Real Vampires Don't Wear Size Six (28 page)

“Not that again.” Spyte covered his ears. “Didn’t take this girl five minutes to figure out how to hurt us. She’s been saying that one over and over again ever since we showed up here. The girl’s a Bible-spouting torturer.”

“Oh, I’ve got thousands of them.” Penny grinned. “But ‘Fear no evil’ seemed to fit the situation.”

“Seems like you’re wasting your time, fellas.” I glanced at Trey. “And what about the shifter here? Did you proposition him too?”

“Of course.” Caryon grimaced. “Seems he’s just as good as the rest of your friends. No fun at all. Didn’t even cry when we set his tail on fire.”

“His tail?” I glanced from Trey to Penny.

“We were shifting. He was a fox.” She flushed. “I was a hound chasing him when the saccharine Satans dropped by.”

“But he turned them down.” I smiled at Trey. “Now that makes me happy. Let him go, Caryon. He needs to get back to work.”

“Whatever.” Caryon flicked his wrist and Trey was free.

“You son of a—” Trey lunged for the demon, but I got between them.

“No, just take off. Go back to the club and help Rafe close. I’ve got this. Penny and I have an appointment in a little while anyway. Date’s over.” I felt Trey’s anger vibrating through him. “Please. If you get into it with these two, you’ll only make it worse on all of us.”

“Penny? You want me to stay?” Trey turned to her and took her hand. Her feet were still firmly planted.

“Thanks, Trey. I’m so sorry you were caught up in this mess.” Penny glared at the demons, then at me. “Not anything else you can do here. Go, save your job. You’ve been absolutely great about this.”

“Call me later, please. Let me know how you are.” Trey leaned forward and kissed her on the lips.

Penny flushed. “Sure. Take care.” She watched as he shifted and flew off into the night. “Wow. He really is a nice guy.”

“Gag me.” Spyte staggered like he was going to fall down as he held his stomach. “Where do you find these creatures, Glory, Penny? Wimps R Us?”

“He’s no wimp. When you surprised us, he would have torn you apart if you hadn’t paralyzed him.” Penny glared at him. “That’s such a cowardly way to deal with people. Makes me realize who the real wimps are here.”

“Penny, why don’t you just be quiet so we can get out of here?” I put my hand on her shoulder. She was right, but that didn’t mean we were going to stand around and trade insults with these demons all night. So far they’d just talked. But I still had a pair of ruined boots to remind me they could do worse. And Alesa had almost ripped me to pieces in my shop when she’d arrived in town. Murder was definitely in their playbook.

“Fine.” Penny lifted her chin. “Let me loose so we can leave or I’m singing ‘God Bless America’ again.”

“There’s an incentive to hurry. The girl’s got the pipes of an orangutan in heat.” Spyte waved his hand. “I’m muting her.” And Penny was frozen head to foot.

“What now?” I put my hands on my hips. “I thought you wanted my cooperation?”

“We do.” Caryon smiled at me. “Progress report, Glory.”

I glanced at Penny, who, even frozen, fairly radiated fury and disappointment. With me. I was going to have to fix this with her. Later. I turned to Caryon as he looked significantly at my eyebrows.

“Fine. Progress. I’m calling Simon. He wants a relationship with his son and there are signs it’s badly enough to give up his goddess. If he gets free, it’s on Lucifer to get him on his team. So either of you got any ideas how we can destroy the queen of the energy vacuum pump?”

“You’re thinking of taking out the goddess herself?” Spyte rubbed his hands together. “Bold. We can’t help you with that. Rules.”

“Lucifer loved the idea. But he agreed. It’s all on me and my friends. Didn’t seem worried about luring Simon over later. The man’s nothing if not confident of his persuasive abilities.”

Ah. That got a reaction. Cary and Spyte exchanged glances. “Oh? Didn’t you know Luc and I had a little chat?” I smiled. “He’s obviously lost faith in your ability to handle this on your own. Wasn’t entirely happy with what you did to my lashes either, Cary.” At least I’d gotten proficient with the fake ones. No sign yet that my own were growing in.

“You’re lying. Luc would never demean himself by coming to see you.” Spyte nibbled at one of his black claws.

“Oh, he did. Showed me what I’d look like as a size six. Tried to tempt me with all kinds of, ahem, lures. Guess he really wants Team EV out of the way. Or it was just a slow night down at the old torture chamber.” I couldn’t look at Penny now. The memory of what had happened with Lucifer was too raw and even now the temptation was too shameful.

