Vampires Dead Ahead

EIGHT



The Pit was rocking.

Rodán’s nightclub was easily the best club in New York City for paranorms. Thanks to Rodán’s magic, the Pit’s location was shielded. New Yorkers and tourists never even noticed the entrance, which was beside the Dakota building at Seventy-second Street and Central Park West.

The place was packed. As a Tracker, I didn’t have to wait in the long line at the entrance.

After checking his ID, the bouncer, Fred, let the Shifter in front of me through the door. All paranorms had to get an ID showing that they were of age according to their race. Elves came of age at twenty-five, while most of the Fae were only fifteen by Earth Otherworld standards. Beings aged differently.

“Hey, Nyx.” Fred gave me one of his adorable puppy-dog smiles as he greeted me. He was a Doppler whose animal form was a beautiful golden retriever.

“I’ve got something for you.” I dug in my purse then handed him a giant Milk-Bone, his favorite.

With a grin he pocketed the treat, thanked me, then let the next patron through the door.

Tonight Festival had the stage. The paranorm band included two Shifters on guitar, a Werewolf on keyboard and drums, and a female Shadow Shifter who was the lead vocal.

Also on stage were Nymphs One and Two, who had extended such “gracious” invitations to Rodán when he and I were out to dinner. I had to admit that Trixie and Bubbles had great voices as they sang backup for the Shadow Shifter, Leslie.

I waved at Fred before the crowd sucked me in.

I didn’t think I’d ever seen the Pit so crowded. Bodies were slick with sweat from dancing. The higher body temperature of the mass of paranorms made even me feel warm.

Thanks to my keen Drow sense of smell, I was almost overwhelmed by the odors of the many races of paranorms crowded together, mixed with the smells of bar food and alcohol. I made my way toward the back corner where Trackers hung out every night before we hit the streets.

One of my closest friends, Nadia, perched on the arm of an overstuffed couch as she looked over Lawan’s shoulder. Nadia had long, thick, gorgeous red hair and was a Siren from the Bermuda Triangle.

Lawan was a petite Doppler from Thailand whose animal form was a Siamese cat. She was just as beautiful as Nadia but with long black hair, dark brown eyes, and dark lashes. We’d almost lost Lawan to Zombies in December. Just the thought of Zombies made me shudder.

Ice, a cocky Shifter with white-blond hair and ice-blue eyes, slouched in a chair in the corner while Joshua, an Australian Shadow Shifter, sat in the chair next to him. With my sensitive hearing, I overheard them making rather lewd comments about some of the females in the club.

Knowing the pair, I wasn’t surprised. Despite the fact that Ice could be a real ass, and Joshua on the sexist side, I considered both of them to be good guys overall and outstanding Trackers.

Kelly, a Doppler bunny, was flopped down on the other couch. Nancy, a Pixie, sat next to her, both of them engaged in an animated conversation with Hades, a Shifter.

“How’s my beautiful girl doing tonight?” Colin’s deep voice sent a shiver down my spine as he came up behind me.

I started to face him but he put his hands on my shoulders and massaged me.

“Amazing.” I sighed and leaned into him. “Considering everything, I’m doing just fine.”

He brought his mouth close to my cheek. “Popcorn, beer, and a movie tonight?”

“Mmmmm.” I tried not to let out a groan of pleasure at the feel of his hands and fingers.“I will do anything if you just keep that up.”

“Anything?” he murmured close to my ear.

My face heated. “Almost anything.”

“Too late to change it.” I heard him take a deep breath as he nuzzled my hair. “You smell so good.”

“Colin.” I became aware of my surroundings. I couldn’t let my and Colin’s relationship become obvious to the others. I was one of their leaders, and I needed to maintain professionalism in everything I did. “Save that for later.” I stepped away and faced him.

“Consider it saved.” His sexy grin sent tingles through me. “Right where we left off.”

“Rodán’s ready for us.” Angel shoved her long blond corkscrew curls away from her face as she joined us. Her intelligent diamond-bright blue eyes held a hint of concern.

