Four

After convincing Ashby that traveling through the shadows wasn’t going to hurt him, Kaela took everyone to Lucy’s. The only place in the entire building that had an area dark enough to travel through was an area by the hostess stand. It was the only way in or out.

The rest of the building was elegant and well lit. The walls were treated with an old theater style. Long crimson curtains hung from the ceiling, with pillars on either side, to separate the entrance from the main eating area.

Beyond the main room were several large doors. One set lead to the kitchen area. The others lead to private rooms used to hold meetings. One of those rooms, the Crimson Room, was reserved by the Council for any of its members to use.

As Kaela stepped from the shadow, the hostess looked up and smiled. “Joining us for lunch today, Miss Vane? Will you be using the Crimson Room?”

Kaela returned the smile with one of her own, “Yes. If you could send Lucian in, I’d like to talk to him. Also, we’d like the witch menus instead.”

“Of course. I will let him know you’re waiting in the Crimson Room. Please, go make yourself comfortable.”

Kaela led the way through the main dining area, which was unusually full for lunchtime, and straight to the large oak doors that had the words Crimson Room burned into them. The doors were heavy, even for a vampire. Once inside, Kaela threw the lock on the door.

“How’s this Lucian person supposed to get in if you locked the door?” Ashby asked, confusion in his eyes. Kaela only smiled and headed toward the large cushioned dining chair at the end of the table.

“Lucian person, that’s a new one,” a male voice came from the back of the room. Ashby and Silver turned toward the voice. Shadow just stared at Kaela with his seductive grin on his face. Lucian was a master vampire and a member of the Council. He was one of the rare few that could travel without shadows, making it easier for him to police his own establishment.

Lucian took a step toward the table and Kaela finally turned to smile at him. “Kaela, child, what brings you here today? Not Executioner business, I hope?” Lucian asked, his ancient eyes showing a flicker of concern.

Shaking her head, she hugged him. “Its nice to see you again, Lucy. And yes, I’m afraid this does have to do with my night job. It could very well impact the entire Council.”

Silver cleared her throat, “I thought we came here to discuss Ashby?”

Kaela turned and shook her head, “Ashby is only here so he can learn all he can about the way things work. He is a night dweller now, which puts him under my protection. His ignorance will get him killed once he is recognized as one of us.”

“Kaela is being stalked by a were that can manipulate her abilities. She hasn’t been able to sense a soul whenever the were is nearby. It may affect her ability to perform her duties as the Executioner,” Shadow murmured.

Lucian sighed, “When did this start?”

“Last night,” Kaela said, finally sitting down in the chair. Everyone but Lucian followed her lead. “Lucy, would you mind getting us a few of the witch specials?”

“Of course.” Lucian was gone. Ashby went pale.

“I’m never going to get used to that,” Ash whispered.

Kaela turned and stared at him, “Well, you’re going to have to. I think Shadow is right, Angel City’s nightlife being exposed is becoming too big of a risk. We may have to send some of our people to Neo Washington and discuss letting the cat out of the bag. I think its time the humans know why they are still alive.”

Shadow blinked, “You were the one dead set against it.”

“I still am. But if a simple were is starting to affect my abilities, it is becoming clear that I can’t keep doing this alone. What if the day vampires decide they’re going to start acting up? I can’t be everywhere. I can’t keep making stories go away at the Angel Times, either.”

Shadow nodded, “I’ll call a Council meeting tonight after your tag. We can discuss it then. Right now, I think we should enjoy our food.”

As if on cue, Lucian returned with a tray of food. A sweet aroma reached Kaela and her attention reverted to the tray. “Oh, Lucian, that smells great.”

Lucian laughed, “I’m glad you approve. Mind if I join you for lunch?”

Kaela grinned, “It’d be lovely to have a meal with you again, Lucy. It’s been awhile.” Lucian set the plates down on the table and took a seat beside Kaela.

