Life Cycle (10 page)

She’d gripped Naomi’s hand in the moonlight that had
shone down, not realizing what they were about to do or the events
they would set in motion, all over the naïve belief that
immortality in this place—in this human form—was a good thing.

Tears streamed down Tam’s face. She couldn’t hold
them back anymore. She’d pushed her sister away so many times,
trying to protect her from a brutal death at Jack’s hands, but it
had still happened anyway. All that time lost.

“Tam?”

Her eyes met Cain’s. The fear and dread and hate and
anger and all the scary emotions that swirled around his demon form
had felt oppressive at first, but now she could get lost in them.
She could pretend none of those feelings were her own. They were
all the demon’s fault. There was a look in his eyes that she wasn’t
sure how to classify. She didn’t trust that it was true concern,
but he was making an admirable fake.

“That last name he just killed? It was my sister. I
know what you need me to do, but I just can’t do it.” Jack had used
her sister’s blood to make the little hearts around her name. Cain
must have suspected the same thing.

Was Jack punishing her for leaving him? Would he have
spared Naomi if she’d stayed? But at what cost? Her soul? Blood was
the most powerful magic activator there was, especially the blood
of a magical being, and Tam and all the other cyclers definitely
qualified.

She could use the blood, even dried, to scry into the
past and see everything her sister had seen in her last moments.
She could see the moments even right after her sister’s death,
because blood had its own life. What blood saw was sometimes more
than what we saw.

“I need you to do the spell,” he said.

“No! I’m not going to look at that. I can’t look at
it. It won’t help. I can tell you what he did. He overpowered her
and killed her and cut her open and took out organs and probably
fucking ate one because isn’t ingesting a part of your enemy the
way to becoming a god? That’s what he wants. He thinks he can be a
god if he kills us all like this. If you think I’m going to trance
out and look into Jack’s eyes while he kills my sister, you’re
insane. I won’t do it, and you can’t make me do it.”

She shook with rage over the idea. Maybe she could
see something helpful, something that could let her know if he had
any accomplices, something that could give them a location, but if
the price was living her sister’s death vicariously and feeling all
that pain and fear, she was just too selfish to go there.

“Okay. Okay. Calm down,” Cain said.

Before she knew what she was doing, she’d moved into
the demon’s arms and laid her head against his chest. She didn’t
care that he was in the demon form. At least he didn’t pretend he
wasn’t what he was. At least he wasn’t ripping people up with
knives. At least it was food, not sport or simply for power.

A moment later, his large hands stroked through her
hair, his claws barely skimming her head. It was more comforting
than it should have been. The scary feelings around him started to
fade—either that or she was becoming more acclimated. What was it
with her and monsters? At least this time she didn’t love one, and
she knew going in what he was. But did that make any difference?
She’d still slept with him and was prepared to do it again and
again, no matter how many times was necessary to get from him what
she needed: her freedom.

“Why did he put hearts beside your name?” Cain’s
voice rumbled over her.

“Don’t be stupid. You know why.”

He sighed. “You were lovers. No wonder he’s saving
you for last. It’s how I would do it.”

Tam cringed at that, but if the demon noticed, he
didn’t say anything.

“I need to go to the meeting,” he said after a few
minutes of standing like that. “I don’t know if Dayne can do the
same magic, but I’ll take the scroll and we’ll find out. We might
still be able to get what we need without your involvement.”

He gathered the magical bags and placed his hand over
a spot on the cave wall that jutted out in the shape of an egg. It
opened and he tossed her things in. “I’m sorry, but if you’re going
to be in my caves, I have to up the security on your supplies.”

“You really think I’d go against you like that?”

“I don’t trust you. You don’t trust me. It’s what we
have in common.” Even as he said it, Tam knew it wasn’t all they
had in common. Besides Jack and the other cycler that was about to
be history, Cain was one of the very few beings in existence who
could really understand.

