Crimson Sword Stalker Read online

  Gloria yelled in a strange language, words sharp and angry.

  Kain remained calm. He pointed at a wall and each painting flipped over, showing new images. Every single one: me and Gloria. They weren’t the kind that should be seen, not that they were pornographic, just intense. Intimate. They caught moments when one of us was distracted, the other observing; stealing glances from a naked soul.

  I downed my drink, set the empty glass on the floor, and lit my cigar. “So, you’ve been spying on both of us?”

  “I’ve seen that which you will not admit to one another. I decided that I must act before my own heart breaks. So, please forgive an old man’s meddling.”

  “I do not want to risk the friendship I have with Caine,” Gloria said.

  “It is time to consolidate power, my dear.” Kain took a sip of bourbon. “You must wed by my command or challenge me for the throne. I insist on giving you a mate you can appreciate. Where will your esteemed friendship go if some other husband commands you to lift your hand against Caine? Many in our community have rightfully grown alarmed at the power he has gathered. They fill threatened.”

  “Still…” Gloria trailed off, well able to see that her only real options were to give in or kill the oldest vampire of all. Neither appetizing.

  I sigh. “Okay, how about this; I become her consort, and no one has to know what goes on in the bedroom—or what doesn’t. And if we want to stay merely friends in private, we’ll have that choice.”

  Gloria slanted me a probing glance. “You’d do that?”

  “Sure. What’s one more wife. Since it’s known I’m already spread thin that way, I wouldn’t be expected to cohabitate with you on a year-round basis.” It also meant I didn’t have to conquer the vampires to get them on my side. Few of them would risk angering Gloria, let alone Kain.

  Kain lit his cigar and took a couple puffs. “I want your union to be more than show, but I will not force the issue. I have faith that—as you draw together to face down willful holdouts—true passion will fire and hormones will do the rest. Both of you are weak against one another. That’s what I’m counting on.”

  “So, what’s next?” I asked.

  “A formal ball here at my estate with all the vampire Masters of the Cities summoned to bear witness of your formal betrothal. As is the way of our people, they can voice their objections—and have them dismissed. Those few that grow too insistent may challenge me for the throne.” He took another puff. “As my champion, either of you can meet them sword to sword for the right to do as you please.”

  “I’ll take those fights,” I asked.

  “That, I will not allow.” Gloria glared at us both. “I fight my own battles and do my own killing.”

  Kain nodded. “Certainly, we wouldn’t want to steal your fun. And if Caine shows he is strong enough protects you, others might say we sold him our princess to buy our safety—that our fate is not in our own hands. We can’t have that. Even married, Gloria will rule our people. Caine will be seen as merely her sexual plaything.”

  “Damn vampire politics!” I muttered.

  I’m going to find someway to take those fights.

  A servant came running up to the throne. He offered a hasty bow. “My Lord, we are besieged!”

  Kain drained his bourbon and tapped out the cigar. He left the glass and still smoldering cigar on the arm of the throne, standing. “How many attackers?”

  “Two, my Lord. There is a lady breaking in the door. She is attended by a monster.”

  Kain’s eyes burned with more that battle lust. “A lady? Is she attractive?”

  “A goddess, my Lord. A redhead in a chain mail bikini with a massive sword. The beast with her is a giant red centipede-demon.”

  “Bikini, you say? Interesting challenge. Fetch me a chain cutter and a can of Raid.”

  “Yes, my Lord.” The servant hurried off.

  “She’s here with me,” I said.

  Kain laughed. “Oh, nice try, Caine, but you can’t have all the beautiful women in the world. Even you have limits.”

  “No, honest. She calls herself the Red Centipede Rider. She’s a goddess from this hell-dimension I escaped from during the Old Man’s Las Vegas wedding. Since I accidentally brought her here, I took responsibility by helping her get settled. And she’s my ride.”

  “One should never keep a beautiful woman waiting, goddess or not. Let’s go greet the lady.” Kain lead the way across the throne room, quickly bringing us to the foyer of the house where the left and right wings merged.

