Wait for Dusk (26 page)

“Valerio!” I shouted, throwing my hands up in frustration. I wasn’t even close to being done interrogating our prisoner. I needed to know more about the warlock that was apparently working with the lycans, and by extension, the nightwalkers. This kind of collaboration wasn’t something that set me at ease. Sure, at one time in my own domain my own people had gotten along with the lycanthropes, and I had a scattering of associates that were witches and warlocks. But this arrangement in Budapest was distinctly different and completely unsettling. The warlocks and lycanthropes were acting as muscle for the nightwalkers during the daylight hours, extending that species’ power more than it should have.

“Sorry,” he said sheepishly, flashing me a weak smile. “I don’t know my own strength sometimes.”

“Is he still alive?”

“Yes,” Valerio said, sounding put off that I would think he had so little control. “He’s just unconscious. I am assuming that you want him awake when I kill him. Or should I call Stefan back? I’m sure he’d be happy to finish off this fleabag.”

“Leave him alive. I promised him to Stefan later. Right now, we need him conscious so we can get more information out of him. I need to know who this warlock is.”

Valerio sighed as he stepped over Ferko’s unconscious form and started to walk over to where he had left his coat folded over a tree limb. “We don’t need him for that.”

“Of course we do,” I snapped, trailing behind him. “The lycans that attacked Danaus during the day were accompanied by a warlock.”

“The night that we met with Veyron, Mira and I were attacked by a magic user,” Danaus interjected. “I’m willing to bet that it’s the same one. A city generally doesn’t have that many powerful magic users on hand.”

Valerio turned and arched one eyebrow at us as he pulled on his coat. “Agreed. Warlocks aren’t very good at sharing. However, in this town, I would be reluctant to make such an assumption. It seems like everyone is working together here.”

“Too true. Nightwalkers directing lycanthropes. Warlocks protecting lycanthropes.”

“I’m surprised that they haven’t also struck a deal with the naturi,” Danaus added, earning a dark look from me. We didn’t need to discuss potential deals with the naturi. We had already been down that route and the outcome was never pretty. The last time such a thing was spoken of, I ended up on the coven.

“The naturi don’t like to make deals,” I said. “Besides, Rowe’s running around the city with his own personal band of followers. Their only agenda is to get their hands on me so they can hand me over to Aurora. He’s not going to be into making deals with anyone. At least, I hope not.”

“Unlikely,” Valerio agreed.

“Thanks,” I grumbled, but then turned my attention back to our problem at hand. With the toe of my scuffed black boot, I turned Ferko over so he was lying awkwardly on his back with one arm trapped under his body. His mouth was slack as blood trickled out of the corner and dripped onto the melting snow. “What about the warlock?”

“It’s likely that it’s Clarion,” Valerio stated.

“Clarion? I’m afraid I’ve never heard of him.”

“He’s given me a little trouble in Vienna. He’s a powerful warlock who is based in Budapest, but he’s come around some of the other big cities surrounding Budapest, looking to expand the reach of his . . . domain,” Valerio said, struggling for the right word.

Warlocks and witches were not known for having a domain. They tended to settle in a central location for a time, and operated exclusively in that region until they either died, grew bored, or were run off by someone more powerful. They didn’t have followers or minions like nightwalkers or lycanthropes. And they didn’t try to expand the reach of their home territory. This didn’t sound good at all, and it clearly explained why Valerio was interested in this little trip to Budapest. It was a chance to make a grab at his annoying neighbor, possibly scaring him into a new location if he didn’t simply kill him.

“So you think that Clarion is the one working with the nightwalkers and lycanthropes?” Danaus asked.

Valerio gave a noncommittal shrug. “Possibly. Did you get a good look at him?”

“No, not at all. Just say a vague outline in the darkness.” Danaus shoved his hands into the pockets of his long leather coat as he frowned at the vampire. “In the hotel room, I was too worried about keeping the lycanthropes away from where I
thought
Mira was. I could only sense his power in the air, marking him as a warlock.”

“On the way to Veyron’s, I got only a glimpse of the figure on the rooftop. No details,” I admitted with no small amount of frustration. “But what are the odds that there is more than one powerful warlock in the region?”

