heâs helping us track the real monsters,â Kat said confidently as she silently added, and heâs the only one that didnât put up a fuss about me going out tonight. âHowever, it looks like weâre falling behind. Are you ready to leave?â
*****
Kane was pacing back and forth on the roof, smoking a cigarette and occasionally waving his arms around. He was starting to get antsy waiting for Michael to show up.
âJaguars and cougars,â he grumbled. âTheyâre worse than domestic house cats. Everyone has to have domination over the others. Iâd rather team up with the Coyotes than deal with this.â
Michael came up over the edge of the roof right behind Kane, catching him in his agitated rant. He frowned when Kane immediately fell silent and glanced to the side acknowledging his presence.
âDamn it Kane, are we going to talk about whatâs bothering you or not?â Michael asked as he crossed the distance between them.
âOr not,â Kane responded.
âFine,â Michael waited knowing Kane hated the silent treatment worse than arguing. He loved it when he was right.
Kane walked toward the edge of the building, putting the distance back between them. Heâd forgotten how Michael could sneak up on him⦠it hadnât happened in so long. âRaven seemed a little disappointed that his army was lacking at the warehouse⦠some of his crazies were missing. My guess is the vampires that missed our little death party probably needed a place to spend the day, so Iâm going to check it out.â
Michael didnât say a word when Kane once again dropped off the side of the roof and landed on the pavement below. Just as he stepped to the edge ready to fall as Kane did, something on the roof across the road caught his attention.
Jerking his gaze toward it, Michael caught a glimpse of the shadow as it disappeared. Something about that shadow had seemed familiar but he couldnât put his finger on it.
Did Kane have a stalker or was he the target? Trying to suppress the feeling for now, he glanced down and smiled as he fell. Although he could no longer see Kane, and he knew the way to the warehouse, instead of following a route he followed the pull of his own blood within Kaneâs veins. By the time he made it to the warehouse, he could hear the screams of the vampires Kane had caught off guard.
He paused in the doorway using his enhanced vision to see into the darkness of the huge room. Kane already had two vampires on him and several more thought the tag team tactic was a great idea. Stepping inside, he pulled the door shut behind him and started forward when Kaneâs voice echoed.
âLet me handle this. Just donât let any of them past you,â Kane said a little breathlessly as he twisted the neck of the vampire that was trying to rip his throat out. He jerked when fangs sank into his shoulder, causing him to lose his hold on the first one.
Both of Michael's eyebrows disappeared under his windblown hair but he backed up against the door. âFine, if youâre sure.â He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the metal.
âWell⦠Iâm bored,â he said after a moment and looked toward the soulless vampires that werenât yet in the fight. âI donât suppose one of you would do me the honor of running for it?â
When Kane managed to decapitate the first vampire, one on the sidelines turned to do just what Michael had suggested, but Kane's arm reached out and grabbed him by the leather jacket he was wearing. âI donât think so,â he growled as he pulled it into the fight.
âDidnât your mommy teach you to share?â Michael smiled as he watched Kane get the hell knocked out of him. He had a feeling Kane needed the pain to help him feel alive right now. He had no doubt Kane would be the last vampire standing and this release of anger and violence might even help to open his friend back up⦠Therapy at its best.
âMy mother was a thief,â Kane answered, leaping up and pushing both of his feet into the chest of a vampire who was running hell bent toward him. The vampire went flying and Kane landed on his back. Kicking his legs up, he was back on his feet in an instant. âShe didnât believe in sharing.â
âWe both know your mother was no thief,â Michael chided. âShe was a well bred lady.â
Kane was punched in the face and flew backwards. Michael followed the movement as Kane sailed past him and into the very same pile of rubbish Kriss had knocked him into. He sighed when he fully noticed Kane was becoming a bloody mess. Kane rushed into the fight again, tearing the bastards apart as he went.
âNeed some help yet?â Michael asked above the sound of bones snapping and feet splashing in puddles that were growing bigger by the minute. He actually laughed when Kane started mumbling one of Synâs spells but was punched in the mouth before he could finish it.
