Fire Baptized (8 page)

Two dancers straddled him, rubbing their breasts in his face. A group of male Shifters stood near Larry, throwing crumpled dollars at the women and laughing each time a dollar hit the dancers’ heads.

“Crap,” Gabe said. “I have to go to Carmen’s place. Benji doesn’t know. He’s her son.”

“Oh, no.” I put my hand in the air. “I kind of took care of that. He’s living with me.”

Ray’s head snapped my way. “You kidnapped a child?”

“It’s not kidnapping if the kid was already abandoned.” I avoided his eyes.

Ray put his head in his hands and rubbed his temples.

“I would like to see Benji sometimes, if that’s okay with you. I could babysit.” Gabe looked at me.

I shifted in my chair a little. A janitor in a strip club who tapes his sister having sex and then blackmails the guy was not the type of person I would consider as a decent babysitter.

Gabe must have figured out what I was thinking because he said, “I used to watch him for free before the whole blackmailing stuff. Ask Benji yourself. I can give you my number.”

“Okay.”

Gabe wrote the number down on a napkin and left, wiping his eyes.

“I can’t believe you just told him that Larry killed his sister.” I watched Ray take out an apple red phone.

“Wouldn’t you want to know if it was your sister?” Ray asked as the phone’s small lights glowed white. “Gabe took it well. He’s a Fairy. We believe that when Fairies die, we leave this cage and go back to the realm.”

I held in a snort, not wanting to crap on his beliefs. It was a belief I knew well. My mother had believed it, which was why she committed suicide and tried to take me with her. At least this was according to my dad. I was a toddler when she did it, too young to remember.

I glanced at Ray and asked, “Who are you calling?”

“Zulu. I’ve got a plan,” Ray said. “I need to make sure he agrees with it. You should head to your apartment while I keep an eye on Larry. I’m willing to draft a new contract that allows me to let you leave. This is going to get messy.”

“No way.” I grabbed my glass and took a large gulp. “You might as well add me to the plan.”

He glared at me. “Zulu will be pissed if you stay here while we take care of this.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “In this short time of knowing me, do you really think I care?”

The metallic scent of blood floated in the alley. Linderman Blood Factory was only a block away. Ray and I stood by the back entrance of Goldie’s, near the dancers’ dressing room. Perfume and female laughter drifted out of the dressing room’s open window.

Whistling came from the alley’s opening. I turned in that direction and saw two kids skip by, holding buckets with crimson liquid sloshing around the rims. Drops of it fell from the buckets to the pavement, leaving a trail as they headed for Linderman’s.

Ick.
There was no telling where they’d gotten the blood. And the factory never asked; just took it and paid.

“Damn parents these days don’t watch their kids,” Ray said as I faced him. “The habitat’s gone to shit.”

“Was it a better place to live back in the day?”

“No, but we took care of each other.” He opened his mouth to say something else and then closed it.

“Why is Lanore here?” Zulu said behind me.

I jumped at the sound of his voice and spun around.
Where the hell did he come from?
I was just looking that way, and now, he was there.

He crossed his arms around his chest. His eyes traveled down my body even though his lips were in an angry line. Tonight, he wore a navy blue shirt that stretched over his biceps and covered the top of his black jeans. The moonlight hit his brand. He scowled at me and then glanced at Ray.

“She wouldn’t leave.” Ray shrugged.

“What kind of Royal Guard are you, if you can’t get rid of a college girl?” Zulu asked.

“Watch your mouth, son.” Ray pointed to me. “She’s stubborn and—”

“Are you both going to just talk about me, like I’m not here?” I asked as Zulu stepped closer to me, standing barely an inch away and invading my personal space with the scent of sandalwood.

“I was hoping you could get her to leave.” Ray checked his watch. “I told Larry we’d do the deal out in the alley so no one would see. He bought the excuse. I’m thinking the amount I promised him had something to do with it.”

“I’m sure it did.” Zulu directed his attention back to me. “Lanore, I would like you to go home.”

“Duly noted.” I raked my fingers through my hair and glanced at the strip club’s back door. I had to look that way, since my front view was blocked by Zulu’s massive chest.

