Vacant.
Yet he knew if he lost Bubba or Kyrian, it would be different. Their loss would devastate him. As would Mark’s. Or one of his friends.
Even Zavid and he barely knew him. The thought of his friend being held and tortured …
He had to get his powers back and find him. In the back of his mind, he could still see the condition Zavid had been in when they met. Held without comfort or dignity. Treated more like an animal than a sentient being. It was how his father had dealt with people.
And it was something Nick couldn’t stomach.
Dr. Burdette led him into Bubba’s condo and went to the guest room to get his doctor’s bag. Nick made a beeline into Bubba’s room and grabbed a pillow from the bed and the blanket he kept folded on the chair, then headed for the couch.
When Dr. Burdette returned, he scowled at Nick, who was lying down on Bubba’s faded leather sofa. “You’re not going to rest in the bed?”
Nick wrinkled his nose. “Feels like I’m invading his privacy to be in there. Man’s got to have his own space, you know?”
Dr. Burdette laughed. “You are a good kid … for a demon.”
“P-p-pardon?”
He stepped back to glance at the door as if to assure himself that they were alone. “You have one shot to come clean with me, boy, and you better tell me the truth. ’Cause I’ll know a lie and a lie will get you killed. What kind are you?” As he spoke, he didn’t pull a stethoscope out of his bag.
Dr. Bruce Burdette pulled out a gleaming gold sword that thrummed with ancient power.
Moving faster than Nick could counter, Dr. Burdette pinned him to the couch and held him there. “You have three seconds before I take your head.”
CHAPTER 5
Nick tried to scale up the wall like a spider monkey to escape Bubba’s father. But whatever that sword was made of, it kept him locked in place, like some kind of invisible hand slapping him down. Dang those weapons! Couldn’t anyone carry regular steel anymore?
He glared at the older man who was really spry for a pudgy dude. “What are you?”
“I ask the questions here, demon, not you! You have two seconds left…”
Just as Nick went to answer, a blur tackled Dr. Burdette and sent him slamming against the floor. He rolled and came to his feet, then swung at his assailant.
The assailant turned out to be a pissed-off Caleb who ducked and swept Dr. Burdette off his feet again before he disarmed him with a punch so hard, Nick swore he felt it. When Caleb moved in for more damage that appeared to be a planned beheading, Nick sprang from the couch.
“Whoa, buddy! Whoa!”
Caleb looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Whoa? Are you friggin’ kidding me? He was about to pop your fool head off.”
“Yeah, but he’s Bubba’s dad. I think … I mean … he is, right? He’s not possessed? I can’t tell. My powers are really crap at the moment.”
Caleb angled the sword he’d taken at Dr. Burdette. “Yeah, he’s human. Not that I count his breed as particularly humane. He’s a demon-hunter. That makes him your enemy, Nick. Let me kill him. Do us both a favor.”
“No! Again, he’s Bubba’s daddy. I can’t do that to the man or his mama.” He scowled at Caleb. “How’d you get here anyway? Or know that I was in trouble?”
He gave him a droll stare. “Seriously? I can’t let you out of my sight without you getting, and I quote you on this, Nicknapped by something that wants to eat you, cage you, or possess you. So I’ve learned to keep an eye on you and I’ve been trailing you since the second you left school. ’Cause I knew you were going to find trouble. And look,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he gestured at Bubba’s father, “lo and behold, you did.”
Dr. Burdette glared at Caleb. “You’re a Daeve. Esme Daeve, with something a lot more powerful backing it. Otherwise, I’d have had you.”
Caleb scoffed. “Hardly. Don’t flatter yourself or insult me.” He bared his fangs at him. “Now it’s your turn for full disclosure. Give me a reason not to bleed you out at my feet.”
He pulled his sleeve back to show a faint scar where a scar appeared to have been branded at one time. “I was a Hellchaser.”
“Was?”
“Earned my freedom.” He slid his gaze to Nick. “But you’re right. I have the blood of a Necrodemian, too. That’s what you’re reacting to.”
“A what?” Nick asked, trying to follow what was an impossible discussion.