Ghost Light (15 page)

The master of the city wasn’t alone.  Sir Gaius Aurelius, master of the city and chairman of the northeastern vampire council, sat at the head of a long table surrounded by the most powerful vamps of New England.  From the looks of it, the entire vampire council was present.

Gerry, you plucky duck.
  I looked over my shoulder to where Gerald stood in the shadows.  He was leaning against the wall and when he saw me turn, he grinned, showing more fang than usual.  The vamp had known the council was in session, but brought me in anyway.  I’m sure he was enjoying my discomfort.

Touché.

I sighed and returned my attention to the gathered council members.  The vamps sat around a large table in the center of the lavish banquet hall.  The council was made up of the most powerful vampires in the North East, and every single one of them was staring at me.  I felt like a bug pinned to velvet for their amusement.

I did a quick threat assessment. 
Oh yeah, we were screwed.
  There were thirteen vampires seated at the table.  With Gerald at my back, that made fourteen vampires total.  The vamps continue to stare at me, and all but one sat eerily still.

Sir Gaius, master of the city, who I’d mentally nicknamed The Boss on my last visit, sat with fingers steepled.  The tips of his fingers rustled like dead leaves as they tapped repeatedly together.  Blood pounded in my ears as everyone in the room waited for the master of the city to speak.

I flexed my hands, but kept them at my sides away from my weapons.  I wasn’t here for a fight, but, if push came to shove, this little bug could sting.  I lifted my chin and stared at Sir Gauis’ forehead.

I’m not sure what Ceff saw when he looked at the assembled crowd, but I’d warned him ahead of time not to trust his eyes.  Vampires change their appearance with innate magic similar to faerie glamour.  Their magic portrays the image of a sexy, beautiful creature with seductive eyes, full lips, and alabaster skin—and for good reason.  Vamps would never lure an easy blood meal without hiding behind their magic.

Vampires in their true form are nothing more than fanged corpses, dried out husks of flesh and bone.  Their skin, the color and texture of dried parchment, is stretched tightly over bones and skulls giving each face a toothy, rictus grin.  The watery parts of the body are always the first to go, and these vamps were old.  They all stared out from empty eye sockets above gaping sinus cavities.

Too bad the lack of eyeballs didn’t lessen the risk of mesmerism.  Vampires can only permanently change memories through the introduction of their saliva—one of the few sources of moisture still produced by their bodies—but their ability to ensnare minds with a look is legendary.  I wasn’t about to let these creeps ensnare me with their gruesome eye sockets.

I focused on The Boss’s forehead and bowed slightly.

“Corpse candle,” he said.

“Sir Gauis,” I said, nodding.

The master of the city had addressed me this way before, but I hadn’t known who, or what, I was at the time.  Corpse candle is another term for wisp.  Not the most flattering address, but accurate.  I wondered how the vampire knew that I was fae.

Maybe those empty eye sockets saw more than they let on.

“What could be so important that it demands our attention during a council meeting?” he asked.

There was an edge to his voice and my eyes darted to the other vamps.  They continued to sit unmoving, but a flick of Gaius’ wrist was all that kept the council from launching themselves at our throats.  One water fae and one half-breed against thirteen vamps in a magically sealed chamber?  Not good odds.  Oh, make that fourteen vamps.  We couldn’t forget ol’ Gerry in the shadows.  He’d be the first on me, if I angered Sir Gaius.

I’d just have to play nice.

“I am sorry to disturb your meeting,” I said.  “I was unaware that the council had gathered.  But now that we’re here, I have a question for the master of the city that perhaps you can all assist us with.”

“You put a question to the council?” Sir Gaius asked.

I flicked my eyes to Ceff, but he gave a slight head shake.  The phrasing of Gaius’ words sounded formal, similar to entering a bargain, but I was here to ask a question and I didn’t have time for games.  Ceff and I were shooting in the dark.  I took a deep breath and gave a curt nod.

“Yes, I have a question,” I said.

“And what do you offer us, supplicant?” Sir Gaius asked.

His lips pulled back from needle-sharp teeth.  I stifled a shudder and wracked my brain for something I could offer the most powerful vampire in Harborsmouth.  Not blood, that was for damn sure.

I thought back to recent bargains I had made.  There had to be something I could use again.

