Fang Me (7 page)

"Andrew arrived at the mansion right before the sun went down," I added."So he could have had plenty of time to hide them anywhere inside or outside the city."

"I was afraid of that," Trevor muttered. He sighed."I didn't get very far trying to find them yesterday. I guess we'll just have to start at the center and spiral out from there."

That sounded really tedious."I know San Antonio looks like it's circular on the map, but that's gonna be more difficult than it sounds."

"It's worth a shot," Shade said.

Yeah, fine for him. He was having a fun time with his buddy in the back while I had to drive. But I wasn't planning on going anywhere until I got some answers. I twisted around in my seat to look at Trevor. Pain stabbed through me. Damn, I'd forgotten about my wound. This being more human stuff wasn't such a good idea."Maybe if you told us more about the books, it would help us figure out where to look."

He grimaced."I doubt it."

"Makes sense to me," Shade said.

Now that Shade had suggested it, Trevor was all over it. He shrugged and said,"The encyclopedia was cre

ated a long time ago—I don't know when—by a group of demons who wanted their part-human descendants to understand their heritage. Unfortunately, it's patchy in spots. Partially because they assumed people would know more than they do, and partially because some demons were more reluctant to put their strengths and vulnerabilities down in writing than others."

SO THAT'S WHY THE SUCCUBUS AND INCUBUS ENTRIES WERE SO INCOMPLETE, Fang said.

Yeah, I'd wondered about that."That explains the first volume," I said,"but what about the rest? The two with the dark magicks?"

I sensed Trevor really didn't want to answer me but he finally said,"They were both created by one particular kind of demon who wanted to pass his magickal knowledge on to his descendants."

"What kind of demon?" I persisted.

Trevor paused, and Shade snapped his fingers."The two books are about magickal spells, right? Was it a mage demon?"

Trevor looked annoyed, so I guess Shade hit it on the head."What's a mage demon?" I asked.

"One of the most dangerous demons to enter our world," Shade explained."They can tap into emotions and use them to power magickal spells . . . and most of them are pretty evil. Those are the dark magicks people sensed." He turned to Trevor."Right?"

"For the most part," Trevor conceded."But the demon's descendants can't create new spells—only fullblooded mage demons are able to do that. Their descendants are only able to use the ones set down in the books."

"Whoa," I said."That's a dangerous thing to leave lying around."

Trevor nodded."Exactly. When the Demon Underground was formed and they tried to keep demonkind on the down low, some of the demons became keepers—the ones who could sense the dark magick and keep it contained."

"Why didn't they just destroy the books?" I asked.

"Let's just say that destroying them would release dark magicks in an explosion far more catastrophic than any nuclear warhead. At worst, it would destroy this world. At best, it could severely warp our reality."

Fang laid his head down with a sigh. LET'S NOT DO THAT, THEN.

Andrew looked horrified at the thought that he'd had these things in his possession.

"So why not just let them stay hidden?" I suggested.

"Because keepers aren't the only ones who can sense the magicks in the books," Trevor said.

Shade petted Fang absently. "I imagine the mage demons can, too." At Trevor's nod, Shade asked, "Are there any in San Antonio?"

Trevor shrugged."It's the same as with the books. I can sense one if I come within five hundred feet, but otherwise, I have no idea unless they use some of the dark magicks. But they probably sensed the books waking at the same time I did. There may be some of them searching here as well."

Oh, crap. Better find them fast, then. Driving in spirals it was. I started the car and headed toward the center of the city, while Trevor pulled up a map on his Smartphone.

"Your knowledge of mage demons is impressive," Trevor told Shade.

"As I said before, it's a hobby. I've been trying to learn as much about demons as I can."

Yeah, with his ability to bring them through from the other side, I guess he wanted to know what he was dealing with.

"How did you become a keeper?" Shade asked.

"My father was a keeper before me. He taught me everything I know."

"I thought you said your father lost them," I said, wanting to taunt him a bit.

"Not exactly."

I turned onto US 90. "What do you mean, not exactly?" I distinctly remembered that's what he said.

"Actually, it's my father who's lost."

Crap. Now I felt guilty for trying to poke at him. "I'm sorry. What happened to him?"

"The books happened to him," Trevor said bitterly. "They ate him."

CHAPTER SEVEN

I glanced at Trevor in the rear view mirror."They what? They
ate him? How is that possible?"

"Not literally. He's trapped inside them."

"How can he fit?" Andrew asked in bewilderment.

"It's magick," Trevor said in an irritated tone."He's stuck in some kind of . . . pocket universe or something."

