"Penthouse suite," he said. "Believe me, they were probably thrown into the sea a long time ago. "
"How many people do you think are left in the main building now? I've wiped out all the men in this wing of the building, and one woman. "
"Aren't you the feisty one!" he sighed. "How should I know? I can make a guess. Rodrigo, his two bodyguards, maybe a goon or two to fetch, and maybe . . . maybe . . . Miravelle and Lorkyn. It's a party in the first-floor bridal suite, that's Rodrigo's home away from home, one level above, dead center looking out to sea. Or so his mother told me. " He pointed to the dead mother. "I'd love to shoot one of the goons, assuming you haven't taken care of all of them. "
"What about women? Does Rodrigo bring other women here? Are there likely to be some innocent guests up there?"
"Very unlikely," he said, head to one side. "If there are guests, they're dirty. This is a hideaway, a depot. Which has always given me the faint hope of seeing more of Miravelle or Lorkyn. You know, female
Taltos are always, shall we say, feverish for fun? There's inevitably a slight issue of blood, but it comes afterwards and can be dealt with privately. And the milk! Well, let me tell you, the milk's delicious. Human beings can use them ad nauseam. "
"All right, wait here for us, don't shoot anybody unless you have to and we'll take you out of here, Mona and Quinn, come. "
"I have no intention of being left behind," said Oberon. He checked the gun in his belt. "I'll follow you. I told you I want to shoot a goon or two. Besides, if Lorkyn and Miravelle are here I want to see them. They're my sisters, for the love of Heaven. You think I'm going to sit in this room and listen for bullets flying?"
"Don't you know by their scent if they're here?" asked Mona.
He gave another amazingly soft laugh. "The males give off the scent, Grandmother," he retorted. "You should have studied up on the breed. "
"That's what I'm trying to do," she said bitterly, the tears spilling. "Rescue it and study up on it, Oberon, my darling dear! I've come a long way to find you, you blessed little sweetheart of a thing. What a joy it is that we've met. I warned you, you call me Granny or Grandmother one more time, and I may just knock you flat on your back. "
Rolling sarcastic laughter. "Okay, Toots," he said. "No more slips of the tongue. And you are gorgeous. "
He stood up and stretched like a cat. Gave her a warped smile.
"Have any of you brilliant and crafty and conscientious Blood Thieves lifted a cell phone off your human victims? I want to call Rowan Mayfair. "
"I have my own," said Quinn. "And I did lift a couple. But it's too early to call. Let's move. "
"Well, come on, you little sugar pot," Oberon said, offering Mona his hand. "Let's go kill Rodrigo so he can be with his mother. And then we'll come back for Saint Juan Diego. "
"Why do you like him so much?" I asked.
"Who, Rodrigo?" he asked. Big raise of his eyebrows. "I detest the man, I assure you. "
"No, Saint Juan Diego," I said.
"Oh. " Laugh. "I told you. I went to the Cathedral. Besides, when Lucia told me he'd been made a saint, I
prayed to him for a miracle. " Suddenly his eyes got wide. "Good Lord!" he said.
"What is it?" I asked. "Something has come as a surprise to the Cynic for All Seasons?"
"Don't you see?" He was flabbergasted. "Saint Juan Diego answered my prayer! You're the miracle!"
Chapter 26
26
RODRIGO WASN'T A SLOB. The lobby was clean, not a scrap of paper on the desk or in it.
Nevertheless, the hotel had the air of a haunted place, having been robbed of its vitality and purpose.
Mammoth kitchen, machines grinding away, countertops clean except for fresh trays littered with fancy china, remnants of lobsters, glasses of milk, fish bones, etc.
No human presence.
"Don't you see what that means?" Oberon said, staring at the plates. "That's Taltos food, all white. They very well might be up there. " He was sloughing off his languor, growing even slightly excited.