Black Spark (Dark Magic Enforcer Book 1) (21 page)

The man was a fool. But not as foolish as Oliver.

"What's she doing now?" Kate couldn't get closer to the glass if she tried, and I had to stop myself doing the same.

But I remained motionless, hidden, kind of put out if I'm honest that Kate even remembered I was there. Maybe that's the connection we have? I hope so.

We watched as Ankine Luisi finished with her flirting, and finally made it to Oliver. She'd known he was there, and was in no hurry, yet Oliver seemed entirely oblivious to her. He really was a fool. So caught up was he in his own sense of self-worth and invincibility that he forgot not everyone is just potential food.

She circled him, like a shark circles a drowning fisherman, smiling and twirling her black umbrella so rain spun off and drops caught him on the nose. He drew his attention away from an overweight man entering a bookstore and rubbed at his face with a frown. Then their eyes locked before she looked away, coy and flirtatious.

He actually licked his lips, like dinner had been served, still with no idea it was he that was on the menu. He forgot about me entirely, never even glanced at the coffee shop as he swaggered over to Ankine Luisi.

She cocked her head to the side and closed her umbrella as the rain gave up to regroup. It was a fascinating mating ritual, entirely one-sided.

The Armenian looked around, but seemed satisfied that nobody else was of more interest. She rubbed at her arm, from her wrist up to her shoulder, drawing Oliver's eyes to hers, entrancing him. With full lips hardly moving, she spoke. The already captivated vampire stepped closer, face flushed, lost in her.

This man would rip the throat out of a human being given half the chance, had killed countless, cared nothing for what he saw as weak creatures, but he was helpless. His blood magic worked against him as it drew the Armenian succubus to his power—more for her to consume—and he appeared unaware of what was happening.

He stepped closer at her words, but something changed and she turned, maybe looking at us, maybe at the building, but it was impossible to tell. She acted as though it was a little too easy. A vampire of his age and power so easily taken, and out in the open, in daylight no less. Or maybe she simply lost interest and had already grown bored.

As Oliver spoke, Ankine Luisi lifted a hand to her mouth, tittering like a schoolgirl. She nodded.

He inched forward and puckered excited, dry lips. She kissed him. Gently, lightly, and tenderly. He practically fell flat on his face.

With that she was gone. Skipping away, bags swinging in that carefree way of hers, presumably to continue her daily spending spree.

Oliver was bent double, hands resting on shaky, thin thighs. He remained that way for maybe a minute, getting odd looks from passersby, then he stood.

He was, to put it bluntly, seriously pissed off.

"Well, if she can do that to a vampire like Oliver, I am guessing there won't be much of your Ambassador left by now," said Kate, leaning back, the spell broken.

I let the magic fade, felt myself again, only minor sickness, and turned to her. "I think you're right, Kate. Well, what do you think?"

"I think you are in a lot of trouble, Faz Pound. I think that you better watch your step or she will eat you up and spit out the gristle you like to call muscle."

"What, me, get mesmerized by a woman of magical powers? As if?" I smiled at her, hoping she got the lame attempt at humor.

She did, so ignored it completely. "Just be careful. But I can't help you, Faz. She is an odd one, that's for sure. I've never seen anything like that. She's like a vampire when we, you know, sort of glamor people, only she's a real expert."

"Don't feel bad. It's what she does, and she's had a lot of practice." That was the bit I was worried about. Ankine Luisi was true Hidden, a creature wholly born of magic. I was a man who knew a bit of magic and got sick to the stomach if I tried to push the boundaries. Plus, in case you haven't noticed, I kind of act like an idiot around sexy ladies.

"Goodbye, Faz." Kate got up and kissed me for the second time that day. I put a hand to my cheek like I was in a bad movie. I watched as Kate walked out the door, ignored Oliver—who was still far from right—and was gone.

Oliver glared in at me. I guessed I'd better go visit Teppo Quimby before Ankine Luisi finished her shopping.

There was still an hour or more before the stores closed so I had plenty of time. I wanted to see what condition he was in, and if he could help, before I confronted her. Again. I wished more than anything I could remember what had happened the night before, but I had nothing.

