The Elder Blood Chronicles Bk 1 In Shades of Grey (33 page)

He kept himself moving until he spotted her
in the shadows of his normal perch. He had circled the warehouse
four times now and his nerves were on edge. He was sure Hemlock was
no longer in the area, but he couldn’t be positive. The man hadn’t
stayed alive as long as he had without talent. He was too much of a
bastard to survive without it. He crossed to where Isador waited
and forced himself back to calm. Between the two of them, Hemlock
didn’t stand a chance.

“Any sign of him?” she asked as he crouched
down beside her.

“Not since I looked away from him like a
fool,” Charm admitted bitterly.

“Any idea what spell was cast?” she
asked.

“No, none at all, but there is a light on in
there now. That must be a good sign. It has been dark for most of
the night.”

Isador focused on the warehouse and he felt a
very faint flux of magic from her. “There are three Immortal life
patterns inside there, and…” she paused, and cocked her head in
confusion, then looked at him. “And a Bendazzi,” she finished.

“A what?” he stammered. He knew he had heard
her correctly but it made no sense whatsoever. Bendazzi were
northern predators and never left the sheltered mountains and deep
forests they had claimed as their own.

“A Bendazzi,” she repeated. “And before you
ask, yes, I am sure. I don’t understand it any more than you do,”
she added with a shrug.

“That makes no sense at all,” he said,
voicing his thoughts.

“None at all, but I’m sure we will get
answers in the morning. I’ll stay here with you tonight, and we
will double our shift now that Hemlock has shown an interest.”

He nodded his agreement. “Find out anything
interesting tonight?” he asked, his eyes still scanning the shadows
with paranoia. He felt like a child after a ghost story.

“Cassia tried to order her brother to have
Sovaesh kill Jala,” she said casually.

“How did that work out?” Charm asked with a
sigh, wondering if he needed to be watching for Sovaesh, as
well.

“Apparently Sovaesh convinced him it was a
bad idea and to wait. Cassia was quite upset,” Isador answered with
a smile. “She is convinced it is all Finn’s fault and was begging
Lord Rivasa’s revolting son to duel him on the morrow when I left,”
she finished.

“Did she actually think the boy would have a
chance against Finn? From what I hear, if he could joust he would
be the next Lutheron,” Charm said in disbelief.

“I’m not sure. I think she might have. She
can be a bit unrealistic,” Isador shrugged.

He settled himself more and pressed his side
against hers to share a bit of warmth. “We all can be, I suppose,
but that involves another’s life. Do you think he will accept?” he
asked.

She gave a nod in answer. “He thinks quite
highly of himself and would go far out of his way to gain Cassia’s
approval. Her father would have done better to betroth her to that
fool. He caters to her more than Christian ever will.” With a sigh,
she leaned her head on his shoulder and watched the darkness
warily. It looked as though they were going to have a long
wait.

Hemlock watched the two Fionaveir for a time,
amused by their paranoia. It was good to know he could still
frighten others so easily. With a sigh, he left the district. He
hated leaving such good entertainment behind, but then, he had
things to do. He was a man of many responsibilities now and had
made his decision on the girl. No doubt Shade would be grateful.
Perhaps he would send a few of his lesser blades against her, but
he himself wouldn’t act. With Charm and Isador watching over her,
the lesser blades wouldn’t have a chance, of course. He could still
collect the contract fees, half the fees anyway, which would more
than cover the cost of the lives he meant to throw away. He would
profit then, and girl would stay alive, while he would have
entertainment watching it all. It was a rather good arrangement, he
thought.

Content, he dropped down into an alley and
crossed into the next district, making straight for the portal
stone. This particular stone had a rune on it that would send the
High Lords into fits if they knew of it. But, they would never know
of it. Only a select few did, and they were quite good with
secrets.

He brushed the rune as he approached, giving
it just a trace of magic to activate it as he stepped through the
arch, his pace never slowing. The dim glow of the city streets
disappeared at once turning to the bright white light of Kali’s
parlor.

