Kissing with Fangs (3 page)

Who knew so many unique creatures were living right under their noses? His work could explain how ancient legends came about. He'd often wondered if these persistent stories had any basis in fact. But he'd be a laughingstock if he made claims of vampires and shapeshifters without solid proof.

“Aren't you going to feed the others?” Jules pointed to the cell at the end of the room.

He felt bad about the woman and her young son who claimed not to be vampires but said they needed blood to live. “Yeah, right. What do you want me to do? Walk in there and expose my neck?”

The merman smirked. “Sure. Why not? All in the name of science, right?”

Maynard snorted. The alleged vampires were beginning to look a bit gaunt and weak, but it seemed like the best way to keep them docile. The researchers had tossed a pig in there a couple days ago and after the mother and son had fed on it, practically draining it dry, they were suddenly much stronger. For a few moments, Maynard wasn't sure the iron bars would hold them.

The naked men in the unbreakable glass cell were just as difficult to manage. They were super strong too, which is why the scientists were using the gorilla room to hold them. They'd refused to transform but had been caught in the act of going from canine to human. Fortunately, none of these creatures seemed able to shake off a Taser on a high setting.

The merman was right. It was time to feed the specimens, but Maynard didn't dare do it without help. As soon as one of his colleagues arrived, they could handle it together.

***

Sadie was the only one who knew where Anthony's lair was located. She entered the Chinese restaurant, nodded to the woman behind the counter, and ambled into the kitchen at the back. The two cooks preparing food stopped and bowed slightly as she walked past, and she returned the respectful gesture.

Anthony had chosen this part of town to hide his scent from Ruxandra. Among the exotic spices and cooking odors, even the most astute nose could become confused. Moreover, there was a ready supply of animal blood nearby.

He had a sweet setup. During the day, he occupied an unused, completely dark storage room in the basement and locked it from the inside. At night, he had an apartment over the restaurant. The owners lived on the third floor and slept better knowing he spent most of his waking hours right over their precious family business.

When Sadie asked why Anthony didn't just keep a coffin in an apartment bedroom, he blanched. After some embarrassed hems and haws, he'd admitted he couldn't sleep in such a small enclosed space because he was claustrophobic. Not an ideal situation for a vampire.

No one had asked about his pale skin or odd hours, but the Chinese were no fools. Sadie figured they knew what he was and realized if they provided him shelter, he wouldn't bite the hand that fed him…or housed him, as it were.

Sadie crept up the stairs at the back of the kitchen and stopped at Anthony's door. It was midnight, so he should be at home. Then she caught herself. Anthony
used
to
be home by midnight after the bar closed. She didn't really know what he was doing with his evenings nowadays. She knocked anyway and waited.

“Who is it?” he called out.

“Sadie.”

He opened the door and greeted her with a warm hug. Well, it was emotionally warm anyhow. Physically he was always a bit chilly.

“Come in. I have company, but you're welcome to join us.”

“Oh. I thought I was the only one who knew where you were.”

“I had to tell one other person.”

Sadie glanced over Anthony's shoulder and recognized Kurt the wizard. She hadn't seen him since the bar burned and was delighted when she spotted his charming smile. “Kurt! How lovely to see you.”

He rose and surprised her with a big hug.

“Same here. I hope you brought your tarot cards, Sadie.”

“I don't go anywhere without them. Why? Do you need a reading?”

“I need a miracle.” He glanced at Anthony. “We all do.”

“Oh, dear.”

“Sit, Aunt Sadie.” Anthony gestured to the couch. “Can I get you some Chinese tea?”

She sighed. “If that's all you have.”

Kurt chuckled. “You were hoping for a White Russian?”

One corner of Sadie's mouth turned up. “You know me too well, but I was actually worried about the caffeine at this time of night.”

“You might need a little to sharpen your psychic senses,” Anthony said.

