Page 64 of Incubus Vampire Slayer
“Yep! Totally okay!” I say, finally straightening fully up and sounding about as convincing as a little boy elbow-deep in a cookie jar. “Sorry!”
“Uh-huh,” she says. She looks over to the kids. Ms. Stryker does not like kids. “And these children—can you tell me whotheybelong to?”
I take a breath and try not to sound like a complete basket case. “Well, one of them, Emma, is the daughter of Nicole from down the hall in the Aston Building. She hired us to find her while you were out. I mean… she came by the office, and I told her we would help.” Ms. Stryker’s eye twitches. I realize I’m digging myself in deeper, but I just can’t help myself. “And then I, uh, decided to take the case. On my own.”
“Which brought you here. To fight vampires. And stop a god.” She doesn’t sound impressed. In fact, she sounds pretty angry.
“I mean, there’s more to it than that,” I say, wilting. Her gaze is so piercing, I can’t even look at her. “But basically. Yeah.”
“Right,” she says. “Well, this building is quite a scene. Massive front door ripped off its hinges. Dead human security guard upstairs. Kidnapped children. Remnants of infernal power. Blood and vampire guts everywhere. How comfortable are you going to be talking to the authorities about what exactly happened here?”
There’s no way I can account for that stuff without revealing what I really am. I’m supposedly just a human intern with zero training! Collin looks on with worried sympathy, but he’s not cueing me with any smart responses. Seems I’ve already dug my own grave here.
“Um, not very, boss.”
There’s a long moment where she locks eyes with me, and it feels like she’s staring directly into my soul. Then she removes her cell phone and dials.
“Detective Bristol, I am currently in a sub-basement of the Benevolent Society of San Cipriano in San Francisco. There are thirteen juveniles who need medical attention, as well as several undead bodies that should be secured. I will meet you outside in thirty minutes, after I’ve made certain the area is safe. Do not come before then. It’ll be too dangerous.”
She clicks off and returns her phone to her utility belt.
“I’ve bought you about fifteen minutes to get back to the office before the whole block is cordoned off. Later tonight, we will have a very serious, very honest conversation. But for now, I just need the highlights so I can come up with a convincing story that won’t leave local law enforcement asking more questions.”
“Oh.Okay!” I quickly nod, both surprised and very grateful. “Of course! Whatever you need!”
“That’s therightattitude. Now, the last time we saw each other, I believe I was encouraging you to have a little fun this weekend.”
She throws her arm over my shoulder and fixes me with a fierce grin. “So, tell me, Alvin—exactlyhow muchfun did you have?”
Epilogue
I am being huntedin broad daylight by an elven knight. Again.
But this time, I’m not alone.
I glance over at Collin, merrily striding at my side in his green tunic and gray wool trousers. He winks at me, confident I can handle whatever’s coming. It's nearly 9 a.m., and I'm sharing the sidewalk with the Tenderloin business-casual crowd on their way to work, navigating around the flattened cardboard beds and scattered takeout containers that litter the sidewalk. But there’s a narrow alleyway ahead I could duck into if I had to keep them safe.
One thing I’m not doing is running.
I slide the molded pulp tray with two hot coffees I’m carrying under one arm and turn to face Prince Eirian. I figure the glamour he must be using will keep us from showing up on someone’s social media feed.
The elf warrior is in his full plate mail, ice sword in hand. It’s dripping fat snowflakes which drift off into thecold San Francisco morning breeze. His silver hair gets lost against the sky’s bright cloudlike fog.
“You should put that away before someone gets hurt, Your Highness,” I say, making sure I’m smiling.
He returns my smile coolly, and sheaths his weapon. “I am well aware of how unobservant you can be, so I did not want to startle you. I hoped the shine of my weapon might catch your eye.”
“Right.” The corner of my lip quirks. “Approaching me with a blade is much more chill. Not to mention a bit nostalgic.” I let go of the snark when I remember Lord of the Rings here actually saved my life. “Ms. Stryker told me what you did. It seems I owe you my thanks.”
His countenance is frosty. “You do not owe me anything. The checks my foundation provided to the residents of Hunters Point, as well as theothers, were merely the fulfillment of obligations I took on myself.”
Those other hefty checks would be to the guy whose car I was forced to steal and to Ms. Stryker herself for the damage done to her home. Apparently, she approached Eirian in person expecting full restitution and made averycompelling argument as to why it was in his interest to comply. (She was particularly salty about the fact that one of his minions had spirited away her bone box while she was helping with fae negotiations—an act that was in complete violation of guest rights. It’s how he was able to intercept my message. Still, in the end, he did come through.)
“That’s not what I meant,” I say. “She said you told her where I was and what I was up against.”
The rest of his face remains still, but there’s a sparklebehind his eyes. “I’m afraid I do not know what you are talking about, incubus. If I had done such a thing, you would indeed owe me, but I recognize no debt between us. I am here on behalf of my queen to deliver a message.”
It’s cool he’s letting me off the hook for that—for whatever reason—but the relief I experience is short lived. Anything that involves one of the fae queens is a huge deal.
