The Quest (5 page)

I glanced down at the silver knob. Someone probably kept the doors locked, but I wanted to test them anyway. I grabbed the knob and tried to turn it. It didn’t move. With a deep breath, I lifted my balled fist. I needed inside the room, just a peek inside. I knocked on the door.

The clicking stopped and I heard a loud squeal. Footsteps patted on the floor. My heart jumped a few beats in anticipation. When the knob moved, I took a small step back.

An older man wearing glasses and a white lab coat peered through a small opening. “Yes, may I help you?” He had an accent, German perhaps.

I tilted from side to side, trying to sneak a peek past him. “I’m new. In fact, today is my first day. I’m supposed to be working in the cage, but I’ve lost my way. This place is like a maze.”

He smiled, emphasizing the lines near his mouth. He widened the gap in the door. “Yes, yes, one can easily get lost down here.”

As he gave me directions, I nodded and scanned the area past him. Bright florescent lights filled the room. A desk backed up to the wall. The item that captured my attention the most was the large silver flatbed in the middle of the room. Staring at it, a series of images flashed in my mind. Me lying on a silver table. Blood, lots of blood. A man with a scalpel.

The phone rang from behind him, jolting me.

“Can you find your way back now?” he asked with a kind smile.

I swallowed. “Yes, thank you. Sorry to have bothered you.” I backed away from him.

The phone rang again. He gave me a nod before he shut the door.

I strode down the hall fast, my heart racing. The images I’d seen were horrific and gruesome. I didn’t want to see them again. Yet, I needed to know what happened to me, why I’d been in there. If Boss probed deeper into my mind, he might be able to help me find answers.

Before I reached the cage, I leaned my shoulder against the wall. The image of me lying on the metal bed reappeared in my mind’s eye. Straps held me down, and I felt the flesh below my navel cut open. On another table at my side, I saw an organ sitting in a silver bowl with ice.

“No,” I whispered. Bile shot up my throat.

“Shelley?” Lizzy asked, standing in the open doorway. “Are you all right?”

I stepped away from the wall, rubbing my fingers over my temple. My head ached fiercely and a strong ringing in my ears seemed to reinforce the pain. The churning in my stomach wasn’t helping either. “I fell outside and hit my head.”

“Oh my gosh,” she said, backing up to let me pass. “Maybe you should leave early.”

“No, I’ll be fine. I just need some aspirin.” I stopped near the counter.

Lizzy unlocked the gate and pushed it open. “I have some prescription-strength medicine if you need any.”

“Really?” Considering I’d have to take at least ten regular pills to help lessen the pain, I was willing to try anything that might offer quicker relief. “If you don’t mind sharing, I need something to help me get through the rest of the night.”

I sat on the stool while Lizzy dug inside the file cabinet. Her generosity and concern won points for her, but I still didn’t trust her. After all, she worked for the Senator.

“Here you go.” She handed me two pills. “They’re three times the strength of regular aspirin.”

I popped them in my mouth and swallowed. “Where did you get them?”

“I get migraines a lot. I told the Senator, and she sent me to one of the doctor’s here.” She tightened the ponytail behind her head.

Oh, great. If the pills came from the same quack I’d just spoken to, maybe I needed to force them back up.

“Why do they have doctors here?” I asked.

“Oh, you know.” She gave a carefree wave of her hand. “In case the Senator gets ill. She spends so much time here, she likes to have a doctor on staff at all times.”

I had a feeling that doctor was no ordinary doctor. Had he recognized me? He didn’t act like it. I sure didn’t recognize him.

“Are you sure you don’t want him to check you out?”

Oh, I was quite certain I didn’t want him near me. “I’ll be fine. Care to show me what it is exactly that you do around here?”

She stepped up to the counter and tapped the space bar on the keyboard. “It’s really easy.”

An hour and a half later, I agreed with her and my headache was manageable. She showed me where to look in the database and told me where to find the labels on the cabinets and shelves. I even helped a demon looking for a document from the 1930s. Since people were allowed to find records and make copies, we were responsible for returning the originals, which gave me plenty of opportunities to dig around–a task I planned to work on the next night on the job.

