Maximum Witch

chapter Ten


Harrison eyed the trio of businessmen skulking into the entrance of The Wet Spot, a local strip joint. He’d never understand humankind’s obsession with paying to see jiggling body parts. It only reinforced his disdain for the moronic species.

He crossed the steaming pavement and shoved open the establishment’s front door. Patrons sat at the various tables footing the garishly lit stage where a female human with large knockers got intimate with a metal pole. He ignored all of them. Stupid mesmerized humans were more of a waste of breathing space than those damn pufferfish shifters he’d outsmarted the previous night. No, his only reason for being here was the leviathan currently pouring shots behind the bar.

He despised the necessity of involving Kragos in this mission. The ancient leviathan reminded him too much of his previous mentor—Seven. Although he didn’t adopt nearly as many tedious personas as that slave-driver Seven, Kragos did hail from the same old guard of soul collectors. There weren’t many of them left, not after the shame their species was forced to endure after being excommunicated from Hell all those hundreds of years ago for hoarding too many of the souls for their own private collections. But many of those dumb bastards still felt some stupid-ass glory in their trivial collection of human souls.

Kragos’s status as a soul collector made him a wild card—not entirely trustworthy in Harrison’s book, since he couldn’t be certain how Kragos would react once he learned of the ultimate plan to destroy the humans. Silly as it was, Kragos might get a little pissy about having his precious catalog of humans wiped off the face of the earth in one fell swoop. Hence Harrison’s decision to keep him in the dark.

The only thing he needed from the old fart was a piece of DNA in order to access the directory the elders held on all existing leviathans. Once armed with the names and locations of his fellow levis, Harrison could assemble enough assistance in springing his new partner from her prison. With that necessary step out of the way, he could focus on the next plan of attack—finding that f*cking shark, and, ultimately, the girl.

Grim determination a molten fire in his gut, Harrison approached the bar. Kragos looked up and their gazes collided. The ancient leviathan might have been a master at his disguise, but even the most talented of their species couldn’t completely hide the natural reptilian slant of their pupils. Most humans were too dazzled by a leviathan’s glamour spell to notice this telling trait, but it was there for the few who knew enough to look for it.

As he’d expected, Kragos didn’t seem entirely pleased to see him. Their species tended to be extremely territorial, particularly the soul collectors. The leviathan lowered the bottle of whiskey and shot him a hard glare. “What do you want?”

It didn’t appear they’d be indulging in small talk. Fine by him. The sooner he put some distance between this place that stank of humans, the better. He glanced at the pair of drunkards slumped on nearby stools. Besides having several pints of alcohol swimming in their bloodstreams, they no doubt were deeply submerged within the comforting cloak of Kragos’s glamour. No need to worry about eavesdroppers here. “Merely to make amends. I know Seven poached on your territory. I hope there will be no ill will between us as a result.”

“I’m glad that f*cking son of a bitch is dead.”

That made two of them.

Kragos’s expression turned suspicious. “If you came here hoping I’d take you under my tentacle, think again. I have no desire for a damn useless errand boy.”

It took every ounce of Harrison’s control not to let his animosity show. Kragos could look down on him all he wanted. The day would soon come when the arrogant bastard would be the one to bow before Harrison. “Very well. I confess my disappointment, however. Surely there would have been no greater honor than learning the trade from such a skilled soul collector.” Somehow he managed not to retch. Keeping up this pretense of being a fawning pupil gave him severe indigestion. But at least with Kragos, their association would be short-lived.

“This is true,” Kragos offered with a nod. “I am the best.”

“Then come, let us drink to your greater glory.”

Kragos’s eyes lit up at the nauseating toast. Stupid dipshit. The elder reached for two glasses and topped each off with the whiskey. He passed one to Harrison before slamming his own shot. His beady eyes pinned Harrison in place, an unspoken challenge riding his features. Masking his displeasure at the nasty beverage resting before him, Harrison lifted the glass and choked down the amber liquid with a sputter. The older leviathan chuffed a mocking laugh and pivoted to return the bottle to the glass shelf. His motions swift, Harrison swiped Kragos’s glass and licked the rim, absorbing the other leviathan’s DNA. The bonded link would last less than an hour. Plenty of time though to break into Kragos’s library—and the sealed directory.

He returned the glass to its rightful place just as Kragos turned back around. Abandoning his perch on the stool, Harrison smoothed the lapels of his butler’s uniform. Soon he’d be able to permanently ditch the atrocious outfit. Maybe he’d light a ceremonial bonfire to send the suit up in ashes. “If you change your mind about taking on a protégée, let me know.” After offering a deferential bow that made him seethe inside, Harrison stepped away from the bar.

A loud and grating voice carried from a nearby table. He glanced toward the offender, his mouth twisting in revulsion as he took in the eel shifter’s tacky wardrobe. Where did the cretin shop? Douchebags “R” Us? Snorting, Harrison started to return his attention to the exit, but the next words out of the eel’s mouth stalled him short.

“I tell you one thing—that goddamn shark ever lays a hand on me again, I’m electrocuting him for dinner.” A laugh that resembled the braying of a donkey pelted from the shifter. “F*ck yeah. Seared shark. Ain’t nothing I’d like better to snack on.”

Harrison’s gaze panned between the eel and its companion. Satisfied triumph unfurled within him. What were the odds he’d walked in here with one objective and end up with the answers to two?

A slow smile sliding in place, he strode toward the obnoxious eel.