Real Vampires Don't Wear Size Six (44 page)

I knew that. She was on the phone to the shifter or making plans to meet him every time I turned around.

“Good. Now I’ve got to go. Jerry’s meeting me at the club for this last deal and the party.” I jumped off the table and picked up a wrapped package. “Once this demon stuff is over, I’ll make sure you get introduced to my friend CiCi, her son and his partner. Are you going to be at N-V later?”

“After Ian and I are through. Maybe I’ll see you there.” Penny hopped off the table too and gave me a hug. “Seriously, thanks for taking me in. I owe you for your patience. I realize I didn’t make it easy. And I’ll be so glad when you’re free of the demon thing. I’ve been praying for you.”

“Good. I appreciate it.” I hugged her back. “And you’ve been coming along faster than most fledglings would have. Meeting Ian here?”

“Yep. I’ll hang around and pick out a few things.” She laughed. “I know. No horizontal stripes.”

“Excellent. You really do learn fast.” I walked with her through the shop, then fought the paparazzi horde as I headed down the sidewalk to N-V. I’d agreed to meet the crew there rather than be bombarded with questions from the photographers about Jerry or Ray.

Rafe’s club was jumping as usual. Trey met me at the door and pointed me toward the bar. Rafe waved and downed a glass of Jack Daniel’s.

“I’ll be glad when this night is over.” He lifted his glass in a mock toast, then drained it.

“Man, way to shove it in my face.” Ray came up behind me and signaled the bartender. “Give me some of your vamp special, without the alcohol.” He smiled at me. “I’m staying on the wagon.”

I turned and smiled back at him. “Love to hear it’s still holding. What are you doing here?”

“Got to see this all the way through. Am I right?” He glanced at Jerry, who’d come up on my other side. In true Ray-style, Ray slung an arm around me and drew me close. “You want something stronger?”

“Why not?” Jerry smiled grimly. “Glory?”

“As you say, why not?” I was proud of Jerry for not doing his usual jealousy thing, trying to wedge himself between Ray and me. Not even a growl. I kept things cool myself, easing away from Ray. But I had to go to Rafe and check in with him.

“How are you doing?” I bumped him with my shoulder.

“I’m still wondering if this will all go down like it’s supposed to. You can’t trust a demon to keep his word. Or Simon. Bet the fact that we demoed his golden dome didn’t sit well.” He gazed around the crowded club. “Man, just when things were going great. Isn’t that always the way?”

“Think positive. We did what we set out to do.” I dredged up a smile.

“Yes, we did. Let’s go.” Rafe took a fresh drink that I hadn’t even seen him signal for and tossed it back. He pushed away from the bar. “Clock’s ticking.” He nodded toward Jerry and Ray. “Maybe I should do this alone. In case things go bad.”

“No, no way!” I grabbed his arm and looked back at Jerry and Ray.

“We’re coming. I didn’t dirty my broadsword to sit out the finale.” Jerry grabbed his drink and mine, Ray right behind him as we headed for the stairs.

The music was loud and a recent hit. It was about having it all. Yes, that’s what I dreamed of—having everything, these three men who were so important to me, my friends and security with my business. Why couldn’t I ever get it all together? Rafe was right. The timing here sucked.

We got to the deserted balcony, which Rafe had had roped off with a Closed sign at the bottom of the stairs and looked around. It didn’t take long for the telltale sweet smell to fill the area.

“Ah, what have we here? The gag-me gang and the demon child.” Caryon materialized next to a round table, Spyte right beside him. They were both dressed in their disco best, as if they’d been back in the seventies. Cary had on the full bell-bottomed pants and matching vest in white with a red and gold print shirt with full sleeves. He could have been Travolta in
Saturday Night Fever
. Spyte had done a white suit with an open-collared red shirt.

“Look at you two. Did you forget to check a calendar?” I couldn’t help taunting them. I hated them so much I wanted to spit, then kick them with my pointed-toe shoes if it wouldn’t have damaged the leather.

“It’s a dance club. We got into the spirit. And this is an homage to you, Glory. You do love the vintage look.” Cary grinned at me with fangs showing.

“Spyte? Not saying much. How are your eyes?” I felt Jerry’s hand squeeze my shoulder. I’d told him about the confrontation in the back room. Guess he thought I was pressing my luck now.

“I can see, no thanks to your chubby cherubs.” Spyte cackled. “Oh, I love that. Chubby like your chunky self, eh, Glory? Now you’ll never be a size six. We’ve got orders from Lucifer himself. You are on our no-fly list.”

