Fire Baptized (17 page)

But all of this nonsense was for another day. Presently, I needed to focus on finding the killer.

I sat down, turned on the computer, and gasped.

A picture of Zulu and me at an
MFE
rally was his screensaver. I was sticking my tongue out at him as he grimaced.

Interesting.
Third addition to my to-do list: find out what I was going to do about my feelings for Zulu.

Smiling, I gazed at the image, wishing I was back at that rally instead of here. It was a simpler moment in time. I rubbed my eyes and raked my fingers through my hair, forcing myself to concentrate on the task at hand.

Goldie had given me the name Theodore Smith. I didn’t have the time to wait on the Elf. If the murders had been publicized, I could find it on the Internet with no problem.

I typed the name into the SupeNet search engine.

Twenty new articles were found. I selected the first. A picture of a dark, brown-skinned man with gray cornrows appeared on the screen.

The title read,
“Were-rat murders wife in front of children. The remains of six missing dancers discovered in his backyard.”

I swallowed hard, reading the gory details.

Theodore Smith had been a maintenance man at The Kitty Kat strip club. A month before the article had been published, six of the club’s dancers went missing.

One of the dancers was a habitat judge’s niece. The Water Witch had made a big stink and used all his political connections to motivate the habbies to get off their lazy behinds and find her. They’d searched the habitat for a month, with no results.

And then Goldie came to the station, reporting an unusual smell in his best friend’s back yard. He’d reported that his friend had been acting weird and constantly talking about Supernatural sacrifices to save the habitat’s righteous.

My heartbeat began to increase. I read further.

That night, the habbies stormed into Smith’s house as he was chopping his wife into pieces. His kids stood near him, watching their mother die. The oldest child had been holding his mother down, while the youngest children, a girl and boy, chanted. During Smith’s trial, he’d declared that his wife had volunteered to be the final sacrifice to Shango.

I scanned the rest of the articles. All of them had similar information, but none of them identified or showed pictures of the children.

What happened to Smith’s kids?

Surely watching their mother being hacked away by their father had some influence within their lives. I was certain one of them was the killer.

I spent several minutes conducting a search on Smith’s kids, and came up with nothing. Without any first names, it was impossible.

Tapping my fingers on the desk, I took a chance and tried Theodore Smith, Jr.

Three articles resulted, but only one was a Were-rat. It was a small article, announcing his arrest for rape. The article displayed a photo. I figured it had to be Smith’s son, same dark brown skin and beady eyes. He glared at the camera, flaunting violence and hostility.

Disgust overtook me.
Are you out of jail, you sick fuck? Or are you rotting away behind bars and therefore I should be looking for your siblings?

I remember the article reported that he had a younger brother and sister, but it didn’t provide any names since they were minors at the time.

Maybe Zulu’s habbie could find out the names for me. They may have been written in the report ten years ago.

I had to have those names. I was certain one of Smith’s children worked at Goldie’s or was a regular. Maybe Goldie himself had hired the kid, thinking he was helping. I mean, if Smith was his friend, wouldn’t he recognize his friend’s children?

I didn’t know, and at this moment, it no longer mattered. For the first time this week, I had an actual logical lead. I had to give this information to Zulu, so he could tell his habbie.

I checked the top of Zulu’s desk for a pen and paper, didn’t find any, and wrenched his top drawer open. There was a brown pad and a pen there.

I pulled it out, opened it, and saw a beautifully drawn sketch of my face peering back at me.

My mouth dropped open. Part of me was shocked that Zulu had drawn me. The other part was ashamed that I’d found something he’d kept private. Too bad the shame didn’t stop me from flipping through it. I spotted more drawings, and all of them were images of me. Some were in clothes that I actually wore. Others were of me in the nude.

I blushed, wishing my body actually represented the lush and gorgeous figures he’d put on paper.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” Zulu asked behind me.

I jumped, shrieking, and tossed the sketch pad in the air.

Zulu caught the pad and placed it on the desk. He wore no shirt, just jeans and boots. His lips formed a thin line. “What do you think about my drawings?”

“You’re a talented artist.” I tapped my nails on his desk and scanned the pictures of Supernatural revolutionaries tacked to his walls, as if I was suddenly interested in the beret on Che Guevara’s head.

Silence hung in the air for a minute. I glanced at him.

“Is that it?” He raised his blond eyebrows. His lips curled at the edges.

“I’m impressed with your ability to capture bone structure.”

He laughed and stepped a few inches toward me. “I’ve been looking for you. I wanted to take you out to eat. Get your mind off everything.”

“No, thank you. I don’t need a break. In fact.” I turned the computer screen to him, displaying Theo Jr. “This may be the killer. If not him, then his younger brother.”

I related everything I’d learned to Zulu, including the phone conversation I had with Goldie.

“I’ll call Detective Rivera now and have him give me everything on Theo Sr. and Jr.,” Zulu said and took out his phone.