Chapter Five

Father Hadrian sat at the table, his expression blank
of emotion. Anthony had started the meeting, and the demon leader
was late again. Bringing Anthony down was the right thing to do.
The vampire king’s increasing control was worse than the sacrifice
of the humans finding out. The humans had known hundreds of years
ago, and the world had survived. It would survive again, and the
vampires with it. Anthony had to be stopped, or Hadrian’s race
would end up slaves to their king.

“Father Hadrian?”

He looked up, not betraying his thoughts.
“Yes?”

An impatient expression painted the king’s face.
“What did you get from the old woman Luc brought in? Anything?”

Hadrian shook his head. “She remembered seeing a
delivery man. It may have been The Cycler, but the details were too
fuzzy. You know how fickle the memories of the elderly are. I
erased her memory and sent her home.”

It was a lie. She’d seen Jack clearly. The rest,
about erasing her memory and sending her home was true.

He would have had the old woman for dinner except she
hadn’t done anything wrong. As a rule, he only fed from the guilty
and then only killed the unrepentant. Everyone was repentant when
their life was at stake, but Hadrian could see inside to their true
feelings. He knew which ones to save and which to damn.

The vampire king nodded and went back to his
presentation.

Hadrian had chatted with Cole while waiting for the
meeting to start. The werewolf pack alpha was the key, the only
person with a way into the demon dimension who wasn’t an actual
demon.

The rooftop door banged against the brick wall as
Cain made his fashionably late entrance again. He carried a plastic
storage bag with something that looked like old paper in it.

“So glad you could join us,” Anthony said, “I was
just about to ask for Luc’s report from your investigation.”

“Where’s the witness?” Cain asked.

“Father Hadrian couldn’t get a clear image of The
Cycler’s face, so he erased her memory and sent her home.”

Hadrian held Cain’s gaze steadily even though he felt
the demon’s suspicion. The guy was far too old to be tricked for
long.

Cain broke eye contact first and
put the scroll on the table, piercing the sorcerer with an intense
look.
“Dayne, can you do a spell on the
memory of the blood?”

“Couldn’t Tam do it? She’s much stronger than
me.”

“No doubt that’s true, but…” He faltered.

There was something in the demon’s body language that
sent Hadrian’s flags up. Did Cain have some particular attachment
to the witch? If so, it would make the plan more complicated.

“But…” Dayne prodded.

“She refused for personal reasons. Can you do the
spell?”

“Scrying isn’t my strength. Seeing the past is far
more difficult. The blood has dried and several hours have passed
by now. It’s a long shot, but I can try.”

“Please do.” The demon passed the scroll across the
table, right past Hadrian.

Dayne and Greta got up. Jack was slipping, taking too
many risks. They were too close for that. If they were going to
unseat Anthony from power, The Cycler had to be more careful.

“Maybe I should go with them,” Hadrian said, wanting
to monitor the situation.

“For what purpose?” Anthony asked.

Cain’s eyes narrowed, and Hadrian could practically
see the wheels in his head turning.

“For muscle. They’re carrying a sensitive
document.”

“I don’t think so,” Anthony said. “I need you
here.”

“Of course,” Hadrian said, inclining his head.

He would happily die for the cause if
necessary, but not until the time was right. If Dayne’s spell
succeeded, it would implicate Hadrian before he’d reached his goal.
He’d been at Jack’s hideout for the slaying. He’d kept to the
shadows, out of The Cycler’s way, but if blood could have memories,
he would be seen.

The whirring of the overhead projector snapped
Hadrian out of his thoughts. Anthony had a transparency up and was
laying out a detailed plan—for everyone’s protection, supposedly.
He’d seen Anthony’s interpretation of protection, and he didn’t
like it.

“As I’m sure many of you know, this has spread
beyond just local media. A Jack the Ripper copycat is of interest
to those not only in the UK, but around the world. He’s become a
cult icon of the unsolved mystery. He captures peoples’
imaginations, so the whole world is watching. We don’t know what
kind of letter he’ll send next, or when the next body will turn up,
but this one has already caused an outright panic. Before the
meeting, Dayne suggested Jack may have charmed the letter. If
that’s true, the lab techs analyzing it will know it’s the Ripper
and probably so will anyone else who touches it.”