Her gift didn't work like that, but no one needed to know about her trances. As soon as she'd settled onto the couch, she pulled her tarot cards out of her large satchel and began shuffling them.

“I was kind of kidding about the tarot reading,” Kurt said. “I was told you don't really need the cards to do your psychic thing.”

“That's true. It's mostly for show, but sometimes just one card can lead me in the right direction. What's your question?”

“I'd like to know the location of the lab that's been capturing and holding paranormals.”

Sadie's jaw dropped. She'd always worried about humans other than Kurt and herself learning that paranormals were real and living among the residents of Boston. “How… When…”

“What I really need to know is
where
.”

“I understand, but I can't pinpoint locations.”

“But you said a card can point you in the right direction.”

“I meant that metaphorically.”

Anthony returned with a small bamboo tray, a cup of tea, a spoon, and a packet of sugar. “Here you go.”

Sadie took a sip and wrinkled her nose at the strange-tasting tea. She added some sugar to kill the unfamiliar taste and tried again. “Ah, that's better.” Setting the cup on the tea table, she said, “Tell me what's been going on. It sounds like I've missed something big.”

“A few paras have gone missing. All we have are rumors right now, but if what we suspect is true, we could lose a lot of friends before we put a stop to it,” Kurt said.

Anthony sat next to her. “I don't think it's a rumor. I think every paranormal's worst fear is coming true.”

“But how? Isn't the number one rule for all paranormals to keep their identity a secret?” she asked.

“It is. But somehow word has leaked out, and just as we feared, we're being hunted.”

“By whom and for what?”

Anthony snorted. “Scientists. The government. They could want our supernatural strength and healing power for an immortal military. I don't know.” He shook his head.

She laid a hand on his shoulder. “Anthony, did you keep the tea leaves?”

“Uh, no. I tossed them in the garbage. Do you read tea leaves?”

“Yes. I can sometimes figure out timelines by where the leaves land in the cup, but it still won't give me a location.”

“I can make more.” Anthony turned toward the kitchen, but she reached out and grabbed his arm. “Let me try the cards first.”

He nodded and sat nearby. Sadie shuffled them a bit more purposefully. “I'll tell you what I can. I've read you before, Kurt. Do you remember your indicator card?”

“The Hierophant.”

Kurt waited on the edge of his seat as Sadie gathered up her cards again. A card jumped out of the deck and fell right side up on the table. It was the Hierophant.

Sadie leaned back and stared at the card. “Now, I'm good, but I'm not
that
good.”

Kurt chuckled. “I figured you might need it, so I found it for you.”

Sadie shook her head and muttered, “Show-off wizard.”

Kurt's grin indicated he didn't take offense.

She placed the card in front of her and set the deck next to it. “Cut the deck and hand me the top card.”

Kurt did as she asked, and she placed the King of Swords over the Hierophant, sideways.

“Kings and queens indicate people and places.”

“That's good, right?” Kurt asked. “I mean, that's what I wanted to know.”

Not necessarily
. A king was a formidable foe, and swords meant he had a strategic plan. Sadie worried her lip and closed her eyes. Her deep, steady breaths helped her access the more psychic reaches of her mind. Kurt and Anthony remained silent, giving her the time she needed to get a vision, if one would come.

At last she was standing outside a nondescript three-story building. All seemed quiet. She didn't recognize it or the neighborhood, so that wasn't much help.
Maybe
if
I
astral-project to the roof, I can see a landmark.

Sadie entered a deep trance and saw out of her mind's eye as she floated up one story, two stories, three stories. At last she found the roof and directed her spirit body to land on it. Glancing around the area, she saw more buildings but none of them familiar. She sensed she was outside Boston proper in a pretty sketchy neighborhood, but she couldn't be sure exactly where. Cambridge? Somerville? Everything was densely packed, and taller buildings obscured her view. Additionally, she couldn't see any street signs.

Deciding to astral-project through the roof into the building, she hoped to view its contents and discover why she had projected there.