  A servant met us with a silver tray. On the tray was a cutter and a can of insecticide.

  Red occupied the gap where a door had been kicked in, but she’d made little more progress, having to keep her willful mount from following her. The saddled centipede was too big for the entrance, but not quite convinced of it.

  The Rider glared. “I told you to stay out there. I won’t be long.”

  Even from the back, she looked damned fine. The chain mail bikini did little to hide her wondrous pear-shaped ass. Most of her back was bare, the chain bra’s strap hid under a full-bodied cascade of red curls. Well-muscled, she easily towered six-feet. The sword strapped diagonally across her back appeared nearly as long. Her gloves and boots were made of russet-brown leather.

  Though decidedly fuckable, I hadn’t gotten around to trying her out. Keeping my existing harem happy while conquering the multiverse was time-consuming.

  Kain took the cutter in hand.

  “I wouldn’t mess with the bug-spray,” I whispered. You’ll just make it mad.”

  He considered the giant bug. “You might be right.”

  Hearing us, Red Centipede Rider spun in place. Her gaze slid across Kain and Gloria, to me. Her expression warmed with a smile. “Caine, there you are! I got bored and there are no convenience stores near here. And Horatio is starving! I barely stopped him from going after the guard dogs.”

  “Those are Carpathian wolves,” Kain said. “They are released at night and would put up a fierce battle.”

  “Centipedes are poisonous,” I said. “To the side of those black mandibles, those hornlike front arms contain poison glans. Those higher tubes pointing backwards contain sensory organs. The compound eyes on the blunt head are primitive—they discern shadow and light, not much else.”

  Red gave me an approving nod. “You know your centipedes.”

  “Well, I like to research things I might one day have to kill.”

  Kain nodded. “I’ve always admired your studiousness in that regard.”

  I spoke to Red. “Why don’t you join us for dinner and send the beast back to its island pen. I did stock up on cows for you two.”

  “You don’t mind?” she asked.

  “Certainly not. I’m sure Kain can manage an unexpected guest.”

  He smiled. “Perhaps I can help you slip into something more comfortable. Doesn’t that chafe you in…sensitive places?”

  “Well, yes, to be honest, but a warrior goddess has certain standards to maintain.” She waved Horatio away. A crimson glow of light enveloped the invertebrate. The light dimmed and faded and the centipede was gone.

  Gloria came forward and took the girl’s arm. “Come with me. I have some clothing here. I’ll find you something glamorous.”

  “That’s kind of you.” The Rider freed her arm long enough to unstrap her sheathed—godawful big—broadsword.

  A servant hurried forward to take it. He struggled with the weight which told me it was unbelievably dense. Vampire minions share blood with their masters and are strong, if not as strong as fully-turned vamps.

  Kain noticed this as well, lifting an eyebrow in surprise. We both watched the girls hit the staircase landing and climb from sight, rounding the bend.

  “Do you know what I’m thinking?” I asked.

  “Probably the same thing I am. That perhaps we should skip straight to desert?”

  “No, a starving woman is peckish. I was thinking more along the line
s of following dinner up with a few hands of strip poker.”

  “I know what’s in it for me,” Kain said. “but unless you plan on making Gloria your woman…”

  “Well, I just happen to have the phone number of some were-kitties on speed-dial…if you don’t mind a few more guests barging in.”

  “Were-cat blood? I can’t say I’ve ever sampled it.”

  “They have more to offer. Shifters have greater endurance than human woman, and far fewer inhibitions. This is bound to be an all-night affair.”

  “My cook may not be fully prepared for such an invasion.”

  “Send out for sushi. I’ll pay.” I took out my phone and punched in a number.

  “No need. I’ll send my driver.”

  The connection went through. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Dani. It’s Caine. Do you girls want to visit a mansion and have sushi?”

  “You’re not trying to ambush us with another orgy, are you?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Great. Let me get a pen and write down the address.”

  “In some ways,” Kain said, “you can teach even me a thing or two.”