I sat back in his chair as he made the call, listening to him give the habbie the orders and negotiate a price. When he hung up, I stood up, ready to head back to my room and post this latest information.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked. “I’m about to give you a much-needed vacation from this week’s chaos.”

“Thank you, but I really don’t need a break.” I brushed locks out of my face and gazed at him.

“I went by your room. The walls are covered in murder details and notes.” Zulu gently grabbed my hand. “You’re right on the edge of obsession and insanity, and I get why, but you need a break.”

I exhaled and attempted to rub away my throbbing headache. “Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“And will I be back in time to talk to Goldie? I’ll need to run this information by him and see if he knows about Theo’s children or—”

“Relax. It’s already late at night. You sent Rebels to guard him.” He pulled me close, wrapping his arms around my waist and brushing his lips against my ear. “You’ll have plenty time to do that tomorrow. Let me take care of you tonight.”

Sandalwood radiated from his warm skin, soothing me. I rested my head on his chest, relishing its satin texture against my cheek.

He was right. I needed a break, some sort of refresher to calm my nerves and prepare me for tomorrow’s battle ahead. Besides, life was too short. Ray and Gabe’s deaths had taught me that.
I could be here tonight and gone from this Earth tomorrow.

“Let’s go,” I whispered.

He released me from his arms and focused his eyes on me. “The location is very high. I’m going to change into my beast and fly us there.”

“Come again?” I put my hands on my hips. “Did you forget me screaming the entire time while you flew me back to my apartment? Did it seem like I didn’t have a problem with heights? Because I do.”

“I won’t drop you.” He shrugged his shoulders as he took off his jeans.

Damn.
I gazed at his muscular thighs, ogling as they stretched his sky-blue briefs. I could make out his length expanding underneath the fabric and looked away.

“Just hold on to me, close your eyes and you’ll be okay,” he said as I heard shuffling.

“What?” I’d forgotten what we were talking about.

“When we fly.”

“Oh, yeah.” I glanced back at him, keeping my eyes on his face.

“Are you okay with my beast holding you?” he asked. Tense wrinkles appeared at the edges of his eyes.

I’d called him a monster the last time he was in beast form. I should have apologized.

“No. I don’t have a problem with your beast at all.”

“That’s fine, then,” he said, seeming relieved. The cords on his arms glowed a bright white. He peered at me. “I should’ve told you.”

The cords unraveled from his skin, inch by inch and rose two feet from his arms, swaying back and forth.

I couldn’t help it—my mouth dropped open in disbelief.

His dark blue and gold eyes changed to a colorless shade that filled up his eyelids and reflected my image back to me like a mirror. The color of his skin transformed to a dark red as if blood was rising and coming out of his pores, and then the red complexion darkened and turned to black.

I looked back at his eyes. They’d shifted back to dark blue with flecks of gold. He stared at me. My mouth was still open. His wings expanded behind him. They shined and glimmered in the light.

I swallowed and forced myself to breath before asking, “Can I touch your wings?”

“Yes.” He turned around.

They expanded farther out and were a few inches from my face. I touched one with my hand, gliding it across the wing’s leathery texture. They reminded me of bat wings, but massive and smooth. Two thick bones stuck out the center of his back, holding them. I slid my fingers across the bones, appraising their apparent strength.

Zulu grunted. “Excuse me. No one has ever touched that area before.” He stepped away from me and turned back around with an erection. “I had no idea how good it would feel. You should probably stop if you don’t want another episode on my desk.”

His eyes targeted me.

Quickly covering my eyes, I asked, “Are you going to calm down your beast or will I be using that as a seat during our flight?”

A rumble emitted from his chest. I peeked at him through my fingers as he flashed me a black-lipped smile.

“There are so many responses that I could give you to that question,” Zulu replied. “But I’m afraid all of them would probably get me slapped.”

He went to his desk, putting his hands under it. A crackling noise came from the ceiling, and then a hole materialized, revealing the night sky against the habitat’s ceiling.

“That’s a nifty little getaway,” I said. “I’ll have to remember your escape route if you ever try to avoid me.”

“I would never avoid you.” He closed the distance between us and clasped his huge black hands around my waist. His wings rapidly flapped back and forth. “Hold on and close your eyes. If you vomit on me, I’ll drop you.”

“What?” I gasped.

We soared, ascending into the air at a fast speed that made me frantically clutch his neck with my arms and straddle his waist with my legs. I hid my face on his chest, squeezing my eyes tight as anxiety rushed through my body. Sweat poured down my skin. I could hear his wings flapping within the typical sounds of nightlife: cars honking, people talking, and habbie sirens blaring.

“You smell so good,” Zulu murmured. “Your scent is driving me and my beast crazy.”

“You and your beast should center your attention on flying!” I screamed.

He laughed. “I was going to fly you over Orisha beach and let you see the moonlight’s glow on the water.”

“No, thank you. I won’t be opening my eyes at all.” My body shook with fear.