“Read her mind, Spyte. She’s telling the truth. We’re doomed.” Caryon sank down to the grass. “It’s the fiery furnace for us.”

“No, no, no, that’s so last century. Now he does this thing with electrodes and acid.” Spyte shuddered. “Fire would be like a cool bath on a hot summer day.”

“So now you know. Stop harassing me and my people.” I glanced at Penny. “I’ve got places to go, people to see. Keep distracting me and I’ll never get this done.”

“Whatever.” Caryon waved his hand and started muttering about power surges and microchips.

Penny was immediately free, jerking away from me when I tried to touch her shoulder.

“Let’s go.” I didn’t look back as I followed Penny to the street, which was deserted this time of night. She ran toward my shop, cutting through alleys and side streets. I decided that my high heels weren’t going to cut it and shifted, flying over her head, but keeping an eye on her. When she finally got to the shop, she was a little winded, but seemed okay. That is except for her attitude toward me. I ducked into an alley and shifted back, then approached the shop on foot.

“Penny, can we clear the air?” I waved at Erin through the window before we climbed into the back of the limo Ray had sent for us. Paparazzi shouted out questions about where we were going and asked for Penny’s name as they snapped pictures. I ignored them while Penny just got flustered. When the car took off I could see we were being followed. No big deal. I’m sure they’d staked out Ray’s house already.

“How?” Penny glanced at the partition between us and the driver. It was up and we could speak freely. “You spoke to Lucifer. You’re doing the Devil’s work. I really don’t like where this is going.”

“Neither do I, but I didn’t have a choice.” I sighed and leaned back. I needed to call Rafe and let him know we were okay, free and clear of the demons. In a minute. And were we free and clear? Good question.

“According to my grandpa, we always have a choice.” Penny picked at her black jeans. “But I guess I’m undead proof that sometimes we don’t.” She looked up. “This Destiny character is a really bad man?”

“The worst. And he and his followers are the only ones I’m helping the demons with, I swear.” I grabbed Penny’s hand. “Now you swear something.”

“What?” She looked alarmed and I realized I was gripping her too hard. I eased off.

“That you’ll keep an open mind about Ian. Just because he’s a scientist, don’t jump on whatever he’s offering. If he even offers you something.” I let Penny go. This was so complicated. I couldn’t dictate her life. She was basically an adult. And she needed to make her own decisions. But she was so new to this world. And Ian was so . . . not. He was a master manipulator.

“Can you just relax and let me meet the guy and talk to him without freaking out?” Penny finally relaxed. “Tell me more about him. You took his diet stuff. And it worked. Any idea how?”

“Not a clue. But it gave me nightmares. Can you imagine? During my death sleep.” I checked the supplies in the mini-fridge in the space in front of us. Oh, yeah. High-quality synthetics in every blood type. I picked out two bottles of AB negative and handed one to Penny.

“Nightmares? When dawn hits, I’m dead. No dreams. Nothing.” Penny twisted off the cap from her bottle, took a sip and sighed with pleasure. “Mmm. This is the good stuff.”

“Only the best for Ian MacDonald. And, yes, that’s exactly what happens. Dawn hits, we die. You heard me, we call it the death sleep. So when I suddenly got nightmares after four hundred years, I couldn’t believe it.” I savored the taste of that superfine synthetic for a moment. “They were horrible. Terrifying.”

“Interesting side effect. What did Ian say about it?” Penny was obviously fascinated.

“Oh, he wanted to study me. Turn me into one of his personal lab rats. Claimed none of his other diet patients had ever experienced the same reaction.” I was having trouble slowing down on this delicious drink but I knew these were the only two bottles of this type in the fridge.

“Yes, you were an anomaly then. He’d want to know why. Did you at least let him have a blood sample?” Penny had already gulped down her bottle and set the empty in a drink holder. Typical newbie lack of control.

“No, I didn’t. He and Jerry have issues. An old clan feud. I couldn’t cooperate with Ian on anything, not with a war about to break out. Speaking of, I’ve got to call Jer and let him know where we’re going.” I pushed the call button for the driver and got Ray’s address, then pulled my cell out of my pocket.

“You were smart. I left my purse back at N-V. In the employee break room.” Penny sighed. “Trey and I went over to the park, to practice my shifting. We were having fun and then those two bozos showed up.”