  “We know what we love best,” I said. “You know death, blood, and violence. I know booze, weapons, and women of many varieties.”

  Kain nodded. “We are gods within an oblivious world.”

  I nodded. Though I am too modest to say it myself, I find I can’t disagree.”

  We watched a fresh flood of servants sweep in and gather the fragments of shattered door.

  “So, Caine, if I had to kill a giant centipede…”

  “A hand grenade in the open mouth or a sword in the top of the head would be my play. Or I’d just turn into a dragon and eat it.”

  “I can’t image the taste.”

  “Hungry dragons don’t care much about flavor. They flame-roast most everything, and besides, their taste buds are different. Things that would gag us in human form go down easily with them.”

  “I understand you have a dragon wife as well?”

  “Well, she has hung onto that aspect, but evolved much higher ages ago. Selene’s the Red Moon Goddess.”

  “I have heard the stories. Is she really so exorbitantly insane?”

  A woman’s voice sounded behind me. “Yes, dear heart, am I?”

  “Insanely good in bed.” I turned with a smile on my face.

  There she stood in a long, crimson, silk gown. Red cuprite earrings glinted on her ears. She wore a cuprite necklace set in red-gold. The crystallized copper-oxide was mined on the Red Moon; her personal jewelry line sold across the multiverse at many outlets. Her lipstick matched the red shade, displayed in a too-wide smile.

  “Selene, my love, allow me to introduce you to Lord Kain, Master of all the vampire clans. Lord Kain, this Selene, whom I love with an undying passion.”

  She cocked her head at me. “And yet you’re planning an orgy…without me!”

  “I thought you might be bonding with Colt. I haven’t seen him in a while.”

  “That’s why I’m here. He’s run away from home. I am quite distraught.”

  Not that it shows.

  “Run to where?” I asked.

  She leaned in, forcing me to catch her. She sighed, her cheek against my beating heart. “I wish I knew.” She gave out a dramatic sob.

  “You have to know. You don’t experience time linearly. One of your future selves can tell you.

  “You’d think so, but not this time.” She pulled back a little and looked into my eyes. “Caine, you simply must do something!”

  “I can’t just call a bunch of people for an orgy and not show. What will people say?”

  Her face hardened. The red light of her eyes hazed us both. “I have never surgically removed a cock before, but you tempt me.”

  “I’ll get right on it,” I said.

  “Leave the orgy to me,” Kain said. “I will do my best to see that you are not missed.”

  I glared. “Awful nice of you.”

  He smiled. “Think nothing of it.”

  TWO

  “Damn, this fatal charm—such a curse!”

  —Caine Deathwalker

  “Have you got any ideas where we should look?” I asked Selene.

  “I asked Julia. She hasn’t seen him since Las Vegas.” Selene crossed her arms under her breasts, plumping them up.

  There was a click.

  I glanced at a spot of air and saw a small floating camera lit by a spectral green glow. The camera clicked again, swinging around to get Selene from a fresh angle.

  I glanced at Kain. “What the fuck?”

  He shrugged. “What’s the use of being Lord of Spirits if I can’t use them to add to my collection.

  That’s right. Kain is a necromancer, known for his craft. He’s had ages to perfect his skills.

  Ghost cameras explained some of the pictures in the Museum where I could have sworn I’d been alone.

  “Time and place,” I chided him. “Boundaries.”

  “But I don’t have any pictures of your beautiful wife. Surely you would not begrudge me this opportunity?”

  The camera floated to a new spot.

  Selene struck a jaunty pose, hand on hip, a gleam of red hazing her eyes. She smiled for the camera, then turned a serious face toward me. “Could he be with that other child?”

  I drew a blank on her reference. My confusion must have shown because she elaborated.

  “The girl with the Eyes of Bastet. The one we brought out of the Old West.”

  “Hey!” Kain interrupted. “You’ve got the Eyes of Bastet, and a new girl, and no one told me?”

  I frowned at him. “She’s just a child, my son’s friend.” I paused as a light bulb went on over my head. “And she happens to be missing now—as well as Kat, Joshua, and the rest of the Sacramento Pride. There could be a connection.”