“The moon’s light makes the sea look like there are diamonds floating in the water.”

“Sounds great.” I tightened my grip on him. “Take a picture and show me later.”

Wind rushed by me as he sped up. My dreadlocks hit my face.

“You go to Orisha beach a lot?” he asked.

“During the summer,” I said, trying to picture the beach instead of us flying.

“Have you ever swam all the way to the boundary wall in the middle of the sea?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’m not that good of a swimmer. Plus, water makes me vulnerable. I usually play a little in the water to cool off.”

“Sometimes, I fly to the beach’s boundary wall and land on it.”

I spun my head up, opening my eyes. “You can touch the bars?”

Shock hit me. The bars were supposed to contain every metal that was harmful to Supes.

“I can touch the bars with no problem. I don’t think the bars have an effect on Mixies, but I haven’t tested it out yet.” He directed his attention to me.

“Don’t even think about taking me to the bars to try it out.”

He shrugged, flapping his wings within the wind. “Well, when I have a bad day, I sit on the wall at the beach and look out beyond it.”

“What do you see?”

“Nothing but ocean. A massive space extending as far as I can see. It never ends.”

“Whoa. I think so much space would overwhelm me.” I placed my head back on his chest and closed my eyes. “Do you ever go to the other side of the habitat and look beyond the bars?”

“Of course. But I can’t do it too much. There’s a Human military base surrounding Santeria, but beyond the base is Miami.”

“Does the city appear the same as it does on
TV
?”

He was quiet for a few seconds and then said, “It does look the same, but different, too. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s like the city is covered in hope.”

“Well, that’s worth seeing,” I said and then quickly added, “But not tonight.”

I felt a sensation like I was dropping and opened my eyes. We landed on the roof of some huge building.

The building’s bricks were turquoise, which told me we were in Yemaya district. A violin played behind me. I spun around and saw a Mixie smile as he guided the bow across the violin’s strings. A table covered in lilac-colored cloth stood next to him with plates and two glasses, one full of red wine. A vase full of lilies was placed at the center of the table.

The odds of Zulu getting me into his bed tonight shot through the roof.

“You did all of this for me?” I had my hands on the sides of my face.

“You had a rough week—you deserve it.” He guided me to the table as another Mixie appeared through the roof’s entrance door. He was dressed in plain clothes like the violinist, and was holding jogging pants in his hands. They both looked familiar. I remembered seeing them at
MFE
meetings.

“Should I bring the food out?” the Mixie asked, throwing the pants to Zulu.

“Yes,” Zulu replied, catching the pants and putting them on. His dark skin lightened to tan as he began to shift back to Human form.

I remained standing by the table, watching the Mixie perform. A romantic mood overtook me. The fact that Zulu worked hard to put this together just to make me feel better amazed me. Tears formed in my eyes, threatening to spill over my eyelids, but I held them in, not wanting to confuse Zulu and make him think I was sad. I promised myself I would take in every moment and detail to imprint this event in my mind forever.

Zulu came close to me, completely shifted.

“You’re wonderful.” I shook my head. “This is unexpected, mind-blowing and beautiful. I can’t believe—”

He pressed his lips to mine, drowning me in his seductive scent. I parted my mouth, ready for his tongue, and sucked, loving it when he groaned. His hands went to my waist and traveled a few inches under my shirt, stroking my stomach with satin fingertips. My nipples hardened, yearning for his mouth to touch them.

He pulled away, and I immediately wanted him back, needing to have his mouth on every part of my body, touching and kissing me.

I got on the tips of my toes and nipped at his lips. “Come back,” I begged.

“If I kiss you again, I won’t stop,” he whispered.

I touched the rows of muscle at his waist, gliding my hands up his sculptured chest. “I don’t think I want you to stop.”

He growled, taking me into his arms and lifting me up. I straddled him and thrust my tongue into his mouth. He cupped my behind, and I moaned.

“Zulu?” A voice came from my side. We stopped kissing as the violinist said, “Would you like me to stop playing or turn around?” A red tint shaded the violinist’s cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Phillip. Yes. You’re excused and thanks.” Zulu glanced back at me, tightening his hands around my behind. “Oh, and please tell Aiden to keep the food in my condo. Don’t bring it up.”

The door slammed behind me.

I instantly revisited those soft luscious lips, devouring them and his tongue. When I came up for air, he raised me higher, sucking and kissing my neck. My nipples burned with anticipation. I leaned back and pulled my shirt off.

A rumble rose in his throat. He tore off my bra, releasing my breasts, pushing them together, and taking both nipples into his mouth. My panties moistened. He licked between my breasts, and then circled each one with the tip of his tongue. I gasped as he gave each peak its own lusty attention. And then his mouth was back on mine.

I rubbed my body against him, adoring the way my hard nipples rubbed against his warm, muscular chest.

“Zulu,” I mumbled, needing him inside of me, fast and hard. I couldn’t think of anything else.