âNo,â Kane growled as he spit blood in the face of the one who had punched him so hard heâd seen stars. Grabbing a piece of wood from a chair they had broken during the fight, he shoved it into the vampireâs mouth so hard that it came out the back of his neck.
Michael made a face but didnât interfere. He watched closely, counting three vampires down and four to go. Kane was a fearless fighter, more so now than before he was buried alive. Which reminded Michael of the one question he hadnât asked yet: how did Kane break the binding spell without the blood of his soul mate?
Less than twenty minutes later, Kane collapsed to his knees. He looked through the red haze of his vision toward the sound of clapping that was coming closer. He wiped the blood from his mouth and tried to push himself up from the floor. He laughed when it didnât work because the floor was so slick with blood.
âAnd the winner gets a hundred Band-Aids and a good night's rest at Michaelâs house.â He bent down and wrapped his arm around Kaneâs waist to help him up. They both swayed before he got them balanced.
âYou have a house?â Kane asked hoping if he kept talking he wouldnât pass out before they got there. He knew where Michael was living, but he didnât want to admit it because that would just remind Michael to be mad at him for staying away. He wasnât exactly happy with himself over that but heâd felt the need to keep his distance.
âYeah, Iâm all grown up now. Besides, caskets are so yesterday.â He cringed inwardly realizing Kane might not think that joke was very funny. âThe place is huge. It used to be some kind of Victorian style art museum until they built an upgraded one in Beverly Hills. Maybe if you moved in with me, the place would feel more like a home.â
âI want a puppy,â Kane stated out of the blue while concentrating on the putting one foot in front of the other routine that usually keeps you from falling.
âYou want a what?â Michael asked.
âIf we are moving in together, then I get to pick out a puppy.â
Michael had to smile at his old friend. It seemed Kaneâs love for canines hadnât diminished over the decades.
Chapter 3
âSo, whatâs up with Micah?â Nick asked Steven as they pulled into the parking lot beside the church and parked in between two of the busses.
âMicah and Quinn got in their usual fight about who makes the rules and Micah left to blow off some steam.â Steven answered as he got out of the car. He still thought it was funny that all the jaguars drove⦠you guessed it⦠jaguars. âHell, they taught each other how to fight, so decking each other is no big deal.â
âThen why hasnât he come back?â Nick pointed out.
âThat is the question isnât it,â Steven sighed. âQuinn thinks Micah ran off but I know better.â
âWhat makes you so sure?â Nick asked curiously.
âBecause Alicia had only been home a couple weeks before he disappeared. Micah had been counting the days for when he could bring her home. Even when Nathaniel was alive, it was Micah who acted more like a father to her. Heâd never just up and leave now that sheâs home.â He shrugged and added, âOr if he did decide to abandon the family, then heâd at least take her with him.â
Nick nodded wondering if the vampires were responsible for Micahâs vanishing act. Somehow that really didnât sound like a good thing, so for Micahâs sake Nick hoped Micah had just lost his temper and hadnât found it yet. Heâd ask Alicia more questions tomorrow.
Steven looked up at the huge church with all its intricate carvings and statues. The fact that it looked like it had been imported from Rome spoke of the money the sinful humans that graced its door must have. The extremely rich were the most sinful, thatâs why they made such a show of their religion.
The truth was this place is where the Mayor of the city came to shake hands and exchange money with the mafia every Sunday just after mass. So the question heâd been asking himself was⦠why had that girl been here alone in the middle of the night?
The church was mostly dark except for a couple of windows that still showed light on the second floor. From what he remembered, that was probably the office area. He wondered if the priest heâd left safely in the closet actually lived here. It was something heâd never thought to assume until now. The Catholics were a dedicated lot, heâd give them that.
Heâd already filled Nick in on what happened the other night⦠well most of it anyway. There was no way in hell he was going to recap the choir boy robe incident. Shaking his head, Steven pulled on the front door expecting it to be locked but sadly, it swung open.