After several silent seconds, I took a peek in front of me. That sculptured upper body continued to stretch the fabric. If it was a different time and place, I would rip the shirt off him and peruse the curves of each muscle.

What?

I shook my head as if clearing out dust from my brain. I shouldn’t have ordered more Cowrie Shells. The sugar had drowned out the liquor, and now I wanted to caress Zulu at a time when I should be focused on Larry.

I let out an exaggerated sigh. “Do you have to stand so close?”

Zulu raised one blond eyebrow and flashed a wicked smile. “Why?”

“You’re barely an inch away from me. It’s pretty rude.”

“Then leave,” he demanded.

“No. You and Ray may need my help.”

“Children,” Ray interrupted. We turned to him as he tapped his finger on his watch. “Larry will be here soon. Zulu, just warn her, because I don’t think she’s leaving.”

“Warn me about what?” I asked.

“I would like to take care of this guy threatening you.” Zulu closed the small distance between us, ignoring my question. “I can’t do that and protect you.”

“I don’t need your protection.” I extended my hand to the side, pushed a large fireball out of my palm, and said, “Wow, look at that. Isn’t that amazing? I did it all by myself. I can dress myself and wipe my own ass, too.”

Ray laughed while Zulu stared at my flames. Smoke rose as they evaporated.

“Satisfied?” I asked.

Zulu smirked, but surprisingly didn’t seem shocked.

I hadn’t told him I had power. It was the norm for Mixies to keep their abilities secret. Unlike Purebloods, who flaunted theirs, Mixies hid under the stereotype that we were weak, which gave us an advantage in an attack.

“Do it again.” Ray gazed at my hands.

I pushed out fireballs, letting them float near his face.

“Can you make them bigger?” Ray asked.

“Enough. The show is over,” Zulu insisted.

“Listen to that.” Ray looked at me. “I’ve known Zulu since he was a baby and he thinks he can order me—”

“Sorry, but Lanore needs to leave,” Zulu interrupted. A glow came from under his shirt sleeves. The cords in his arms must have brightened with his anger.

I put my hands on my hips.

“Just tell her,” Ray said.

“Yes, Zulu. Just tell me.” I leaned my weight on my right foot. “What’s the big secret?”

Zulu smirked. “When I get angry and out of control, I turn into a big black guy.”

Ray snickered.

“I don’t find that funny.” I backed away from him and crossed my arms around my chest. “Especially since I’m black. Cut to the chase, and tell me what’s going on.”

A door slammed. Larry ambled from the back entrance, potbelly jiggling under his red tank top with each step. The Santeros hat was off his head. Two large Shifters with splotchy alabaster skin flanked him on both sides. They were dressed in all black, with silver Mohawks. Both had hook noses, dirt brown eyes, and thin, sneering lips.
Twins, maybe?
Regardless, they clamped to Larry’s sides like bookends.

“So prophet Zulu wants to do business with little old me,” Larry said in a deep, husky voice. “Can you imagine that, fellows?”

He grinned and glanced back at the Shifters. They remained silent. I caught a whiff of brimstone and froze. It smelled like rotten eggs and reminded me of my childhood and dad. I spotted the double-horned silver brand on Larry’s forehead.
Demon.

I stumbled back in fear. A hand pressed against me. It was Zulu keeping me steady.

“Get behind me,” I whispered.

He snorted and stayed locked to my side.

Fuck.
If I knew Larry was a Demon, I would have handled this myself. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead. I chewed my bottom lip. My heart pounded in my ears.
Relax, Lanore.
Larry can’t be a high level Demon.

“So, if I understand this correctly.” Larry held out his hands. “You want to buy a large stack of Hemo Drop from me?”

“Exactly,” Zulu said with a stoned-face expression.

I searched Larry’s face, wondering if he could push fire out of his pores or his eyes. I’d forgotten my dad’s lessons.
Is it the shape of a Demon’s nose? Or the ears? Fuck me.
I skimmed through my mental rolodex and came up with nothing.

Larry shifted his eyes to me as if he could hear my thoughts.

Zulu blocked Larry’s view.