After Lizzy left for the night, I sat at the desk and filled in a spreadsheet of the documents checked out. She’d left clear instructions to return the items once I logged them. Easy enough. Once I completed the record, I took my stack of papers and headed down the aisle.

The warehouse had an eerie, ghostly feel. The lights in the ceiling buzzed and the soft clicks from far away gave indication rats were in search of food. Considering the sheer size of the warehouse, I wondered if bats and other types of critters were hiding.

Turning down an aisle, I sniffed a floral scent. I stopped fast, holding the stack of papers in front of my chest. The pleasant aroma was one I hadn’t smelled since Tabby was in the hospital, recovering from the shot in her stomach.

“Benny?” I asked softly. The full-blooded angel had a habit of popping in and out of places.

Seconds later, his imaged emerged from the shelf as he passed through it. He wore his usual button down shirt and dark pants. His wavy locks and youthful look would impress any young female.

“I haven’t seen you in a while,” I said, smiling. Truth was, I missed him. Though he often spoke cryptically, I welcomed his help and information.

He stepped closer, keeping his hands wedged in his pockets. “I had to protect a couple of extra people lately.”

“Staying busy then?” I asked. My inner voice chuckled. Oh, to live the life of angel, protecting lives without the risk of death, basking in the sun and delivering messages to the living.

“Yes, very.” He stopped a few feet in front of me with a grave look on his face. “I can’t stay. I came to give you a warning.”

My heart suddenly felt heavy. A warning from an angel couldn’t be good.

Chapter 4

I stared into Benny’s glassy brown eyes. The angel had died at the tender age of twenty, but had roamed the Earth for the last seven centuries, protecting lives and sending messages to help people. I envied his righteousness and admired his kind heart. When Benny had something to say, every word had meaning.

“What is it?” I asked after I drew in a deep breath.

“You’re in danger. You have to leave.” His soft voice reflected his calm attitude.

While I knew working for the Senator had its risks, I never imagined I would have received a threat from another demon and a warning from an angel in the same night.

“I can’t leave,” I said, lowering the stack of papers to my side.

Benny tilted his head. He narrowed his eyes as if he were examining me. “You will stay here even though I have told you your life is in danger?”

“I have a job to do, a very important one.”

“Worth your life?”

I hesitated before I replied. “Yes.” Like most living creatures, I didn’t want my life ripped from me, but if my actions saved others, than yes, I’d donate it. And I did believe Galluzzi had the potential to take more lives.

Benny lifted his chin. “You have a brave soul. I believe you will achieve your goal.”

The clairvoyant angel sure had a way with words. “You
believe
I will or I will?”

A smile blossomed on his face. “You have the ability.”

Of course, he wouldn’t give me a straight answer. No. The angel used vague responses, leaving me to ponder what the hell he truly intended to say. For once, why couldn’t he give me a simple, to the point, answer?

“Can I call you if I need help?” I asked.

“You can call, but I can’t guarantee that I can help you.”

Fair enough. “Thanks for the warning.”

He gave a slow nod before he disappeared into the shelf, taking his heavenly floral scent with him.

I inhaled a deep breath. What a night. I had so much to share with Boss, Jonas and Tabby, I doubted I’d get any rest when I returned to the house.

Staying positive in mind and spirit, I continued with my job as normal and filed the documents. When I finished, I spent forty-five minutes looking up information in the database. I played around with dates, trying to determine the oldest record. Yes, they actually had documents dating back to the sixteen hundreds, but I didn’t need records that old. I needed something more current.

Still fishing in the database, I selected clans from one of the menu options and discovered demons had the largest volume of records. I also found entries for demigods, undead, fairies and aliens, but I didn’t locate a single item on angels. Interesting.

Five minutes before the end of my shift, an older man with a slouched back strolled into the cage, sliding his shoes over the floor and carrying a white grocery bag in one hand. He had thin, white hair, wrinkly skin with plenty of sun scars and thick glasses that enlarged his eyes. Dressed in a yellow, button-down shirt tucked inside brown slacks, he had a businesslike appearance. He stopped in front of the gate and stared at me.

“Are you going to sit there or buzz me in?”