âNot very smart,â Nick frowned as he pulled the bone-handled knife from his sleeve and slipped inside. âYouâd think after what happened the other night, theyâd start locking the doors.â
âMaybe like the saying goes⦠itâs always open,â Steven shrugged but entered cautiously. âOr maybe the old priest is expecting company.â
âI repeat, not very smart,â Nick snapped knowing they werenât the only paranormal creatures within the building. âI smell humans upstairs but thereâs something else here and I doubt it came for confession.â
âIâll go make sure the priest is safe. If you find vampires, be smart and leave them alone until we call for backup.â Steven made his way up stairs leaving Nick to make his own decision.
Nick nodded and started looking for the basement of the church. Usually the worse the monsters were⦠the further underground they liked to be. He didnât bother hiding as he investigated because the enemy could see in the dark just as well as he could.
Finding the door labeled âbasementâ, Nick opened it and quickly descended the stairs. He wrinkled his nose at the dank, damp smell and sneezed. Heâd always hated basements.
Steven was doing the same thing upstairs, opening doors and peering in as he passed them. Seeing the light filtering in under the door of the same office from the other night, he knocked this time. He could smell the scent beyond the door and knew the old man was alone.
âIs that you, Jewel?â the old voice came.
Steven took a quick step back when the door swung open⦠him and the priest coming face to face. The kind old face with the soft expression slowly changed, his eyes going wide as his lips parted. Steven put his hand out knowing what was coming next, and he wasnât disappointed when the priest tried to slam the door in his face.
Pushing against the door, Steven entered the room letting the old manâs weight on the door shut it behind him. Swinging around, he grabbed the weapon that came next and tossed it across the room getting annoyed. âI told you last time, Iâm not a vampire.â
âI woke up in the closet.â The priest reminded him as he backed up against his desk. Steven sighed as he watched the old manâs hands rummage across the desk obviously trying to find another weapon. He cocked an eyebrow seeing his fingers wrap around a heavy-duty stapler.
âI donât want to hurt you,â Steven informed him. âBut if you donât let go of that stapler, youâll be waking up in that closet again.â He nodded thankfully when the man slowly released it and stood to his full height, which was lacking compared to his.
âI have a feeling you didnât come here to confess.â Fear could still be heard in the old manâs voice.
âOh father, I know I have sinned,â Steven smirked but seeing the joke wasnât shared he grabbed a chair and turned it around noticing the man flinch at the fast movement. He refrained from rolling his eyes and straddled the chair, laying his arms across the low back. âDoes it not count that I am part of the reason youâre still alive? If I hadnât gotten you out of the way, you might not be on the side of the angels anymore.â
âHow did youâ¦â the priest suddenly looked older as he walked behind his desk and sat down heavily. âWhen I came to, I went downstairs and found strangers cleaning up. The mess⦠I stayed hidden. They were so quick and quiet about it. You could do all that?â
âWould you believe me if I told you we had an angel on our side?â When the man raised his chin and gave him a hard look Steven continued, âMy friend and I are here to make sure the church is still clean.â
âYou think there are more?â the priest rubbed his face.
âI know there are more. Question is, are they here?â Steven stood up knowing heâd left Nick alone for too long already. His friend was known for being fearless and that made him nervous. âWe donât want a repeat occurrence of the other night.â
The priest eyed him closely as if looking for a lie. Finally, the older man sighed and nodded his head, âOkay, for some reason I believe you. Sometimes God works in mysterious ways. Do what you must.â
âHopefully, this time we won't find any⦠demons and you can stay awake if you promise to stay in here.â He remembered what the priest said when heâd opened the door. âAre you expecting someone?â
âYes, she was supposed to come the other night, butâ¦â he jerked his thumb toward the closet. âShe called an hour ago saying she was on her way.â
Steven felt his pulse rate jump. âThere was a girl here the other night and I need to talk to her⦠blond hair, beautiful. Do you know her?â
âJewel?â the priest asked. âSure, Iâm supposed to marry her.â
âWhat!â Steven said a little too loudly then growled, âSince when do old priests marry young girls?â
âYouâre a bright one,â the priest shook his head then hardened his resolve. âNot to me⦠and itâs not your business anyway. You leave that child alone. She has enough problems with the monsters she already knows. Donât go dragging her into a demon war.â
Steven frowned not liking how that sounded. Heâd bet money the priest had been about to say mobsters not monsters. He didnât care for either breed, having to deal with his own share of mobsters. They liked to hang out at Night Light because it was one of the classier nightclubs in town. It helps you relax when your lower class clientele canât afford to get through the doors.