Sighing, I walked around Zulu. If anybody needed to be in Larry’s attacking range, it was me.

“You’re Graham’s girl?” Larry leaned his head to the side, his eyes piercing my every cell. Heat rubbed against my skin, massaging me and brushing against my chest.

I groaned and stepped back.

Larry was messing with me, playing games with my body’s temperature.

“She’s nobody.” Ray inched closer to me.

My eyes went to him so I could get control of myself. Seeing Ray, I jumped back a little and hoped no one noticed.

Ray?

He was now taller than me. Earlier, his head had barely reached my chest. I focused on breathing.
One breath. Two breaths.
Ray winked at me.
Three breaths. Four.

“I like to know who’s around me when I’m doing a deal,” Larry said. “Is Graham your father?”

“Yes.” I coughed, choking a little.

Larry reeked of brimstone. I doubted the odor affected Ray or Zulu, but it freaked me out.

Zulu gently pulled me back, tugging at the top of my jeans. “I don’t want problems with Graham. Run along and let the fellows make this deal.” His eyes glowed a flaming orange and then brightened to a smoldering glare.

“I’m staying,” I shrugged.

Larry snarled.

Ray materialized in front of me, two feet taller.

I blinked twice.
Motherpounder.
He was over seven feet. Did anybody else notice Ray’s height changes?

“Don’t worry about her,” Ray said. “Let’s take care of business.”

“Five thousand for a stack of Hemo Drop?” Zulu maneuvered around me so that I was behind him.

I eased to his side.

“You think I’m new to this habitat, boy?” Larry gestured to his Shifters.

They grinned. Claws pushed through their fingertips in one synchronized instant. Fangs erupted. Their skin wavered as brown fur sprouted, replacing their silver Mohawks with large manes.
Were-lions.
The one on the left roared. It vibrated against my skin and stopped my heart. I shivered. The other ripped away his black shirt with his claws. A rumble emitted from his throat.

Oh shit.
Things were getting out of hand, fast.

Then Zulu laughed. It came out bold and loud, rising above our heads and floating throughout the alley, thick with mocking and a promise of danger.

I hoped he had the power to back it up as the Shifters dropped on all fours in full lion form. They must have weighed five hundred pounds each.

Now what?

They crouched on their huge back paws, ready to pounce. Unsure of what was going to happen next, I increased my body’s heat to a blistering temperature.

“Tell your beasts to unshift, before I do it myself,” Zulu ordered.

“Then do it yourself. I’m not one of your half-brained followers.” Larry chuckled. “You’ll find no believers here.”

Zulu raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

The Were-lions’ fangs and claws disappeared. Their brown manes formed to splotchy skin and silver hair as they jumped away from us, retreating and shifting back to Human form before my eyes.

I almost kissed Zulu. Ray edged closer to Larry, towering over him.

Has Ray gotten taller? Maybe another foot.
And he was also bulky and wide. No more scrawny frame. He peered down at Larry, clenching his huge fists.

I wiped the oily sweat off my forehead, keeping my eyes on Larry as he paused in shock. He studied Zulu’s hands for a second, glanced at his Shifters, and then back to Zulu. “You can control their shifts?”

“Focus on the deal,” Zulu insisted.

“We both know there’s no deal.” Larry’s orange glowing eyes formed to red.

Fuck.

I scanned his body for a fire source and sensed it near his eyes.
I’ve got you, Larry.
He could only control fire with his eyes. He was just a lower-level Demon.

Larry crept closer to Zulu. I mimicked his movement. If he tried something, I would be prepared. The Were-lions were now in Human form, naked and several feet behind Larry.

Not much of a security team.

“You’ve been on my blocks, telling Mixies not to buy drugs,” Larry took another step forward. “Now you want to buy Hemo Drop from me? I’m not dumb.”

“Then why did you come?” Zulu asked.

“You killed Carmen.” I blurted out.

Everybody looked at me, except Ray. He seized the opportunity to advance on Larry. He was now a foot away.

“What?” Larry walked over to me.

Come to mama.
I dropped my hands to my sides. The atmosphere was dry and accommodating. I would have no difficulty creating fire.

Larry hissed, “Say that again.”