I slid off the stool. “Well, who are you, and how can I help you?”

He lifted his State ID. “I’m Zachary, and I’m here for my shift. Now, will you let me in?”

The old man looked weak, but his attitude had plenty of spunk.

I hit the button and the buzzer sounded. “Sorry, I’m new here. Lizzy didn’t tell me who was coming in after me.”

Zachary slowly made it around to my side, letting the gate close on its own. He dropped his plastic bag onto the counter and metal clinked. “So you’re the new one?”

“Yes, I’m Shelley Baxter.” I held out my hand for him, and he shook it. “Have you worked here long?”

He rubbed his fat, wrinkled fingers over one of his bushy brows. “Oh, not really. Just thirty years.”

I stared with amazement at the old guy. Thirty years in one job was a long time. He could retire.

“Have I met you before?” he asked.

I took a step back. What an unusual question. “Not that I know of. Have you?”

He rummaged through his bag and withdrew a large bottle of Dr. Pepper. “You look familiar, but my memory isn’t what it used to be.”

I grinned. Neither was mine.

Not commenting, I turned and headed for the short filing cabinet to claim my purse. As I slid the metal drawer open, the phone in my bag started buzzing. I snatched my purse and slammed the drawer shut.

“In a hurry to leave?” Zachary asked.

My phone vibrated again. I suspected it was either Boss or Jonas calling to let me know they were waiting for me. Since I was more than ready to leave, I didn’t bother to answer it.

“Yes, I have someone here to pick me up.” I stopped in front of the gate and waited for Zachary to hit the button.

“Don’t let the politics here influence you,” he said before the annoying buzz sounded.

Oh, I wouldn’t. “Have a good morning,” I said, shutting the gate behind me.

I hated politics. If I could live on an island far away with a lover and endless supply of food, I would. Of course, I’d have to have a supplier of blood too. Thinking of the thick substance instantly stirred my hunger. I needed a fix.

When I reached the main floor, I withdrew my phone. Boss had called. I touched the screen, activating the redial sequence.

“Where are you?” he asked, sounding a bit agitated.

“Walking toward the exit now. Are you parked?”

“Parked and waiting.”

“Be there soon.” I ended the call and slid the phone back into my purse.

Excitement fueled my steps. The heels of my boots echoed in the empty Statehouse. Due to the late hour, or rather early hour, the guys said they’d pick me up in front of the capital. The shortened walk was a blessing given I craved substance.

Reaching the doors, I shoved them open and jogged down the concrete steps. A parked car waited at the curb. Boss, wearing dark pants and a loose blazer, had his arms crossed while he leaned against the SUV. Though he had somewhat short hair, three-inch bangs covered his eyes with the help of the wind. He raked a hand through his locks while keeping his gaze pointed at me.

“You’re late,” he said as I drew near.

I frowned. “What, two minutes?” I stopped in front of him.

He opened the back door for me. “Jonas told me about what happened earlier. In case you need a reminder, minutes can make the difference between life and death.”

The hardass vampire had a way of getting on my nerves, but I still respected and cared for him. Sure, we had our problems in the beginning. He thought I was an abomination. Over time, and with the help of Jonas and Tabby, he realized I wasn’t such a repulsive creature. We even had an intimate moment once, but we both agreed the incident was to satisfy our carnal needs. Quite frankly, my needs were growing, and if I didn’t get sated soon, I’d have to get my groove on with the vamp again.

I brushed my windblown hair from my face, showing him my forehead. “No worries. I don’t even have a mark.”

“No, of course not. I bet the demon who shoved you into the brick wall knew you would heal fast.”

I started to snap back, but a loud screech from the sky stopped me. Boss and I glanced in the direction of the shrill sound and found a garguman perched on top of the building across the street. The naked gray creature flapped his wings and cried out again.

“Get in the car,” Boss said.

I quickly leaped into the back seat. Boss slammed my door and settled into the front.

“Those pesky men must have a liking for you,” Jonas said, staring out his front window.

“Drive, but don’t go fast,” Boss said. “I want it to follow us.”

“What?” I scooted between the seats to get a better view. “Why?”