Heâd been slowly running them off for years and whenever there was a problem, something always came up and theyâd move away or vanish altogether. Irish mob, Italian mob, Russian mob, IRA members, ex-KGB, Yakuza, and even rumored members of the fabled Illuminati⦠Steven didnât give a damn. They were all cut from the same cloth as far as he was concerned. But sometimes it didnât hurt to have a few on your side.
âCall her and tell her not to come here tonight.â He pushed the phone closer to the old man and crossed his arms waiting to make sure the priest did as he asked.
The old manâs lips thinned. If he called her house and her father answered, Jewel would be in big trouble and possibly wind up face down in an alley somewhere. Him being a priest probably wouldnât save him either. âSheâs not coming,â he said hesitantly, then repeated more firmly as he looked at the clock on the wall. âShe would have been here by now if she was.â
Steven felt the disappointment of not seeing her and the satisfaction of knowing she was safe collide somewhere in his chest. Needing a distraction, he stood up and set the chair back the way he had found it. âIâll be back to let you know when weâre done.â
âWait!â the priest called when Steven opened the door. âIf you should see herâ¦â
âIâll send her right to you,â Steven promised and walked out.
Closing the door, Steven shook his head and started down the hall. This floor was clean and he needed to catch up with Nick before something went down. Going downstairs, he looked around but couldnât see Nick anywhere.
âAll right, where in the hell did you go?â Steven muttered and started looking behind the closed doors.
He found the basement door ajar and could have slapped himself when he realized Nickâs train of thought. âDark places, underground⦠DUH!â
Making sure to create a lot of noise, Steven descended the stairs and wrinkled his nose at the damp heat. âDamn it stinks down here.â
He approached another open door and stepped through. Nick was standing in front of the boiler with its door wide open and poking around at something in the fire with an iron rod.
âFind something?â Steven asked.
In answer, Nick removed the iron from the fire with the burnt remains of a skull dangling from the end by its eye socket. âI think itâs safe to say that some of the humans on the missing personâs roster won't be found any time soon.â
âI think this church is a normal place for some of the local mafia to do their business.â Steven elaborated.
âIn a Catholic church?â Nick demanded. âIsnât anything sacred anymore?â
Steven shrugged, âKind of like the saying goes, nothing is certain except death and taxes.â
Nick dropped the skull back into the boiler and shut the door. âOr in our case, fur and kittens.â
The two men snorted in amusement before Steven sobered a bit. âOkay, we really need to get serious.â
They separated, each one searching a different side of the large room until Steven saw something behind one of the huge garbage cans full of wooden planks. âHey Nick, give me a hand with this.â
Nick approached and helped Steven move the can aside just enough to get a good look, which wasnât very far. A small, cramped tunnel had been carved out of the stone and straight out into the earth. The darkness was absolute and the two felines had difficulty seeing inside.
âMight as well check it out,â Nick stated and moved forward to squeeze his thin frame into the opening.
Steven reached out and grabbed hold of Nickâs arm and shook his head. âNo, we go back and let Warren and Quinn in on what we found. One cougar is missing and, in my opinion, thatâs one cougar too many. I donât want to add a jaguar to the list, too.â
âAw gee,â Nick smiled and wrapped his arms tightly around a shocked Steven. âYou...â he gave an exaggerated sniffle and continued in a wavering voice. âYou really do care.â
Steven frantically pushed Nick off of him, sending the jaguar against the wall. âMoron,â he muttered while Nick was laughing. âLetâs get out of here.â
By the time they reached the top of the stairs, Steven was convinced Nick had lost his mind somewhere along the road. The church was deathly quiet and Steven looked toward the hall that led to the upstairs office where the priest was waiting.