“Rodán called me,” she said when we were several feet away from the others. Colin stayed close by my side. “Interesting what you and Olivia came up with.”

“What’s that?” Colin said.

“Rodán will probably tell everyone just as soon as we’re seated,” I said as we walked into the conference room.

Twenty-four of us made it into the room, including Olivia, who came in last. Olivia was the only norm Tracker, and every one of the other Trackers had come to respect her and her abilities during our past assignments. The twenty-fifth Tracker was Tristan, but he was in Chicago, training.

When we were seated, Rodán came into the room. He was as regal and impressive as always. Something about his presence was usually reassuring, and right now was no exception.

I thought about what he’d said about me being the one for him, and it made me smile to myself. We both knew that it would never be, but my love for him as my friend and mentor was deep, strong, and everlasting.

When Rodán spoke it was with concern in his voice. “We all know about the missing Trackers and Proctor. Though all are on the West Coast, I feel compelled to get involved. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened. All were talented Trackers, experienced Trackers who disappeared with virtually no trace.”

The room remained silent, all expressions serious, as we listened. “I had Nyx and Olivia look at the cases. It’s difficult to do a lot from this distance, of course. But one thing is peculiar—every disappearance has happened ten days after the last one, except for two in LA who disappeared on the same night.”

He paused as he looked from one of us to the next. “We are not sure of the significance of this. However, today is the tenth day since the last Tracker vanished.”

A low murmur rolled through the room.

“Also peculiar,” Rodán said, “is that humans have disappeared near the locations where each Tracker went missing. We’re not sure this is related, but we need to consider it.

“I have made sure that every Proctor across the country is aware of these facts,” Rodán said. “All will be on guard.”

Angel frowned and folded her arms across her chest. “What can we do to help them?”

“I have called you together for two reasons,” he said. “The first is that our New York Trackers have been considered elite among Peacekeepers around the country. We have always shown leadership and have been considered examples of what it takes to be an exceptional team. We will involve ourselves heavily in solving these mysterious disappearances.”

Rodán continued, “We have our own cases to solve in each of our territories, so we cannot bring our full resources to bear. I have suggested to the other Proctors that we organize an experienced team, pulling from the ranks of Peacekeepers across the country. Each member of the special task force will be chosen for complementary skills.

“I have been requested by the Proctor Directorate,” he added, “to head this elite group. I have agreed.”

After a pause, Rodán went on. “Therefore, my full attention will not be with you. You all know what needs to be done. You don’t need me at every turn.”

He was dividing us into three groups, he explained. Angel’s team would be ready in the event they were needed to help with the US task force Rodán was establishing. Until they were called upon, Angel’s team, along with the rest of our Trackers, would monitor the fifteen territories that New York City was divided into.

“Desmond will also be a part of our group,” Rodán said as the Sorcerer entered the room. “He will be aiding Nyx in trying to solve the mysterious disappearances.”

Before meeting Desmond, I never dreamed a Sorcerer could be so hot looking. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, but was much older. He had a swimmer’s build, shoulder-length, almost wild wavy brown hair, and a day’s growth of stubble.

Rodán went over what Olivia and I had come up with. He mentioned that a summit was being organized in San Francisco for the newly assembled task force. In the interim, a video conference would be set up from my and Olivia’s PI office using the new monitors.

“The second reason for bringing this group together tonight is to emphasize that we, as Trackers, could be at risk here on the East Coast. Just because the disappearances have occurred on the West Coast doesn’t mean we are immune. Again, these where skilled, experienced paranorm Trackers who were taken down.

“Myself and the other US Proctors have discussed the need to develop new rules among Trackers,” Rodán went on. “We will work in teams only. We stay together as best we can and trust no one.

“When a disappearance occurs, we often look to people the victim knew and trusted, but this case is baffling because there are so many missing Trackers from diverse locations.

“Be careful out there,” he concluded. “Be safe. Be smart.”