The third story held boxes and crates. Some had been pried open, and straw was strewn about the floor. Nothing interesting there, so she continued sinking through the third floor into the ceiling of the second. She found herself in an office. It seemed like this might be an old factory. There was a wall of windows and a metal walkway just outside the office. She imagined the supervisors keeping an eye on things by gazing down at the factory floor.

That seemed like a good idea, so she floated through the wall and stood on the walkway. What she saw shocked her. Cages. Some small enough to hold a rabbit, others large enough to hold a man. Then she spotted a group cell—a very large, glassed-in area with two naked men, a naked woman, and a naked child inside. If that wasn't upsetting enough, a few giant fish tanks stood against the opposite wall. She spotted one with a man inside…and he had a fishtail!

Sadie was about to get closer when a security guard rushed toward her from her right.
Can
he
see
me?

“You there. Halt!”

Crap! He can!
How he was able to see her in astral form wasn't important at the moment. Getting out of there was.

She shot up through the ceiling and then through the next one, willing herself to return to her body in Anthony's apartment.

Just as she arrived on the roof, her spirit snapped itself back into her body and she fell over.

“Sadie!” Anthony was lifting her upright in a nanosecond. “Are you okay?”

Sadie took a deep breath and allowed her calm to return. “I'm fine. At least I will be. I astral-projected into an old factory and had to snap back into my body abruptly.”

“Had to?” Kurt asked.

“I was spotted.”

Kurt's shocked expression said it all. “Who or what could have possibly seen you in astral form?”

“That's what I'd like to know,” she said. “His speech and uniform seemed old-fashioned, and he carried a nightstick.”

“Are you thinking it might have been a spirit?” Anthony asked. “Maybe an old-time cop or security guard?”

“I can't come up with any other plausible explanation.”

“Did he seem cognizant? Interested in what you were doing there?”

“Oh, yes. He shouted and began running toward me.”

“Great.” Kurt tossed his hands in the air. “So, even if we find the place, it's haunted and we can't hide from an invisible guard. Do you think the scientists know he's there?”

“I don't know. I'm sorry I panicked,” Sadie said.

Anthony patted her hand. “Don't apologize. You did the right thing.”

“This has never happened to me before. Do you think he could do anything to us?”

Kurt paced. “I wish I knew.”

Just then the phone rang.

***

“Anthony?”

A slight hesitation on the other side of the line made Claudia wonder if she should have called.
For
God's sake. I was rip-roaring drunk and passed out on him. He probably never wants to hear from me again.

“Claudia. How are you feeling?” he finally asked.

“I'm…better.” She plopped down onto her couch and set the dust rag on the end table beside her. “I just wanted to apologize.”

“Apologize? For what?”

She sighed. “Where do I start? My behavior. My parents… Thank you for covering for me, by the way.”

“Stop,” he said. “You have nothing to apologize for. I should have checked on you much sooner.”

“Why? You're not responsible for me.”

“I…” There was that hesitation again.

“Anthony, is something wrong?”

He sighed. “No. Well, yes, but it's being handled.”

She waited, hoping he'd offer more. When he didn't, she debated what to do. Prod? Leave it alone? What if he needed a friend and she could return the support he'd given her?

“Anthony, tell me. I don't want to see you suffer any more than you wanted me to.”

“I can't.”

Simple
as
that? He can't?
“Whatever it is, it can't be worse than what you saw me going through. Please, let me help.”

She heard a voice in the background, which was quickly muffled. She pictured Anthony covering the phone.

“Oh. It sounds like I'm interrupting something.”

“No. It's fine. We were just finishing up. Kurt said to tell you hello.”

Then she heard a female voice.

“Sadie too.”

“It sounds like you're having a reunion. Can I come?” Claudia slapped a hand over her mouth.
Why
did
I
invite
myself? If he'd wanted me there, he'd have asked me. What a dumbass move.