âHang here for a minute,â Steven said. âI need to go talk to the priest.â
Nick shrugged and leaned against one of the pews to wait.
âHello, Steven.â A voice came out of nowhere.
Nick jumped and Steven cried out in surprise before tripping over his own feet and falling down. Nick blinked when a man with dark hair stepped out of the shadows grinning madly down at Steven.
âDamn it, Dean!â Steven yelled as he pushed himself off the floor. âStop trying to scare the shit out of me.â
Dean smirked and leaned against one of the pillars next to the pews and crossed his arms over his chest. âUnfortunately I donât have to try.â
âScrew you!â Steven growled. âIâm going to talk to the priest, Iâll be back.â
âMake sure you return the choir robe you borrowed.â Dean teased him. âIâd hate to see some poor boy not able to dress for church.â
Steven froze when Dean said those words and spun around to glare at the fallen.
âChoir robe?â Nick asked and lifted his eyebrows almost to his hairline. âYou wore a choir robe?â
âI shifted, it was an emergency. I had to save this girl from being drained by a fucking vampire,â Steven defended.
âYeah,â Dean chirped. âThe very same girl you got your ass beat in front of.â
âLike youâve never gotten your ass beat,â Steven shot back.
Dean stopped and thought for a moment. âNo, I havenât gotten my ass beat but it has been pounded.â
âArgh!â Steven roared, throwing his arms in the air and stalking down another hall.
Nick looked over at Dean, âAny idea where heâs hidden the robe?â
âUnder his bed,â Dean answered.
Nick smirked, âPerfect blackmail material, thank you.â
âSure thing, I like watching him squirm⦠that and he seems to think Iâm constantly going to kick his ass or something.â
âSadist,â Nick said with a chuckle.
âIâm a fallen,â Dean said. âWe donât have much to keep us entertained.â
Steven approached the priestâs office door and raised his hand to knock when he heard voices on the other side. One he recognized as the priest, the other was female. Lowering his hand, he pressed his ear closer to the door so he could listen.
Jewel paced back and forth trying to stay focused but it was hard. The first thing that came to her mind when she walked into the office was when sheâd been attacked by vampires and seen a naked man or shifter⦠whatever he was. She just spent the last five minutes answering the priestâs questions about the other night but right now she had bigger problems than that.
âYou shouldnât be sneaking around in the middle of the night,â the priest said. âItâs dangerous. What if your father or your betrothed catches you?â
Jewel marched straight up to his desk and practically slammed her palm down on it. âNo, they are the ones making it dangerous⦠climbing out my own window and sneaking past the armed guards that are keeping me prisoner and trying to sneak back in without getting caught.â
âYour father is just trying to protect you.â He tried to calm her down but knew what she was saying was true. Her father was in here every week confessing⦠washing the blood from his hands and conscience.
âNo, heâs trying to force me to marry his business partner to pay back a debt! A debt I had nothing to do with. Isnât there a law against slavery in this country?â
âBut when you and Anthony came in here for the meeting, you said you loved him with all your heart.â The priest pointed out. âThat is not the type of thing you should lie about. Itâs a disgrace in the eyes of God.â
âYes well, the two body guards standing behind our chairs⦠do you remember them? The one behind me was digging the barrel of his gun into my back. I could never love an egotistical heavy-handed barbarian like Anthony. He promised to kill me and my father if I donât go through with the wedding. And earlier tonight, when I tried to tell father that I didnât want anything to do with Anthony, he smacked me so hard that I know where the stars are located now, because I could count them.â
Both Jewel and the priest were startled when the office door flew open so hard it banged the wall making several pictures and a gold-plated cross fall.
Steven stood in the doorway glaring at the two of them. However, the darkening bruise on Jewelâs cheek made Steven see red. âYou both need to come with me.â
Jewelâs knees felt weak seeing the mystery man still alive. She had thought about him being killed by vampires so many times since running from him. Several times sheâd even regretted running to the point of tears. Now that she could breathe easier, she wanted to scream.