“Good to know.” I smiled. “Now why don’t you two give up and go home. I’m sure there’s a torture chamber down there calling your names.”

“Gladly. Come here, Rafael.” Cary crooked his black claw. “Unless you have a surprise for us, Glory?”

“You can’t have him.” Jerry stepped in front of Rafe.

“Right. You have to go through us.” Ray was suddenly shoulder to shoulder with Jerry.

“Give it up, guys.” Rafe put his hands on their shoulders. “You can’t fight this.”

“How do you know? Have you tried?” Jerry glared at Caryon. “Concentrate. All of you. I’ve had centuries to build my power of mind control. I think I can make these assholes change their minds.”

I gasped. To try to manipulate the minds of demons? Was it possible? I focused on Spyte. He and Cary looked bemused, like maybe this was something new to them.

“Rafe, you too. Focus on them and make them think they are going to head home empty-handed.” Jerry was in his element, commanding the troops. I didn’t mind. I just prayed it worked. But then I looked around. Ray was stone. And those were the last words Jerry uttered. Because he was now a statue too.

“No! Please, can’t I do something to make you stop this?” I pressed my back against Rafe, trying to stop him as he walked around Jerry and toward the demons, a zombie and not his usual warm and caring self.

“Sure, there is, Glory. Deliver those souls you promised. Then we’ll leave Rafael alone. Forever. Done deal.” Spyte shed his disco garb for his clown suit. “Either way, we’re taking someone or a signed contract home with us. Time is up.”

“I’ll do it.”

I turned toward the top of the stairs. “Simon?” Leave it to the EV king to wait until I felt like I was on the ropes to make his grand entrance.

“My heart’s desire. Gloriana assured me that you could deliver.” Simon walked around my statue men and Rafe stopped, now a statue himself.

“Yes, of course. You must be Simon Destiny, king of the Energy Vampires.” Caryon grinned. “So deliciously evil. I can smell it from here. Delighted to meet you.” Cary waved a hand and a document and red pen appeared. “Let’s talk business. I heard Honoria met with a little, um, accident.” Cary looked at me. “Unfortunate. It left so many souls adrift.”

“Yes, it did. Souls I now have under my control.” Simon smiled. “I believe you might be interested?”

“We might. Well, Lucifer might. What do you want, Destiny?” Caryon got right down to details. I could see him quivering with excitement. This was a major coup.

“First, I need clarification.” Simon glanced at me. “As I told Gloriana, I want to make sure Honoria is actually gone. I saw some”—he cleared his throat and glared at me and my guys—“wreckage. But I want to be sure she can’t be resurrected. The creature was immortal. She would punish me for deserting her.”

“Ah, you want protection.” Cary nodded. “Consider it done. As far as we know, she’s deader than Glory’s chances of ever being a size six. But if she does happen to find a second wind . . .” Cary shuddered. “Well, Lucifer is actually a level above that three-headed thing. He can command her to leave you alone. But you will still be stripped of your special powers as an Energy Vampire. Can you live with that?”

Simon took a breath. “As long as you deliver on the promise that I will receive my heart’s desire as well. I believe you can see into my soul. I don’t want to spell it out here in front of
these
people.” He said that as if Jerry and the other men were inferiors he didn’t care to recognize. Simon was nothing if not arrogant.

“Oh, yes. Yes indeed. We can take care of everything. In ways you can’t imagine.” Spyte capered about the balcony, knocking over chairs and ruffling Rafe’s hair. “Who would have thought a man such as yourself would have . . .” He caught a hard look from Cary. “Never mind. Your secret’s safe with us.” He crossed his heart. “We always deliver. Quickly too. Just wait and see.”

“I want it in writing.” Simon blinked and I wondered if those had been tears in his eyes. No way.

“Of course.” Cary waved his hand. “Now, it’s all there. Look it over before you sign. I even threw in a power or two for you, to sweeten the deal. Lucifer takes care of his own.” He handed Simon the paper and pen, then turned to me with a fangy grin. “Well, Gloriana, seems you’ve been a busy girl after all. Well done.”

“My cherubs, as Spyte called them, arranged some alone time for me and I used it to talk to Simon and plan.” I saw him reading through the document carefully. “I never had a doubt. When Simon signs this, Rafe’s off the hook. Right?” I felt my stomach twist. Did this mean Simon planned to get back with my friend CiCi? And intended to act like a real father to Freddy? I hated the idea. But this Rafe situation was urgent. Besides, CiCi and Freddy were intelligent people, capable of making their own judgments about Simon. Just because Simon wanted them, didn’t mean they had to accept him into their lives.