I had this strange image of the books hoovering up Trevor's father like a swish of smoke, like in
I Dream of
Jeannie.

WOW, THOSE BOOKS MUST REALLY SUCK, Fang snarked.

I stifled a laugh. It really wasn't funny."Are you sure about that?" I asked."I mean, do you know for certain he's still alive?"

"Yes. I-I know he's still in there."

"How did it happen?" Shade asked.

Trevor looked out into the night, hiding his expression from everyone, so I turned my attention back to the road.

"If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay," Shade said.

Like hell. I pulled over into an empty parking lot under a light and parked so I could make my point. Turning around to glare at them, I said,"No, it's not okay. If those things are likely to eat someone else, we need to know about it right now."

"They won't," Trevor bit out. He got out of the car and slammed the door, running his hand through his gelled hair as he turned his back on us.

I grabbed the keys to keep Andrew from doing anything stupid and followed him."How do you know that?"

He whirled around."I just do, okay?"

"Not good enough. Those books are loose in San Antonio somewhere, and we need to know as much as we can so we can figure out what to do when we find them."

Shade and Fang had jumped out of the car as well, though Andrew chose to stay out of the fray. Shade drew his hoodie up over his face then made calming motions with his hands."We're all friends here, right?"

How could I be friends with someone I didn't trust?

Trevor glanced at Shade then took a deep breath and breathed it out before saying,"That's why we're out here, together, to find them. And when we do, I know how to handle them."

I crossed my arms, and tried to sound reasonable."If your father couldn't handle them, why do you think you can?"

He glared at me but didn't let his pissiness show in his carefully deliberate voice."Because I've had more training than he had. I did a lot of research to figure out exactly what happened. I know what he did wrong and I won't make the same mistake."

"What did he do wrong?"

He looked about ready to explode, but kept it together."It's confidential—for keepers only."

"What if someone else does the same thing ‗by mistake' and gets sucked up into the book as well? Shouldn't we try to keep that from happening?"

He waved that argument away impatiently."It's something only a keeper would attempt."

"Then what can you tell us?"

Trevor paused for a moment."Look, knowledge is passed from one keeper to another, teacher to apprentice. It's too risky to write it down, too dangerous to share. Don't you get it? These books are
not safe."

I shrugged."They were safe with me for many years."

"Until you gave them up. Now that you know what they can do, they won't be safe with you anymore either. Only with keepers."

"So, why isn't
your
apprentice here?" If these things were that dangerous, he really ought to train someone else how to handle them, too.

"I don't have one. Yet. I was waiting until I found the books before I chose one." He paused, then added,"In case you're wondering, you wouldn't qualify."

"I wasn't." Like I'd
want
to work with him."But what I
was
wondering is how you got training when your father, the former keeper, got sucked into the book. You had to be like an infant when that happened."

He shrugged."I'm older than I look. And my father's mentor was still alive—he helped me a lot."

There were still a lot of unanswered questions."What happened to the books after your father got sucked in?" I asked."How did you lose them?"

"I didn't lose them—I was only a kid at the time. The Underground in LA took them. They told me someone was careless and they were stolen."

BOY, HE HAS AN ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING, DOESN'T HE? Fang said.

Yeah, he was a bit too glib for my tastes. Maybe that's because it was all true?

Then again . . . maybe not.

I SURE WISH I COULD READ HIS MIND RIGHT NOW, Fang said.

Ditto.

"Do you know how to release your father once you find the books?" Shade asked.

Trevor smiled at him, seeming relieved for a question he was willing to answer."Yes, I do. And I have everything I need to do just that."

The way these two got along set my teeth on edge."What if something happens to you?" I persisted."What if you die before the books are found?"

Trevor smirked."You'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen, won't you?"

I wasn't about to play bodyguard to some idiot demon with delusions of grandeur. Unfortunately, my brain didn't catch up with my mouth in time to stop me from saying,"The hell I will. How do we know you're not lying?"

Shade tried to step in."Val, really—"

"That's it," Trevor said, throwing his hands up in the air."I'm not gonna take this crap from a baby succubus who can't even cut it in the real world." He looked me up and down."I have no idea what anyone sees in you."

Fang growled and the hairs along his spine stood up on end. WATCH IT, BUDDY.

The so-called keeper turned and walked off."I'll find the encyclopedia by myself," he tossed over his shoulder.

"Aren't you going to stop him?" Shade asked.

"No, why should I? He can take care of himself. He's the keeper, you know."