Why was it every time she came to talk to the priest in confidence, they had an emergency? She was less afraid of this shifter than she was of her gun toting fiancé and until she heard fire alarms or saw a fang face, she wasnât going anywhere.
âNot this time,â Jewel informed him crossing her arms over her chest.
âI canât just leave the church unattended,â the old man started but Steven quickly cut him off.
He took deliberate strides closer to the desk as he spoke, âHave you made a deal with the devil and decided to feed your parish to the vampires? Is it you burning their bodies in your boiler room?â When the priest just opened his mouth but didnât say anything Steven continued, âOr is it the sinners you preach to that have committed mass murder in your basement and dug a tunnel to escape through?â
âOh my,â the old man gave Steven a grim look. âIf I leave the church, how long will it be until I can return?â
âGive me your cell number. Iâll call you within a couple hours. Do not come back until we give the all clear.â He sighed knowing heâd won the argument when the old man started rifling through his drawers getting things he deemed important enough to take with him.
Jewel tried to remain perfectly calm while edging her way toward the still open door. Freedom⦠why was it she always found herself running from mad men?
âDonât make me chase you,â Steven gritted out as he jerked his head to the side and locked his gaze on her. âI said he could go home⦠not you.â
Jewelâs lips parted as she froze in mid motion. How dare he give her an order? She gritted her teeth realizing sheâd obeyed him anyway. She raised her chin up a notch in defiance as she came to a conclusion. The moment she got away, she would keep running⦠from all of them, including her father.
âWhat are you going to do with her?â the priest demanded indignantly.
âIâm going to do what you canât do⦠keep her safe,â Steven yelled not wanting to fight about this. The bruise on Jewelâs face had quite literally shattered his nerves and heâd be damned if he was going to send her back to the man that did it.
âI donât need another protector,â Jewel turned to leave but stopped short seeing two dangerous-looking men blocking the doorway.
Dean had felt Stevenâs distress all the way down the stairs and now that he was looking at the girl who was causing it, he could see why. Reading her soul, he caught a fleeting glance of the elusive angel of death.
âYouâre wrong.â He moved so fast, even the two shifters in the room missed it. âYou do need a protector.â
Jewel stifled a scream when the manâs palm pressed against her sore cheek and his eyes turned the color of mercury. The cold hand that had been clinched around her heart with icy fingers for so long melted. Suddenly, she was reminded of feelings she had forgotten existed⦠warmth, safety⦠love.
The priest leaned back against his desk when the shadow of wings sprung out from the manâs back, flickered brilliantly, then disappeared.
âIâll be downstairs,â Dean stated as the wind rushed in to fill up the space he vanished from.
Steven didnât know why Dean had chosen that moment to reveal his power but he was glad the fallen had done it. Jewelâs cheek was healed and the priest looked like heâd just seen the light.
âWe need to leave⦠now,â Nick said from the doorway.
Steven grabbed Jewelâs hand and started for the door, glad the shock had taken the fight right out of her for the moment.
âWait,â the priest called, making Steven and Nick stop to look back at him. âWas thatâ¦?â he faltered, pointing at the spot where Dean had stood moments before.
Steven smiled genuinely at the excitement in the old priestâs eyes. âYeah⦠it was.â
The priest smiled when Steven and Nick left the room with Jewel in tow. He nodded once and began gathering the tools he would need. In his mind, God was preparing the earth for His return.
Steven and Nick stepped out of the church but Steven pulled Jewel to a stop so he could glance up at the office window. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the office light go out.
âLooks like the old geezer is taking your advice,â Nick said.
Steven shook his head, âMore like he saw Dean for what he was and is having some kind of religious experience. He gave me his phone number, Iâll call him when the coast is clear.â
âI donât think a couple hours will be enough time,â Nick informed him.
âIt is what it is.â Steven responded. âRight now, letâs get back to the club so we can give the news to Warren and Quinn.â
Dean sat on the roof of the cathedral and smiled down at the trio as they left the church behind. Heâd given Steven all the help he could but the calming spell he had put on the girl wouldnât last forever. He could feel the darkness under the building starting to mount as the vampires began emerging from their tunnel.