Maybe it was a good thing. I assumed that whatever had happened wouldn't exactly bolster my confidence. Not only had a previous meeting with her ended with me killing an innocent man and the burden I now had to carry, but she'd also put me off chess, and I loved that game.

What was the best way to deal with her? Use as much magic as I possibly could to protect myself, don't look her in the eye, and suck as much of her magic out of her as I could before she wiped my mind and I killed another Grandmaster. Even that had more holes in it than an elf's ear, and the consequences for taking magic from a true Hidden meant it was a seriously bad idea. Still, it was better than nothing, and all I had.

Yeah, not much of a plan, but I'm a lover not a thinker. I hadn't done much of either lately, especially the loving bit.

I got up and drained my coffee. I should have ordered a stronger one, but I didn't know how to ask for it. The Mighty Scowler at Baristas, Ancient Dismisser of Complicated Coffees, left the building.

The end was approaching. I just hoped I managed to survive so I could ask Kate to come help me recuperate and I could bill Rikka for my suit and the bonus I was expecting for what was becoming one of the worst day's work I'd ever had. I hadn't even got to the main job yet, so, yeah, it was a very bad day.

Outside, I was lost in thought as I turned to go back to the car. Then I remembered Oliver. Damn, it was probably best to take him with me, just so Taavi knew I had dealt with the problem. Last thing I wanted was him on my back after the day I'd had already, and much as I loathed Oliver it was better than being summoned by Taavi and getting picked up by the Chinese goons again.

I turned, but he wasn't there. Well, his loss. No way would I go looking for him. I headed back to the multi-story car park, the aroma of coffee trailing behind me like memories of nervous conversations with confident baristas. The streets were slowly emptying of shoppers, the TV crews and the law had long since given up the morning incident as maybe bizarre but certainly not supernatural, and I, the invisible everyman, unassuming and entirely forgettable, pulled the parking ticket from my wallet as I got off the street and out of the rain.

"You set me up," growled Oliver, standing by the machine I had to use to pay so I could exit.

"And you let her glamor you. You're an old vampire and you let her glamor you. Don't you—" I was shoved from behind. Then I was off my feet and before I had a chance to say something clever at the smug sneer on Oliver's face I was up three flights of stairs and on the top level of the car park, back out in the rain, dumped on the wet ground with Oliver, and two other vampires stood in front of me, fangs showing, looking less than happy.

"You owe me for a new suit," I said as I got to my feet.

"You owe me more than that," said Oliver.

Three sets of fangs shone dully. Maybe it was time to think of a career change.

Unhappy Vampires

"Are you nuts?" I shouted as I stood and felt my tattoos whirl dark magic around my body in pulses of sickness that I knew had already turned my eyes as black as my anger, sparks of silver making the vampires shimmer and my body hum in tune with the Empty.

See, this is why these damn vampires are such a nightmare to be around. Most of them can't control themselves if they feel affronted. What's worse is that if they do get angry, and the plea for vengeance leaks into the communal vampire consciousness, then you can bet there will be a few more than keen to back them up. They love a bit of drama, and if that involves sucking on someone full of magic then all the better.

"You set me up." Oliver was livid. Worse, he had the hunger. His encounter with Ankine Luisi had pushed all his buttons and he craved sustenance. She'd geared him up then taken away a part of him. He needed to replace that lost energy and what better way than a snack of Spark?

"It was only to see who she was, what she was like. You know as well as I do that Rikka and Taavi want her gone. She can cause all kinds of trouble for everyone. Not just our Council, but yours too. Why do you think he told you to tag along?"

"I'll deal with her, and he'll thank me for it. But first we'll deal with you."

"Not such a hotshot now, are you, Spark," said the girl from that morning, the one in the tree. Her friend was next to her. He sneered, a poor attempt at copying Oliver. The younger vampire looked more like a bad imitation of Elvis than an evil immortal. At least Oliver had his lip curl down to perfection.