“Good evening, Hemmy,” Kali called from
across the room. She was without her customary covering tonight and
her long white hair trailed loose behind her, nearly brushing the
floor. Her skin was as pale as an albino with thick black stripes
marking the arms and legs. The few that had ever had a chance to
see such marks, thought them tattoos. Hemlock knew better, however.
He knew Kali never altered herself.

He took another minute admiring the woman’s
exotic beauty and the form-fitting black dress she wore and nodded.
“Good evening to you, Kali. How goes your newest game?”

“All done. Care to see?” She asked
needlessly. She of course knew that was exactly why he was
there.

“As always, I eagerly wait to see your newest
creation. Will it be better than the Bendazzi?” He asked. Her cat
creatures had been truly impressive. When she had released them
years ago, she had done so in such numbers the death toll was
obscene before anyone had actually realized what was hunting them.
Combine the numbers with the creature’s abilities and the hunters
had not fared well at all. Even now the creatures still thrived in
the most remote of the wilds. Few hunters cared to go after the
beasts.

“Oh, it is so much better. Just wait, I have
learned so much from my other creations and I’ve put everything
into this one,” Kali purred with excitement. She motioned him to
follow and led him quickly through winding halls and down into her
basement. She did all of her work below ground and the wards on
this part of her home were better than any High Lord could boast.
They passed several holding cells with glass fronts that somewhat
imitated a zoo, Hemlock mused. Most were empty now but a few held
specimens. Hemlock paused his steps as he passed a cell holding a
Genji, noting the creature’s hunched posture and oil black skin
reflecting the light. The creature cowered.

“Aren’t your little goblins typically hive
creatures?” He asked.

Kali glanced back toward the creature and
slowed her own steps. “Yes, yes, but I needed that one for some
samples. The Genji have remarkable resistances. Poison is wasted on
them, and they are entirely immune to disease. Even the plague that
hit Veir didn’t affect my little gobbies.” She motioned for him to
follow again and set off once more at the brisk pace.

She led him into another room and closed the
door behind them. She was fairly bouncing as she took him by the
hand and led him to another cell. From what he could see, the room
was entirely empty, with only a bed and chair inside, which he
found curious. He glanced at her and found her watching him with an
impish smile. There was of course the possibility that she was
simply having a bit of fun at his expense, but that didn’t seem
likely. He knew Kali too well, and that wasn’t her way.

“Looks empty, eh?” She grinned as she spoke.
Leaning forward, she tapped on the glass lightly. “Show yourself to
my guest, beautiful, and I’ll find you something tasty.”

The air directly on the other side of the
glass seemed to shimmer slightly, and Hemlock found himself face to
face with a man who was naked and appeared Elder Blood for the most
part. It was little things that set him apart from the immortals,
small details that were impossible to miss. The eyes to start with.
They fairly glowed, even in the bright light, and had cat-like
pupils. Hemlock broke from the creature’s gaze and looked to its
hands. Each finger ended in a talon around two inches in length.
And the feet were clawed as well, he noted. “Tell me of it,
please,” he urged Kali, knowing she would be eager to share her
latest work with someone.

“You have seen his talent for hiding. I
improved on my Bendazzi’s camouflage and now it’s nearly impossible
to find this one. He has no scent for trackers, none at all. He can
see in pitch blackness and he moves with speed unlike anything else
I have ever made.” She paused and motioned to the creature. With a
last long look at Hemlock, the thing vanished again. He felt his
skin prickle a bit knowing it was so close and likely watching him.
“Those are not the best parts of my newest children, however,” she
said at last and led him to a small table.

He sat when she motioned to a chair and
remained silent, willing her to continue. What she had described so
far would be dangerous enough. If there was more to this creation
he would know it before he left here. She poured wine for the two
of them and took a chair opposite him and smiled.

