Chapter 34
Mencheres wasn't surprised that it only took killing a few of the guards before the rest were all too eager to tell everything they knew about the rest of their numbers, their locations, which of them Radje was supposed to contact, and anything else he asked them. Radje hadn't picked older, seasoned mercenaries who would require far more incentive because they'd realize their fate was death anyway for their participation in these crimes. He'd picked younger, foolish vampires he'd changed himself in secret.
Ones who would do his bidding without many questions asked and could easily disappear when Radje no longer had use for them.
Kira stayed with the human girl Mencheres recognized from the club, just out of eyesight. It was obvious she didn't care to witness the fiery interrogations, but she never questioned their necessity. She wanted to go back to check on the other humans at the temple where she'd been held, but Mencheres urged patience. They had to make sure no guards remained in other parts of Chichen Itza who would alert Radje to their presence. His senses didn't pick up more than the seventeen vampires who'd chased Kira into the jungle, but he would take no chances.
Only after those still living revealed that they made up the entirety of Radje's guards on Kira did Mencheres venture back with Vlad and Kira to the temple ruins. Was it arrogance or paranoia that had made Radje leave so few of his people to guard Kira?
Did he fear that larger numbers might betray him if one of his acolytes were loose-lipped, and word reached the Guardians of what he'd done? Or did he truly believe Mencheres cared so little for Kira that he hadn't expected him to take any measure possible to save her, knowing Radje would not release her as agreed?
Radje might have been correct had he taken anyone else but Kira. Only the knowledge that her life hung in the balance gave Mencheres the strength to finish the ritual to summon Aken. No soul's location was invisible from the ferryman of the dead, though Radje might not even know of the ritual to summon Aken. Few in their race knew the darkest magics. The only reason Patra knew how to wield the spells she'd used was because Mencheres taught them to her when they were together - a mistake he'd paid for dearly.
Yes, some knowledge was best left lost to the world. He cast a glance up at the moon.
He'd have to leave in the next hour in order to make his meeting with Radje.
A familiar wave of energy reached across his senses. Only two days ago, there was just one vampire he could feel this way. But now that he'd shared a portion of his power with Kira, she was irrevocably tied to his senses as well.
"Bones is here," Mencheres stated.
Vlad raised a brow even as he nailed another guard to the walls of the temple with silver knives.
"He must have been farther south than we were when we first left. You called him less than two hours ago."
Kira appeared in the archway, her expression sad and angry. "I found six bodies here, but from what Jennifer said, there were even more people killed. The guards would dump the bodies in the jungle in shifts at night."
Vlad shoved another silver knife into a guard's wrist. Mencheres held them immobile now, but once he was gone, this would help secure them.
"Vampires like you piss me off," Vlad muttered. "Leaving a trail of bodies for humans to be suspicious over when there's no need to kill to feed. Ever had a mob of villagers armed with torches and pitchforks burn your house down while screaming 'death to the wampyre!'? I have, and it's irritating beyond belief."
"You know those old Romanians." Bones's voice drifted in from the entrance of the temple. "Just bloody unreasonable."
"You promised you wouldn't start with him . . ."
Cat's voice, speaking far softer than Bones had. Mencheres ignored both of their comments in favor of sliding his arms around Kira.
"I need to leave soon. You'll be safe with the three of them here." Her green gaze pierced into his. "I'd tell you not to go because Radje's too dangerous, but you'd just repeat the same indisputable proof needed argument that I used when I talked you into letting Radje kidnap me from my sister's, wouldn't you?"
"As I've often said before, you are wise," Mencheres murmured. A strange exhilaration filled him, an excitement mixed with purpose that he hadn't felt in . . . he couldn't remember how long. His visions had not deserted him. The glimpse of Kira in the jungle proved that, and, if they hadn't, then he had a chance for a future after all.
What made the difference? Was it completing the ritual that, by rights, should have killed him? Or was Kira correct, and the wall of darkness blocking his vision was of his own making? Perhaps the touch of the god when Aken showed him where Kira was removed that block. Or he'd managed to tear it down earlier but didn't see the fruits of that right away. He didn't know. All he knew was that now, only one obstacle stood in his way from a life with Kira.