Fetching something on a deadline?  That bargain had nearly got me killed.  The Cailleach was one scary old crone. Two favors to be named later?  No way.  I was already regretting entering into that agreement.  The Green Lady was one damn savvy negotiator.  My bargain with the clurichaun wasn’t nearly as bad.  Work a future case for free?  Jinx didn’t like it when I worked a case pro-bono, but it was better than bloodletting or owing surprise favors to the undead.

“I offer the vampire council the services of Private Eye detective agency,” I said.  “I agree to work one case of your choosing free of charge in exchange for truthful answers to our questions.”

“Agreed,” Sir Gaius said.  The bargain settled on my soul like dead weight.  I gasped for air as invisible iron bands constricted my chest.  Gaius may not be fae, but I had enough faerie blood running through my veins to make the deal binding.  “What is your question?”

I struggled to speak as the bargain shifted and I regained my balance.

“Over thirty faerie children have gone missing,” I said.

The master of the city moved vamp fast, suddenly standing with hands splayed on the table.

“Despite our reputation as monsters, we have strict laws against feeding upon children,” he said.  Gaius’ voice lowered to a deep whisper that sent shivers up my spine.  “Do you dare accuse us of this crime in our own council room?”

I swallowed hard, but kept my eyes on the vampire’s forehead.

“No, there is no evidence of vamps…um, of vampires being involved,” I said.  “But you are masters of the night, and these children all went missing during the darkest hours of night.  You are also gifted at raising the dead, expertise that may help us answer questions about the kidnappers.”

“Go on,” he said.

My jugular was surprisingly still intact, but I didn’t waste time beating around the bush.  I’d already angered the master vamp.

“We think a lamia named Melusine and a faerie musician known as The Pied Piper may be involved,” I said.

One of the council vamps hissed and I palmed one of the wooden stakes I kept tucked into my belt.  I was careful to keep the stake hidden from sight.  Was it something I said?  I was trying to be polite, even played to the vamps vanity, but I still managed to get them riled.

“We know of The Piper,” Sir Gaius said.  “He is a faerie who was gifted at musical compulsion, for a half-breed.  The Piper had the ability to compel both rats and humans, but apparently that power wasn’t enough.  There are rumors that The Piper made a deal with a demon.  In exchange for an enchanted flute that gives him the ability to extend his life, The Piper gathers souls for Hell.”

The Piper was a half-breed like me?  That explained his desire for immortality.  True blooded fae are immortal, but half-breeds with the taint of mortal blood have shorter lives than other fae.  We live longer than the healthiest of humans, but we don’t live forever.

I didn’t like having anything in common with a sociopathic kidnapper, especially one who made deals with demons.  I frowned and pushed on with my questions.

“How does this demon flute work?” I asked.

I wasn’t asking for myself, not at all.  But understanding the flute’s magic may help us find and rescue the children.

“Legend has it that the flute was forged in the fires of Hell,” Gaius said.  “The instrument allows the user to compel any creature, alive or dead, to join the Danse Macabre.  This dance is a perversion of the endless dance favored by faeries and uses demonic magic to animate the dead.”  A second vamp hissed, flashing fang.  “While dancing hand in hand with the dead, the souls of living victims are pulled down to Hell.  The life essence left behind is carried away on the music and absorbed into The Piper, sustaining his false immortality.”

More vamps hissed and gripped the table.  Apparently, the hypocrites didn’t like anyone else animating the dead or cheating death.  Good to know.

“How can I stop the Danse Macabre?” I asked.

“That knowledge is hidden from us,” he said.

Damn.  Okay, I now knew what The Piper was up to and how he would make it happen.  But I still needed to know where the Danse Macabre would take place and how to stop it.

“Any idea where I can find The Piper?” I asked.

“No, but he will need a location of power near a resting place of the dead,” he said.

I nodded deeply, but didn’t bow.

“I thank the council for answers to my questions,” I said.  “Call when you have a case for me.”

I stepped forward and placed a business card on the stone table.

“Oh, we will,” he said.

Sinister laughter followed us as we strode out of the chamber.

Chapter 16

I
exited the banquet hall and stopped, letting my eyes adjust to the dim light.  Gerald stayed inside the council chamber, adding his chuckles to the chorus of creepy vampire laughter.  I wondered briefly if we were expected to let ourselves out.

No such luck.