Both were still immature by vampire standards, maybe twenty or thirty years into their new life, and both seemingly only late twenties when it happened. They wore current fashion, which looked wrong on a vampire. Most are pretty sharp looking and have a sense of individuality, not these two—they had a lot to learn, if they lived. Suddenly, I understood what had been bugging me about them both since I met them that morning. They were trying too hard. Too hard to blend in, too hard to be badass, and they failed on all fronts.

"Look, kids," I said, holding my hands out to them even though that probably wasn't such a good idea. I leaked a little, and dark energy, with twisted faces and other warning effects I'd mastered long ago, sort of shot toward them and burned through the asphalt. They jumped back and Oliver growled. "Oops. Look, I've got no argument with you two, Oliver either if he just behaves. Do you know what kind of trouble you will be in when Taavi hears about this?"

They looked at each other then at Oliver. I saw the uncertainty. "Okay, best outcome is, you kill me, and Oliver defeats Ankine Luisi, the most powerful woman on the planet. The woman that just glamored him surrounded by a bunch of shoppers. Worst outcome is, I kick your asses and tell Taavi. Now, if you leave, then I'll say no more of it to anyone, and me and Oliver here can sort out our differences alone."

"We're not scared of you, Spark," said the young male, stepping forward. He brushed freshly cut hair behind an ear, the red locks stiff from some kind of product. I swear he did it thinking it made him seem relaxed and cool.

Kids, what are you gonna do? "Okay, last chance. Leave us to it, or else."

"Or else what?" he said, puffing out his chest, showing his fangs like it made a difference to me.

"Or else I will pull all that you are out of you. I will destroy you. I will take your magic, your blood magic, and I will send it back to the Empty and you will be your true age." I could see the uncertainty, the fear of what he would be without his blood magic. The girl too. She was thinking about it. How old were they? I wondered if they were older than I'd thought. Maybe sixty? Older? A far cry from the youthful bodies and looks they had now anyway. They were just a bit on the daft side, bless their cold, vicious hearts.

"Not if we win." Before he changed his mind he came at me, impossibly fast, and his hand was almost at my throat when I erupted into darkness.

Vampires think they have a handle on terror. Well, they don't. Wizards, mages, even necromancers, we and our kind know the true horror of what it is to work through magic. It defines us, it is us, and I am an enforcer. I channel it, I take it from you, I draw magic into myself and I do not let myself be intimidated.

I thought of myself in a bubble, a solid yet clear shield, impenetrable to magic or matter. He bounced off me like a ball hitting a wall and slammed into the ground, shocked and shamed. I felt the hurt of the magic use thunder through my veins and cloud my mind for a moment before it passed. A calm before the inescapable payback to come. Letting my anger and deeper emotions fuel me, I directed the Empty through sheer force of will, summoning knowledge and insight into the ways of magic and did what I do best. I sparkled black and silver as my years of training were unleashed.

A monstrous spout of pure, dark magic spasmed along my tattoos, down my left arm and out to his head with no subtlety whatsoever.

He was charred like a burn victim. Hair gone, features burned away, head steaming, blackened skin flaking as I drew my arm back to my side and with it his blood magic.

He fought back, using up bodily reserves to reverse the effect, and his usual features returned as his body visibly shrank with the effort—his torn and burned clothes hanging loose. But even as I and the others watched, he began to change again.

I sucked and took in a massive, deep breath, draining his magic, pulling it from him as his body convulsed and dark magic flashed from his withered frame like a reverse lightning strike, shooting into my mouth as I gulped it down like a hungry demon.

"Yum," I said, just to freak him out. It always works. "I'm the soul-eater. I will devour you whole and spit out the husk of your mind." Gotta have some drama, it makes the fight easier as they battle with the terror.

I was getting sicker by the second, and I'd made my point.

Using every ounce of willpower, never wanting to stop taking what was neither his nor mine, I slowed the flow, reversed my breathing, and gave a little back.

He looked truly terrible. Face wrinkled, skin a mess of blotches and blackened patches, but he took back a few years, gratefully.

It was enough. Killing him, or doing too much irreversible damage, would only cause trouble for me, Rikka, and the whole Dark Council.

I let him be.

The struggle not to fall over and cry at that moment was almost irresistible as the hurt was almost too much, but I let the magic flow out and away to where it belonged.