I laughed. “Well, one bozo and a freak.” I explained to her about Spyte’s clown persona.

“This job for Lucifer isn’t endangering your immortal soul, is it, Glory?” Penny put her hand on my arm.

“I hope not.” I shook my head. “No, of course not. I won’t let it. I’m just helping Rafe pay off a debt. Nothing more.” I looked out the tinted window and watched the houses get farther apart as we headed toward Ray’s rented home in the hills. I hit speed dial for Jerry and told him where we were going, listened to yet another lecture about Ian, and managed to leave out any mention of Penny’s run-in with the demons. I ended the call, then made a quick one to Rafe, ending it just as the limo stopped in the curved driveway in front of a large home built of native limestone. Bodyguards kept the paparazzi outside an iron gate.

The driver opened the car door and helped us out. Ray must have heard the car arrive because he was smiling as he stood in the doorway. I noticed two more bodyguards, these Ian’s, patrolling the grounds and pointed them out to Penny. They were blond surfer types, vampires of course, and Ian’s trademark.

“There you are. I was beginning to worry.” Ray kissed me on my cheek and did a fist bump with Penny. “Thought maybe you’d talked the kid here into chickening out.”

“No, she’s not a kid, as she frequently reminds me. And she deserves to meet Ian if she wants.” I walked inside and gasped. The wall of windows exposed a panoramic view of a lake. No telling which one, Austin has several. Didn’t matter. The moonlight on the water and the sprinkling of stars above and the few lights from houses rimming the lake below made for a beautiful setting.

“You like?” Ray kept his arm around me.

“Love it. This is even nicer than the last house you rented.” I moved toward the terrace, a stone one easily accessed from doors off the living area. “Great for parties. The steps go down to a boat dock?”

“Of course. I’ve got a new boat on order. You know me. I like loud and fast.” He squeezed my waist. “In my women too. Though once I’ve got ’em, I like to slow it way down.”

“Ray!” I glanced at Penny.

“Hey, don’t mind me. I can read his mind, remember?” She laughed. “Oops, I promised I’d quit doing that.”

“It’s not advisable to intrude uninvited.” The deep voice sounded amused and we all turned to see Ian MacDonald stroll into the room. Ian was yet another handsome vampire. He looked more Viking than Scot, as if a Norse raider might have made a pit stop at the MacDonald castle back in the day. His light blond hair, piercing blue eyes and sharp nose, along with his deep tan were enough to make any woman sigh. Penny actually did, then she laughed in embarrassment.

“Sorry, I’m still learning. Only been a vampire for two weeks.” She held out her hand.

“Uh, Penny, don’t do that.” I stepped between Penny and Ian with a smile. “I keep forgetting to tell you things. Some powerful vampires, like Ian here, can use touching your hand to take command of your will.”

“Now, Gloriana, is that any way to introduce me to your fledgling?” Ian smiled and bowed in Penny’s direction. “I never have to take command of a lovely woman. Women are usually quite happy to give me what I wish.”

Penny laughed again, this time with genuine amusement. “Are you kidding? You’ve got to be kidding. Does that line work? Seriously?” She glanced at me. “Uh, maybe I’ll shut up now.”

“No, you’ve just made me proud.” I grinned at Ian. “Modern women and even us ancient ones who’ve figured out how to get with the program are way over that command thing, Ian. You really do need a new line.”

Ian exchanged looks with Ray. “Say what you will, Gloriana. I think most women do like a man who takes charge. At least when there’s trouble. Your Campbell seems to hold your interest and he certainly is that type.”

“Yes, well, that tendency of his has caused us some problems over the years.” I really wanted to change the subject. “But Penny’s here to talk to you about your research. And I know Ray’s interested in it too. What do you think of Austin?”

“I like it. Property’s certainly cheaper than it is on the West Coast.” Ian looked out at the lake. “And I like settings like this one. Isolated. Yet close enough to an airport and technology to support my needs.”

“Exactly. That’s what I’ve been telling you.” Ray stepped closer. “And, Glory, you’ll like this. Ian says I’ve got to be off the sauce if I want to be part of his daylight experiments. That’s why he was on board to do the rehab thing with me.”

“That’s great, Ray. At least the rehab part of it. I can tell you’re off the sauce. You look good.” I turned to Ian. “Daylight experiments. How experimental?” I hooked my arm through Ray’s. “I really don’t want to lose this man to a sunburn.”