We were met in the hallway by the master’s pet ghoul, Stinky.  I’d given the ghoul the nickname on my first visit.  He’d been ripe and falling apart months ago.  Now Stinky more than lived up to his name.

I pinched my nose and moaned.  Ceff snickered, but his skin paled as the doors closed behind us, making the stench grow tenfold.

Stinky shuffled along, leaving behind a trail of putrid slime.  I dodged the foul liquid, wishing I could get ahead of the ghoul.  But the narrow passageway didn’t allow for much elbow room, and I wasn’t sure how Stinky would react if I tried to hustle past.

If I couldn’t run up ahead, then maybe I could get Stinky to speed things up.

“Um, hey, we’re in a big hurry,” I said.  Talking?  Big mistake.  My mouth filled with the stench of decomposing ghoul.  I covered my mouth and mumbled.  “Can we pick up the pace a little?”

Stinky shrugged, the movement accompanied by the wet sound of flesh pulling off bone.  I wasn’t going to eat meat for a week.  The ghoul didn’t look back at us, but he did try to move faster.  Unfortunately, that meant leaving more than a trail of liquid in his path.

“Careful of the toe,” Ceff said through clenched teeth.

I dodged the chunk of rotting flesh and shook my head.

“That’s toe-tally gross,” I said.

I have a habit of making bad puns when I’m stressed and overtired.  Ceff raised an eyebrow and I started to laugh.  I choked on the intake of air and gagged, covering my mouth with a gloved hand.

I now had one hand over my mouth and the other pinching my nose.  The position left me feeling exposed, the back of my neck tingling.  I hoped that I wouldn’t need to go for my weapons.   I snuck a look over my shoulder, but the tunnel behind us was empty.  The only movement was our shadows dancing on the walls.  Our biggest threat was slipping in something nasty.  I turned back toward Stinky, careful to watch my step.

I had to hand it to the ghoul, he was really trying.  Stinky shuffled along at a near gallop, his gooey feet slapping on the stone floor.  We made it to the exit in minutes.

At the top of the tunnel-like hallway, Stinky lifted a large ring of keys and unlocked the door to the outside.  There was definitely something creepy about having the keyhole on the inside, so visitors couldn’t escape.  Thankfully, the ghoul had been given orders to let us out.

The key turned in the lock and Ceff and I rushed out the door into fresh night air.  I wanted to gulp in air like a kid drinks juice, but instead I turned to Stinky and forced a smile.

“Thanks for rushing,” I said.  “I appreciate it.”

I tried to meet Stinky’s eyes and fought to keep disgust and pity off my face.  The ghoul’s owner obviously didn’t take care of his servants with regular feedings and yet Stinky had done his best to comply with my request for speed.

Too bad his body wasn’t up to the task.

Stinky looked down at his abdomen as something started emitting a hissing sound.  He was terribly bloated.  The ghoul’s distended belly started to move beneath the threadbare dress shirt he’d been buried in.  Before I could duck for cover, the buttons of his shirt shot free of the fabric, leaving gray flesh exposed—and then Stinky exploded.

A buildup of stomach gasses had filled Stinky’s abdomen like a corpse balloon.  And when that balloon popped, it projected liquefied, rotten flesh all down the front of me.

I was covered in gangrenous ghoul goop.  Try saying that three times fast.

 “Get it off!” I choked.

Oh, Oberon’s eyes, get it off.
  I flung my hands in the air and ran in a tight circle like a fool on fire.  My eyes were watering so badly, I nearly ran into an ornamental pillar at the bottom of the stone steps.

“Hold still,” Ceff said.

I froze, praying that Ceff could do something to help.  For the first time ever, I needed a white knight.  I wanted to be rescued.

I held my breath and stared at Ceff with wide eyes.  I tried to think positive.  I smelled worse than a charnel house on a hot day, but I wasn’t experiencing nightmare visions.  Miraculously, my skin was untouched.  Too bad I couldn’t say the same for my clothes.

Ceff’s eyes began to glow and he cupped his hands together.  A hint of a breeze brushed past my face as Ceff pulled moisture out of the air.  A ball of water formed slowly between his hands.

“This may tickle,” he said.

A thread of water spun out from the sphere in his hands to run across my arms and down my torso.  Ceff lifted the thread higher and spread the water into a fan to cascade over me.  It was the closest thing to touching we’d managed in a while and it made my skin tingle.