“That was the deal. He signs, Rafael’s fine. Ooh, a rhyme. Almost. And just under the wire too.” Spyte did a cartwheel while Cary kept a close eye on Simon, a little more restrained in his excitement.

“It’s fine.” Simon signed it with a flourish. “Now how soon . . . ?”

“Simon?” CiCi appeared at the top of the stairs. “What did you just do?”

“My dear.” Simon turned and walked toward her. “I gave up the Energy Vampires.”

“Why? I thought that was your dream.” CiCi took his hands and I glanced back at Cary. Oops. He was gone, along with Spyte.

“Dreams can change. And there was no way that I could drag my son into that whole scene and not hate myself.” Simon glanced at me. “Gloriana helped me see that it wasn’t the best thing for Frederick.”

“Wow. I, just wow.” I jumped when a hand slid around my waist. Jerry, finally able to move. Rafe and Ray were mobile too. “CiCi, you weren’t supposed to come yet. The demons . . .”

“Why, it’s almost time for the birthday party. The caterer will be here soon. And then something told me I had to come now. That you needed me. Or someone did anyway. No matter how scared I was of those . . . things.” CiCi couldn’t seem to look away from Simon. “I just got in the car and drove as fast as I could. Ran a red light, I think.” She shook her head. “I don’t see any demons here.”

“No, they’re gone. For good, we hope.” I wanted to jerk her hands from Simon’s but I could see that wouldn’t go over well. This was hell pulling the strings now, part of making Simon’s dream come true. I could only hope he wouldn’t hurt her to make it happen.

Rafe shook his head. “Simon? You just signed over your soul to Lucifer?”

Simon shrugged. “No big deal. I’ve been on the fast track to hell for centuries. And this arrangement frees me to pursue”—he met CiCi’s gaze—“other interests.”

“So Rafe is seriously off the hook? Not going to be sucked down under?” Ray smiled at CiCi, who is very attractive and doesn’t look a day over thirty.

“No, Rafe’s fine. We made it in time.” I sagged with relief.

Ray moved closer to CiCi. “Israel Caine. Have we met?”

“No, I don’t believe we have. Though I saw you at Florence’s wedding and heard you sing. It was wonderful and I know Gloriana arranged it.” CiCi finally stepped away from Simon. “Cecilia von Repsdorf. My friends call me CiCi.”

“Thanks, CiCi. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Ray shook hands with her, then looked at me. “Now, sorry, but I’m more than ready to split. This has been one freaky night. Are we done here? Are you in the clear too, Glory?”

“Guess so.” I made myself approach Simon. “What are your plans, Simon?”

“No reason not to keep my crew together. They need a leader now that our powers are diminished. And we have our product line to sell. I still have all the formulas.” He shook his head as CiCi moved to the stairs to direct a man carrying in a birthday cake. “I know the goddess is gone, but I had to cover my back with that clause about reprisals. You have no idea how tricky those bitches can be.”

“I imagine. You’ll need another name for the group now. And to convince Freddy that you’re not in charge of the evil empire anymore.”

“Yes, there is that.” Simon kept his eyes on CiCi, who was talking to Ray again. “I definitely plan to stay in town and get to know my son better.”

“Right. Bond with him.” I kept my face neutral though I still didn’t like the idea of Simon anywhere near Freddy or CiCi. “They’re my friends, Simon. I hope you’ll be careful. I don’t want to see either Freddy or CiCi hurt.”

“Everything will work out for us. No one will get hurt.” Simon smiled as CiCi drifted over to his side again. “I have a guarantee that things will work in my favor.”

“And you trust the word of those demons?” Jerry stood close beside me.

“Why not?” Simon patted his breast pocket in the dark suit he wore where he’d stashed his copy of the agreement. “I’m very well acquainted with how hell works. This deal will stand. Otherwise . . .” He glanced at Rafe. “Well, let’s just say there’s honor among thieves and leave it at that.”

“Yeah, let’s leave it. All of it. I swear, if I didn’t know I was sober, I’d think I’d been hallucinating this whole freakin’ week.” Ray gave me a crooked smile. “Glory, I’ve suddenly got a song in my head dying to get out. Mind if I take off?”