  “Sacramento?” Selene said. “You know where the werecat lair is?”

  “I’ve been there.”

  She fanned a hand through the air. A disc of red light formed, swelling to a size where it could be entered. The surface imploded. The disc became tunnel of energy. Selene stepped in, tugging me along by his wrist. The portal closed. There was a moment where gravity flickered and restored itself. The walls of the tunnel passed contracted. We stood on the walkway in front of the Easter-egg colored Victorian owned by Kat and Josh. A nearby streetlight brought out some of the pastels blue, pink, and purple, but the building still had many gray shadows around it.

  “I already know they’ve moved,” I said.

  “We may still find a clue to where.”

  I caught up and pulled her back from the porch steps. “Wait.”

  She looked back at him. “Why?”

  I stared up at the second floor. The lights were off and I’d seen the subdued glow of a penlight beam crossing a window shade. “Someone is sneaking around upstairs in the dark. Let me activated my stealth spell, and they won’t see or hear us coming.”

  “An ambush. Oooo! I like it.”

  I concentrated on the Demon Wings tatt on my back which stretched shoulder to shoulder. I warmed it with golden dragon magic to activated the spell. With her grip on my wrist, Selene, too, was shielded. I could project the field so those out of reach could be protected but the energy drain went up several notches. I didn’t like to waste power. The magic didn’t make us invisible or inaudible; it simply influenced anyone picking up such impressions to immediately forget them. The same was true for scent, but not touch. Anyone I touched would be pulled inside the spell.

  “Keep hold of me, or you’ll be noticed,” I said. “And going in, be aware that there may be more than one.”

  “I’m not an idiot.”

  “True, but stealthy is not your middle name. You’re more a scorched earth kinda gal.”

  She led the way up the porch stairs. The front door wasn’t locked, nor quite closed. The trim of the door looked splintered. I shook my head in mock dismay. “Guess they
didn’t know how to pick a lock. That suggests amateurs.”

  We went in and Selene held up a hand. She closed her eyes and listened with her head canted. We both had inner dragons, and even in human form, our senses exceeded that of humans. During the pause, we felt for vibration, for air movement. There was nothing downstairs, but two separate movements upstairs and the sound of soft feet padding.

  Knowing my voice didn’t matter and wouldn’t betray us, I didn’t bother whispering. “Upstairs. One for each of us.” I pointed toward the stairs. “Ladies first. Don’t kill your target right off. We need information.”

  “Not my first covert takedown, love.” She started up the stairs, my hand on her butt—purely to maintain my spell’s coverage of her. She didn’t seem to mind.

  “Well, you get carried away sometimes. Your picture is in the Paranormal Dictionary under the word: excess.”

  “You say the sweetest things.”

  We were less than shadows on the stairs, zig-zagging past a halfway up landing, moving purposely through solid gloom. At the second-floor landing, we found light; the end of the upstairs hallway had a window to the backyard, and there was a bathroom light that had been left burning, probably by Kat and Josh. The bathroom door stood open a crack, spilling a slash of light. That was plenty for our eyes. Mine were shifted, enhanced with dragon DNA. I assumed Selene had done the same.

  She left me, going right, toward the back window.

  I turned left toward the bedroom where I heard rummaging sounds. I strolled in, secure in my You-Don’t-See-Me spell. I saw a woman dressed in black slacks and leather jacket. Her black hair was gathered high in back, scrunchied and allowed to drop in a ponytail. She stuffed clothes in a canvas bag. Her back was to me and I couldn’t see her face, but her ass seemed familiar. I felt like I’d ridden it before.

  I moved in, dropping my spell since it would have been useless after I touched her anyway. I leaped.

  She spun with more than human speed, her eyes pink stars in the gloom. I landed beside her and swept her onto the queen-sized bed, following her—pinning her.

  “Hi, Vivian.” I smiled, knowing her dhampir vision could see me. “I’ve missed your sweet ass.”