“Pretty good, unfortunately,” Valerio stated, pulling a growl out of me. I felt like I had stepped in quicksand. With every movement, I was getting sucked further down into the thickening insanity that permeated every inch of the dark occult side of Budapest. I was seriously beginning to long for my home of Savannah—away from Veyron, his flunkies, and the schemes of Macaire, which I had yet to figure out.

“How is that possible?” Danaus demanded. “I didn’t think warlocks and witches played well together. Too territorial. Even more so than nightwalkers and lycanthropes.”

“It’s true, but this one seems to have found someone that he does get along well with. I have encountered Clarion only a few times during the past several years, but I had heard that he doesn’t work alone. There’s another magic user that he associates with here in Budapest. Unfortunately, I don’t know whether it’s a warlock or a witch yet. I can’t gauge the creature’s strength, but can only guess that he or she is at least as powerful as Clarion or he wouldn’t bother with this creature.”

“You mean, he would have either killed the person or pressured him or her out of the region already,” I said.

“True.”

“So what’s our next step? Do we go after Veyron?” Danaus asked. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to deduct that he sent a hit squad after you,” he added, bringing a frown to my lips. “You were expecting him to send some people after you.”

“Yes, but the problem is that I was expecting him to send humans with big guns and wooden stakes, not a pack of werewolves with a warlock as backup. That makes this whole situation more complicated, Mr. Rocket Scientist,” I said, not caring how bitchy I was starting to sound. We were all getting more than a little frustrated by Veyron and his minions, and that didn’t get us any closer to taking care of the naturi infestation we were originally sent to take care of. I might have let Rowe slip through my fingers tonight, but I wasn’t through with the one-eyed naturi. I wasn’t going before Aurora again unless I had an edge that would finally take the naturi queen down. In the meantime, I needed to take care of Rowe so he wasn’t constantly at my back with a knife.

“We first need to understand the power structure in Budapest.” Valerio artfully wrapped his dark red scarf around his neck, showing the same skill as when he tied a cravat a few centuries ago just prior to our attending the various balls and soirees that filled our evenings together in Europe. “If we aren’t careful, we could kill a simple pawn, which would leave the bulk of the power structure intact and us vulnerable to retaliation.”

“Agreed. We need to be sure we take them all out before we leave Budapest,” I said, smirking at his close attention to his scarf. Valerio shrugged, unmoved by my teasing.

Danaus frowned at us both, determined not to be distracted. “Could that be what Macaire planned all along? Why he’s here now? If we destroy the reigning power players in Budapest, it will leave it vulnerable enough for him to move in and take over.”

“I doubt it was his plan since he prefers to stay close to Venice,” I replied.

Valerio reached into his pockets and pulled out a pair of supple leather gloves, which he proceeded to pull on. “Besides, Mira has spoiled that plan by claiming Budapest as her own. She may not truly want it, but she is the keeper of this domain now. As keeper, it’s her responsibility to clean out old management.”

“Which you approve of,” Danaus sneered. “Being as Budapest is so close to Vienna and you’re sure that Mira won’t encroach on your territory.”

“You make it sound like it’s awful that I approve of Mira’s new acquisition. Of course I like having her close at hand once again.” Valerio paused and narrowed his dark eyes on the hunter as a wicked grin spread across his full lips. “Mira and I have a long history. It would be nice to have her around again.”

Danaus took a step forward, his hand dropping down to his waist where I knew he kept an assortment of knives. Valerio was taunting him, seeing how far he could push Danaus. I had no doubt that he was also testing how far my relationship with Danaus went. The Ancient nightwalker smiled at the hunter, his fangs peeking out from under his upper lip. I didn’t have time for this chest beating and territorial pissing. We needed to find Clarion.

“Enough!” I shouted, placing a hand on both their chests. “I need to find Clarion. Do you have any useful suggestions?”

Valerio laid his hand over mine, stroking my fingers in an attempt to annoy Danaus just a little bit more. I was about to smash my fist into his jaw. Instead I shoved. Valerio simply stood there, smiling down at me. “A coffeehouse called Gerbeaud Cukrászda,” he said. “It’s been around for ages and is located in Central Pest between the Chain Bridge and the Elizabeth Bridge. Any taxi driver should be able to locate it with no problems. I can come along—”

“No,” I said sharply, causing his smile to widen. I was beginning to think that he and Danaus had spent more than enough time together. I knew that I had already spent enough time with Valerio. This was a case of too much of a good thing. “There are naturi hanging out on one of the islands in the Danube. Last I saw, there were three islands in the region. I want you to go check them out.”