The room suddenly went dark. Kaela jumped to her feet and sent a wave of probing energy out. Lucian had his electrical system rigged so that if one generator went out, two more kicked in to prevent a blackout. He had a total of ten generators and they were repaired daily. If the lights were to go out, anyone could get in past the security system at the entrance.

Kaela slowly drew her dagger from its sheath in her boot and spun around as she sensed movement behind her. The dagger only caught air as some sort of blade struck home in her shoulder. She cried out and swung wildly at the hidden assailant.

“Are you alright, Kaela?” Shadow asked, instantly at her side. Her eyes were starting to adjust to the darkness and she could see every detail as clear as day. But no one was in the room other than the two witches, Shadow, and Lucian. A long sleek blade stuck out of her shoulder, black blood seeping out around the wound.

Still sensing the threat, Kaela merely nodded. She quickly pulled the blade from her shoulder. The wound burned and screamed at her, but she gritted her teeth as it slowly started to close.“I’m fine,” she muttered as the burning slowly eased. But it didn’t go away. Instead, it remained as a dull throb in her shoulder. Knowing it wasn’t normal, she told herself to have it looked at later.

Testing the weight of the new weapon, she discarded her dagger on the floor. Whoever had attacked her was now moving through the main dining hall and toward the front. She ran through the shadows to catch up with them. Shadow was right behind her the entire time. “Stay here,” she heard him tell the witches.

The dining hall was mostly clear save a few witches and weres that couldn’t leave without help. Kaela made her way past the tables, virtually walking through most of them with the help of the shadows surrounding her. She could see a figure near the front of the room, but was always far ahead of her when she thought she had caught up.

“This is getting old,” Shadow murmured. “I’m going to try and get ahead of him. He’s heading for the entrance. I don’t understand why he’s not just jumping out?”

“Because he wants us to follow him. Something isn’t right,” Kaela breathed. The pain in her shoulder was messing with her senses. The burning had spread down her left arm. Was the blade tainted with something?

Ahead of them, the figure stopped moving. Kaela stared at it for a minute. She focused on the blade in her hand and spun, driving it deep into the were that stood behind her. Just as she did, the generators kicked in and illuminated the room.

The red blood on the blade, mixed with her own, was the only indication that someone truly had been behind her. Blinking at the empty dining hall, she turned back to where Shadow had been. He was further ahead, standing by the entrance to Lucy’s.

“It was your tag, Kaela. The vampire we were chasing was your tag. I didn’t see much of him, but I recognized his mark. There aren’t any others left in Angel City, that I know of, with that mark that are still walking. It had to be him.”

Kaela stared at Shadow. His words were garbled, but she still understood and heard what he said. She whispered, “The were was here as well.”

Falling to her knees, Kaela felt the room start to spin. Shadow was at her side in an instant, holding her. The burning in her arm flared to life and began spreading rapidly through her body. It was like her blood was boiling. The blade fell out of her hand as she collapsed against him.

“Lucian!” Shadow yelled. Seconds later, Lucian was at their side. Silver and Ashby appeared from behind the Crimson Room’s doors.

“What happened?” Lucian demanded.

“I have no idea. Can you get us back to the Council? I think there was something on the rapier’s blade. She pulled it out of her shoulder back in the Crimson Room, I think he got her with it. I want to get someone looking at it right away to see what it was.”

Kaela, barely conscious, opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. She coughed, feeling the burning in her lungs as well. She silently cursed at herself for not being more careful. Not once since she became the Executioner did she get caught off guard. Sure, she had battle wounds. But never was she given the first blow.

Lucian waved Silver and Ashby over to them. “Have one of my girls escort you out and back to work. I think it might be a good idea if Ashby came with us.”

Silver nodded, “I agree. Take care of Kaela. Be sure that someone calls me if anything changes.” She headed to the front of the building to seek an escort out as Lucian willed the four of them away to the Council.

The sudden wave of energy from Lucian caused the burning sensation to explode in Kaela. For a brief moment, there was no feeling at all, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Then, as if the energy itself triggered it, she screamed out in pain. Not only was her blood boiling, but her body felt like it was on fire.