“Their first instinct is to mate with the
most exceptional being they can find. I’m afraid the mating isn’t
exactly a gentle process, and not many will enjoy it, but alas all
things cannot be perfect. The reproduction cycle on them is short,
far shorter than any would expect. Two months on most creatures and
the babes grow quite quickly.” She paused and took a sip from her
wine. He nodded for her to continue and she seemed quite pleased by
his interest. “It is not a normal labor. The children tend to rip
themselves right out of mommy. Whereupon, they of course have a
ready food source from whatever is left of mommy. They will scan
the mind, if the woman is still alive, and scan the minds of
anything living in the area to glean all knowledge that they may
need for their current environment. With the food they gain from
the host mother, they grow very quickly. On average, from what I’ve
seen, one meal will bring one of them to around five by our own
standard of age.”

“Are there no females of this species?” he
asked, glancing back at the cell. The implications of the species
Kali would be releasing were devastating. The death toll from the
Bendazzi would be laughable in comparison, and if these creatures
grew as quickly as she said the prison would be overrun in a few
short years. He considered that thought briefly, trying to decide
if that would upset him.

Kali nodded in answer. “Oh, yes, of course
there are, they are quite interesting, as well. I’ve watched a few
of them, and it seems they know when a child is ready to rip free.
They do not die from the birth. They tear themselves open and
remove the child before it can do too much damage. With the
regeneration I have given them, it leaves the mother wounded, but
nothing she won’t recover from. It’s quite impressive
actually.”

Hemlock nodded and took a drink of his own
wine. “All in all, your most impressive work to date,” he said with
a nod of respect.

“They have the Genji’s immunities to poison
and disease, the Bendazzi’s resistance to magic, the serpent’s
endurance and stamina, and the looks of the Elder Blooded. They can
hide the claws and talons if they wish. With the proper clothes and
manners, one of my children could walk openly down the streets of
Sanctuary and no one would even realize death was amongst them,”
Kali said with pride.

“Have you informed Lord Morcaillo of your
success?” he asked. The thought amused him. He wondered if
Mythandar had any idea what he had asked for.

“Indeed I have, I have already released some
of them near Glis. Given the shifters that live in that area, I
believe it will be several months before the locals realize it
isn’t a rogue shifter killing them.” Kali leaned back in her chair
with a long satisfied sigh. “I think this might be my last game,
Hemmy, I think I’ve finally got it perfect.”

Hemlock nodded his head slowly. “They are
certainly impressive, Kali. What do you call them?”

“Blights, they are my Blight children. No
family tree will survive them,” she answered happily.

“Jala,” Sovann called softly from the
doorway. She stirred slightly, lifting her head from Finn’s
shoulder.

“I’m going to kill you, Sovann,” Finn
grumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

“Shade is on his way, Jala. He contacted me
wanting me to help him find you. I told him you were here and safe.
He is on his way here now,” Sovann said.

“Then I’m going to kill you and him and get
more sleep, then kill Madren,” Finn growled and pulled the blanket
up further.

“A day just chocked full of homicide, how
nice. I’m sure Mother will be proud,” Sovann returned
sarcastically.

“I’ll be up in a moment,” Jala said quietly
and began to disentangle herself from the blankets and Finn. Finn
gave another grumble, and she had to smother a laugh. “Fierce
warrior, eh. Most dangerous when roused from sleep?” she
teased.

He opened an eye and gave her a glower. She
snickered and threw back the last of the blankets and sat up. With
no warning whatsoever, he pulled her back down quickly and covered
them both with the blankets again. She gave a light squeal of
surprise and found herself tucked right back beside him, from where
she had just escaped.

“I hate mornings and I hate sleeping alone,”
he said quietly, his breath warm on her throat. She felt the hairs
on the back of her neck rise and shivered. “I was comfortable, and
it’s still too early. Shade and Sovann can both rot.”

“I need to talk to Shade,” she objected and
tried to squirm back out from under his arm. He twisted his arm
slightly and shifted his position. She was now pressed against him,
her back against his chest and his arm wrapped tightly around her
waist holding her firm. Her objections died in her throat. She felt
her breath catch slightly and hoped Finn hadn’t noticed. With
skilled fingers, he traced a path across her stomach.