The pretty succubus sitting next to Cole spoke up.
“Do we have any idea when he might strike next?”

“My theory is that he’ll wait until
the media is in a storm debating the meaning of the handwriting
analysis. Any revelation he gives will serve him best at that
time.”
Anthony cleared his throat and went back to the
transparency.

If anything, Jack’s plan seemed to be backfiring.
Anthony had a full strategy to extend his control in Cary Town to
the whole country and beyond. The only hope would be a war between
the preternaturals and the humans. That carried risk. Anthony could
end up completely destabilized or only stronger.

The vampire king continued. “I’ve been on the phone
with vampire leaders all over the world, and in some cases their
guardians due to time zone issues. Word has been sent out to
therian leaders in this country—those that are organized enough.
I’ll be meeting separately with the Preternatural Council since
there is no way to keep them out of the loop any longer. For the
safety of all and our way of life, we must raise security
measures.”

Hadrian took a measured breath.
This reaction had been expected.
It’s only
temporary.
How long could Anthony’s power
stand in the face of worldwide chaos? If the priest knew vampires,
he knew they’d stop lockstepping when the first major panic set in.
Once the word was out anyway, they’d feed openly. They’d resist the
vampire king’s control as well as if Hadrian had created an
uprising from scratch. Only the results would be more predictable,
the reaction stronger in the face of complete unrest.

Cain chuckled, interrupting the vampire king’s
monologue. “You’re so predictable. Just like a human. Yes, let the
sheep fall in line behind your bright, shiny police state. You must
have such a hard-on over this. An opportunity falls right in your
lap to justify what you’ve wanted since you’ve taken power.”

Hadrian arched a brow. If not for the demon’s
interest in Tam, he’d have an ally.

Anthony stopped and glared at the demon. “And what
business or interest is it of yours? What do you care what I do
here?”

The demon shrugged. “Oh, I don’t care what you do. I
just find it all perversely interesting. Tell me, are they
goose-stepping to your orders yet? Why don’t we take a vote around
the table? Who wants Anthony to rule the world? Raise your
hands.”

The assembled looked down at the
table or their hands, whatever they could to avoid either Cain or
Anthony’s eyes. Hadrian was the only one who watched everyone. When
Cain’s gaze shifted to him, he looked at the table as well.
Blend, Hadrian. For God’s sake, blend.
Now wasn’t the time for discovery.
But it was too late.

“Your priest lapdog isn’t on board,” Cain said. “I
knew something felt off about him.”

“That’s a lie,” Anthony said. “Hadrian has been
nothing but helpful since I took control of the coven. We don’t
have time for you to sow discord for your own amusement.”

The demon shrugged. “I just call them like I see
them.”

“Regardless of what you may think, this is for
everyone’s safety. The factions must band together. Our numbers
aren’t as great as the humans. If The Cycler succeeds, he could
build a worldwide army. Let’s not forget magic users are human.
They may stick with their own if they’re outed to the world. In a
war, that kind of unified front against preternaturals poses a risk
to you, too.”

Anthony went back to the transparency. “I’ve called a
summit for tomorrow evening with some of the top faction leaders
and the local preternatural council to discuss how we can proceed
and replicate what’s been done in Cary Town. Cole, even though
you’ve been officially banished, we’d like you there. This concerns
the pack, too. You’ll formally apologize, and I’ll graciously
pardon you.”

The werewolf growled. “Absolutely not. I’m here
because of the danger The Cycler poses to our way of life. I’m not
on board with using it as a springboard to solidify your power
base.”

Anthony’s eyes flashed red. “That isn’t what this is
about!”

“Like hell it’s not!” Cole slammed a fist on the
table and stood. “Count me out of the rest of this charade. You all
can deal with this mess on your own. Jane. Let’s go.”

Jane stood to follow her mate out, while the others
at the table argued amongst themselves. Anthony was still yelling
at Cole to try to bring him back to his side.