True. And knowing our luck, there’d be thousands of Michael Greenfields out there in the wider world. “I’ll get Stane on it, too.”
That’s if Stane hadn’t had enough of my near constant requests for help.
“Between us, we might be able to find something,” he said. “I’ll send you through what I’ve found, and I’ve asked Jason – the English mate – to copy you on any replies he makes. If you could do the same with Stane, I’d appreciate it.”
“Will do.” I hesitated, then added, “Now go home and be safe.”
“I really think you’re overreacting but —” He paused, frowning as he glanced at something offscreen. “That’s strange.”
“What?” I said, my heart leaping as fear surged through me.
“The lights in the foyer just went out.”
“Jak, get out of there. Use the stairs or something —” I stopped as the lights over his head went out, plunging him into darkness. “Jak? Move!”
“Moving as ordered,” he said, confusion and perhaps a touch of fear in his voice.
“Hide if you can. I’ll be there in a minute.” But if it was a vampire – if it was Hunter – then he didn’t even have a minute.
Which meant I had to get there now. And the quickest way to do that was to have Azriel take me. Changing into Aedh form might be fast for me nowadays, but travel wasn’t instantaneous. It was with Azriel.
“Problem?” Tao said.
I grabbed a jacket from the back of one of the chairs as I jumped off the table. It was sodden, but right then I didn’t care. My handbag was in my bedroom, and I needed a pocket to shove my phone into… the thought barely crossed my mind when Azriel appeared in front of me, holding out my handbag.
Thank you. I glanced at Tao as I swung the bag over my shoulder. “Jak’s in trouble. Can you ring the cops and the ambulance, and get them to his building ASAP?”
As Tao nodded and reached for his phone, Azriel caught my free hand and pulled me close. I had a brief moment to enjoy the press of his body against mine, to feel the warmth and strength of him, before his energy ripped through us both. He transported us through the gray fields so fast that the reapers’ ethereal, unworldly homes were little more than a bright blur. We re-formed into darkness. A darkness ripe with the metallic scent of blood.
Oh god…
Azriel? Can you see anything? I swung around, my nostrils flaring, trying to catch the source and location of the blood. Trying to discover if Jak was here.
Whether his attacker still was.
The vampire is to your left. He runs for the foyer doors. Azriel hesitated. Remember, reaper rules mean I cannot interfere unless he attacks you.
I didn’t care about his rules. Or being attacked. All I cared about was Jak – and he’d obviously never made it to the stairs.
No, Azriel said, mind voice soft. He dies, Risa.
If we get him to a hospital straightaway —
It will not make a difference. He would not survive being transported, anyway. He has not the strength left.
Grief swept through me, but it was twisted with fury. At Hunter, for doing this, and at myself, for involving Jak in our goddamn quest.
I drew Amaya. The flames that flickered down her side were fierce and angry. What did they do to him?
He has been gutted. And no reaper waits, as it is not his time.
Gutted him, not drained him. A deliberate choice on Hunter’s part, meant to kill with as much pain as possible. And if he died when there was no reaper here to guide his soul onward, then he would become one of the lost ones – a ghost forever trapped on the astral planes, never to move on and be reborn. Tears stung my eyes even as fury rolled through me. Damn it, no! Jak shouldn’t have to pay such a price for helping me. None of my friends should. It wasn’t fucking fair when I was doing the best that I could to find the damn keys.
I drew in a shuddery breath. Anger and grief could wait. There was a killer to hunt first.
Help Jak, I said. Don’t let him die without a soul guide, Azriel.
You know I cannot interfere…