Shadow stared at Lucian as they arrived at the Council. “What is wrong with her?” he asked, clutching Kaela close to him. “What sort of magic is this?”

“Jonah,” Kaela coughed, “It’s…Jonah.” She recognized the torture spells Jonah had witches brew for him. They were the same spells he had used on her all those years ago, the same magic that haunted her in the form of nightmares.

Jonah had set his sights on her again, and she had to be ready for the next wave of attacks. She had to be. If he wanted to, he could send her spiraling back down to where he had her all those years ago. He had the will and the means to do so.

“Is she going to be okay?” Ashby asked softly, staring at Kaela. What was she going to do about him? Such a gentle soul should not be caught up in this, but just by being at Lucy’s today he was now a target. She did not need this.

And now she was changing her mind about unveiling Angel City’s darkest secret. What in Lucifer’s name was she thinking? Kaela coughed again as she felt Shadow carry her down the hall in the direction of his inner chambers. Ashby was following, but no Lucian.

“Welcome back,” Shadow murmured. “You passed out for a little while there.” Kaela opened her eyes and realized she was in Shadow’s bed, surrounded by thick fur blankets. “Ashby and I were having a nice chat. I didn’t know he was from Houston.”

All that remained of Jonah’s spell was a headache that would put a hangover to shame. Kaela looked around the dim room and spotted Shadow and Ashby on the leather couch on the far end. Slowly, she sat up.

“Woah, should she be getting up so soon?” Ashby asked. “I thought you said–”

“Kaela’s a special case,” Shadow interrupted.

“Say what?” Kaela asked, finally standing. Dizziness washed over her for a minute, but she fought it off. After all that Jonah had put her through all those years ago, a simple torture spell was not going to slow her down.

“Don’t worry about it. How are you feeling?”

“Like hell. Did you hear what I said? That it was Jonah?”

“Yeah, I was just telling Ash about Jonah. To, you know, get him up to speed on the situation. Lucian went to inform the Council’s day members what happened. Then he went back to help with the damages at the restaurant.”

“I don’t think the vamp at Lucy’s was my tag, Shadow, I think it was Jonah. I could detect my tag. Jonah clouds my senses. He’s been there every time that were was.”

Shadow nodded, “Yeah. That’s what I was thinking after you mentioned Jonah. Which means you need to get ready to go out, like, now. It’s after sundown.”

Kaela blinked, “I’ve been out that long?”

“Yeah. We tried to wake you, but you were down for the count. Let me grab some weapons and we can swing by your place and get ready. Oh, and you’ll be happy to know that Marina is out of the defense department and back behind a desk where she belongs.”

“Good. Lucifer help her, she’ s too young.”

Ashby cleared his throat, “What about me?”

Shadow looked at him and then back at Kaela, “Want to leave him with Nessie? Or take him back by Silver?”

Kaela sighed. She wanted Silver at the Council. But would she listen? Probably not. “Has someone called Silver?”

Shadow’s face went pale and he shook his head. “No, and I bet we’re going to get our ass chewed for not doing so. Maybe I should make that call now.”

“Tell her to get her ass over here and bring a few bags. She’s going to be staying here awhile. Jonah is going to target those close to me, so I want to keep them even closer. Get Nessie to set up a room for Silver and Ashby. I’ll meet you back at my place.”

Shadow nodded, “Do you need anything?”

“Just you.”

“Fair enough. I’ll take care of everything and be right over.” Shadow turned to leave. He paused a moment and turned back to Kaela. “Oh, and Kaela? I’m glad you’re okay.”

Grabbing Ashby as he left the room, Shadow headed off to take care of things around the Council. Satisfied, Kaela stepped into the shadows and headed home. She emerged in her private room and began packing up her weapons. After the tag tonight, she would be moving back to the Council.

“Life was so much simpler when I was alive,” she muttered to herself and stared at herself in the mirror as she began to undress.