"Val, really. You're sounding childish now."

"I'm what?"

Ignoring my indignation, Shade added,"He doesn't know the city. He could get lost."

"Not with that Smartphone of his."

"He's on foot, without a car, and this isn't exactly the best neighborhood."

I folded my arms and tapped my foot."So? He can call a taxi or rent a car. And if he can handle dark magicks, surely he can handle a mugger or two."

What was wrong with everyone? Had Trevor enthralled everyone but me into believing he was the best thing since submachine guns?

Fang scratched his ear with his hind leg. NOPE. NO SIGN OF THAT IN SHADE OR ANDREW. I WOULD HAVE NOTICED.

Then what has them so snowed?

IT'S CHARM, BABE. CHARM. YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET SOME OF IT.

"What's gotten into you?" Shade asked incredulously."You really seem to have it in for this guy."

"I don't believe him, that's what. Ask Fang. He'll tell you—he doesn't believe Trevor either."

Fang backed off. OH, NO. I'M NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS. YOU TWO DUKE IT OUT AAAAAALL BY YOURSELVES. He trotted back to the car to join Andrew who had scrunched down in his seat, both apparently trying to stay out of the line of fire.

"Why don't you believe Trevor?" Shade persisted.

"He's just too good to be true. I don't trust him."

Shade paced in a circle, and I could read tension in his body and in the agitated whirling of his face."That's ridiculous. He's just trying to find his father and save the world. What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing. If it's true."

"And what do you base your suspicion on?"

"My gut," I shot back."It's helped me survive quite a few vampire attacks. What do you base your
trust
on?"

He halted suddenly and turned his swirly hooded face toward me. He let out an incredulous laugh and came over to grasp my hands."Is that it? Are you jealous of him?" He looked stupidly delighted by the thought.

"Don't be ridiculous. I know you like what Lola does for you too much to give it up for some pretty guy."

WHOA, BABE, Fang said from the car, to me alone. THAT'S HARSH. YOU MIGHT WANT TO DIAL BACK THE TONE A BIT.

I thought you were staying out of this? I snapped at him.

OKAY. THIS IS ME STAYING OUT. DIG YOUR OWN GRAVE.

Shade looked hurt, then let go of me so I couldn't see his features anymore."I didn't mean jealous of me," he said slowly."I meant jealous of Trevor."

"What the hell does that mean?"

Shade stuck his hands in his pockets and his shoulders went up and down in a shrug."You know . . . he's good-looking, he makes friends easily with all of your friends, and he's the only one who can save the world. That's usually your job, isn't it?"

That was so unfair I didn't know what to say. What made it worse is that he said it in such a matter -of-fact way. Was it true? I spluttered for a moment, then demanded,"Do you really believe that?"

"Can you honestly say it's not true?" he asked softly.

Oh, no. He was
not going to try to use calm reason on me to get me to agree with him."Yes, I can. I don't
trust him because . . . because . . ." My thoughts were whirling too fast to make sense of them."I just don't, that's why."

"Maybe if you thought about it for a moment—"

"No." I held up a hand."I am
not
talking about this anymore. We're going to go back to the mansion and we're going to start over, okay?"

"Okay, but I'll drive. You're too upset."

And that ticked me off even more."Fine," I yelled and threw the keys at him."You drive and go get your new friend. I'm walking."

I turned on my heel and proceeded to do just that.

"C'mon, Val . . ." Shade protested.

I ignored him, too mad to even talk to him right now. Instead, I put my head down and quickened my stride. I needed to walk this off.

He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot—away from me. Figured. Perversely, it ticked me off that he didn't even try to ask me to stop.

BECAUSE I TOLD HIM NOT TO, Fang said.

I glanced down. I'd been stomping so hard in my boots that I hadn't even heard the clicking of his nails as he caught up to me."That's no excuse," I muttered, and hated the fact that tears choked my throat and threatened to spill from my eyes.

WHAT'S WRONG?

Damn it, we just had our first fight.

AND IT PROBABLY WON'T BE THE LAST, Fang added wisely. DON'T WORRY, HE STILL LOVES YOU.

I sniffled. You sure?

I'M SURE. AND MAYBE IT'S FOR THE BEST AFTER ALL.

How do you figure?

WELL, YOU WANTED TO STAY AWAY FROM HIM FOR AWHILE. HERE'S YOUR EXCUSE.

Maybe. But I hadn't wanted it to be like this . . . . My shoulders sagged and all of the mad went out of me. Dang. Now I was going to have to walk home.