“This is my punishment. Taking on the naturi alone?” he demanded incredulously.

“Would I be so cold?”

“Yes.”

I smiled up at my friend for the first time, shaking my head. “I’m not asking you to hunt the naturi. I simply want you to locate them for me. Find which island they have claimed as their own. It will be easier for the four of us to hunt them down if we are sure of their ultimate location. Don’t engage if you can help it. Meet us later tonight back at my hotel room.”

“Aren’t you planning to change hotel rooms? Or are you planning to stay with me in Vienna?”

“I’m staying at the Gellért,” I said. “I’m not leaving Budapest again until this mess has been cleaned up.”

“It’s not safe.”

“Danaus will be there. I’ll be safe.”

“As you wish,” Valerio said with an easygoing shrug of his broad shoulders. He took a single step backward away from Danaus and me before disappearing from sight. I looked forward to the day when I attained that ability. It would be so much easier than trying to grab a car or a plane or any other vehicle to get from point A to point B.

My eyes strayed over to Danaus’s face and I winced inwardly. The hunter was not happy with me, and it was most likely Valerio’s fault. Of course, Danaus could also still be upset over my choice to control him than use my own powers. My excuse had been extraordinarily thin and weak. I didn’t think he actually bought it, but then I had been desperate and we weren’t exactly in the best spot to discuss it. To my glee, we still weren’t. The night was fading away and we still had to locate Clarion.

“I know.” I sighed. “He’s a complete pain in the ass.”

“Reminds me of someone else I know.”

“Yeah, well, that could be a long list. You’ll have to narrow it down for me.” We glared at each other before finally turning in separate directions. I looked over at Ferko to find that he had yet to move from where he lay. I didn’t expect him to be unconscious much longer. He’d eventually pick himself up and scurry back off to Veyron to complain about the slaughter of his people. If Ferko was lucky, our destruction of the local pack might succeed in drawing out a few of the nightwalkers. I had a sinking feeling that this entire town needed to be thinned out. Veyron and his gang had a negative influence on everyone there, like a sickness eating away at the brain tissue.

“How is Valerio going to track down the naturi if he can’t sense them?” Danaus asked, surprising me with his concern.

I smiled up at my companion as we trudged back through the woods toward the car we had stolen shortly after sunset. “He’s a smart guy. He’ll figure it out. A place where the humans have been murdered at an alarming rate, a heavily wooded area, or just a place where humans are afraid to tread. That’s enough to ferret out the naturi.”

“You’re using humans as a guide?”

“Sure, they’ve got a natural sixth sense about danger.”

“Then why do they flock to vampires?”

“I never said they were very good about listening to it. Besides, we’re not trying to kill them, just feed off them. The naturi are the ones that actually want them dead.”

“Nice rationale,” Danaus said as he walked around to the driver’s side and opened the door.

“Yeah, I thought so.”

Danaus paused, standing next to the car with the door open. He stared at me over the roof of the little car. “We’re hunting a warlock?”

“We’re just going to have a nice little chat over coffee,” I corrected with a shaky smile. I was beginning to think that Valerio had the easier task. For a brief moment I thought about reaching out to Stefan and requesting that he come along. However, I pushed the idea away as I climbed into the stolen car. Stefan needed some time to cool off and get back in control of his temper. As surprising as it was to me, he had lost someone important to him simply because she was beautiful. Michelle deserved better than that, and Stefan was determined to give it to her. He would need to kill both Odelia and Ferko to have his revenge. Unfortunately, to help him succeed, I first needed to deal with a warlock that was determined to see me dead.

Chapter Nineteen

G
erbeaud Cukrászda was stunning. I’d grown accustomed to cramped, dark little coffeehouses with people hunched over laptops or hiding behind a newspaper. But Gerbeaud Cukrászda was an old traditional Hungarian coffeehouse with its enormous arched windows looking out onto the city. Gold gilt and crystal chandeliers hung from domed ceilings, casting the room in a warm glow. Along the walls were rich wood sideboards that held delicate pieces of ancient china with slightly faded patterns, worn by the massive passage of time.