Radjedef. Mencheres intended to remove that obstacle.
"I smell Radjedef here," a voice he hadn't expected stated from the room outside theirs. "Something else, too. Old, and . . . familiar."
"Veritas," Mencheres said, surprise coloring his tone.
"She caught a ride with us," Cat announced, her brows rising as she came into the room and saw Vlad nailing the guards into the wall.
Vlad paused to give her a slanted smile. "I'd welcome you with a fond embrace, Cat, but as you can see, I'm a little busy. Bones, feel free to make use of the remaining knives on those three guards."
"At a time like this, you must miss your long wooden poles," Bones noted as he began to gather up knives, giving a cold glare to the guards who were waiting in the corner.
Vlad grunted. "Do I ever."
"Brought something for you," Cat said to Kira, holding out a shopping bag. "Didn't think they'd keep you fed while they had you."
Mencheres gave Cat a grateful look as Kira opened it to reveal several sealed bags of blood inside. She'd flatly refused to feed from any of the humans held captive, saying they'd suffered enough. Now he didn't have to take her to the hotel that bordered the ruins for Kira to slake her burning hunger on unsuspecting guests.
"Thank you," she said to Cat. Then she turned her attention to Veritas, who scanned the room with silent thoroughness.
"You smell Radje. His guards can verify that they were ordered by him to kidnap me. I can sure attest to Radje holding me here against my will, and he didn't tell any of the Guardians about it. Is that enough proof that he's gone rogue?" she asked in an unflinching tone.
"For me it is." Veritas approached the guards, giving them a critical evaluation. Then she turned around, sniffing again, her brow furrowed. "But for the rest of the council, some of whom are close friends with Radjedef, it is only circumstantial evidence backed up by questionable witness statements."
"You can't be serious," Kira began.
"Even if the council were satisfied, I would still go to Radje," Mencheres interrupted her angry response. He brushed her cheek. "Not only for evidence. For recompense." Cat's nose wrinkled as she sniffed lightly near him. "Not to be rude, but what is that smell? It's like you bathed in dead bodies or something."
"I noticed it, too," Kira said. Her gaze clouded. "It worried me."
Vlad kept securing the guards, his face carefully blank. Bones raised a brow at Mencheres, waiting. He said nothing, but Veritas's gaze narrowed. She strode over to him, inhaling deeply near his chest, then as close to his head as she could reach without floating.
"Exactly how did you know where Kira was?" Veritas demanded.
"From a vision," Mencheres replied. That was part of the truth. Just not the entirety of it.
"I knew you could push past that block in your mind," Kira murmured, giving his waist a squeeze.
Veritas inhaled again, then she stepped back, her sea-green gaze turning hard.
"You smell of Aken."
Vlad muttered a curse. Cat and Kira asked, "Who's that?" at the same time.
Mencheres said nothing, holding Veritas's stare.
She recognized the lord of the underworld's scent. There was only one way Veritas would be able to do that - if she'd previously summoned Aken herself.
It seemed he'd not been the only one Tenoch had shared the secrets of that ritual with.
He and Veritas were at a stalemate. Summoning the ferryman was an act of black magic and a breach of vampire law. If she confronted Mencheres about his crime, she would have to confess her own.
"Now you know the other reason why I must go to Radje," Mencheres said evenly.
Veritas acknowledged their impasse with an inclination of her head. "I do. I wasn't always a Guardian." Then her gaze hardened again. "You must hurry. The ferryman does not tarry, and his boat never leaves empty."
"What are you two talking about?" Kira asked.
He kissed the top of her head. "I shal tell you when I return."
Cat cleared her throat. "I know I'm missing a ton of subtext here, but I understand
'hurry.' The three of us came in on one of my uncle's new jets. You know that the government has access to the fastest planes available, so if you're in a rush, you can take my ride. You'll have to squeeze into the weapons area, so it's not comfy, but it's quick."
Mencheres mulled her offer. He preferred to stay away from anything to do with human governments, but he was running short on time. "I have a plane, but it needs fuel." Cat smiled. "Mine doesn't - and did I mention it was fast?"