“This is no time to be greedy,” I told him. “You have plenty. Let the little guy have a new spell once in a while.”
“I apologize. That was not intended.” He studied the casing for a moment before holding his hand out flat.
I plucked the orb off his palm. “You need to get that protective thing looked at, dude. You’re falling apart.”
“I need blood.”
A wash of shivers coated my body. I cocked my head and forced my heart to calm down. Playing it cool, and ignoring his comment, I studied the casing. “It’s bigger than the one we found on the way to the unicorn paddock, right?”
“Yes. Similar style casing, able to hold more robust spells, but definitely larger.”
“These guys were in New Orleans for a time. I wonder if Tamara, the mage also calling demons, caught wind of their activities and tried to duplicate them on her own terms? It would explain some things.”
“Either that or she used the same casing supplier. I can have my people check it out.”
“It’s worth a shot.” I dropped the casing into my pouch. “Either way, it looks like we have our guy.”
“You are jumping to conclusions.”
“Nah, I’d already jumped to that conclusion. This just makes his guilt more legit.”
“It is a wonder people employ you.”
“Not at all. I get the job done. Plus a little extra if I end up at the wrong villain’s house.” I moved to the door off the side of the kitchen. A quick peek inside told me it was the garage, and the minimal empty space not stuffed with shelves and boxes said a car couldn’t fit. Neither could a bunch of mages, a guy without skin, and a demon. This couldn’t be the scene of the crime, and not just because there was no blood.
I quickly left the kitchen and angled toward the stairs. Behind us, the fridge clicked off, dosing the space in liquid, gooey silence. As I moved, the faint sound of a ticking clock reached my ears. My breath came out in rhythmic, even puffs.
I hated creeping around. Running at a madman with a sword or spell? I was in. But this slow, deliberate mumbo jumbo when someone I couldn’t see was possibly lying in wait? Good gracious, no. It was a heart racer.
The empty staircase beckoned, closed in by walls. If someone at the top started throwing down spells, this would be a bad situation for me.
I waved Darius back, knowing he’d be in my way if I had to retreat. Also knowing that, in his current state, he’d be more likely to put himself in harm’s way in a futile attempt to protect me.
He probably hated this strange situation in which he found himself.
A loud pop made me flinch. I clutched my sword tighter, ready. A few more pops burst forth like gunfire, followed by a painful groan. Just the house shifting.
Breath now coming in fast pants, I increased my pace lest I suffer cardiac arrest. Nearly to the top, and the roar of a Harley thundered past the house and up the street. I paused, wondering if someone would pop out under the cover of the noise. I would’ve.
All was still.
I was starting to suspect he wasn’t home.
I stepped onto the top step and paused. Four doors awaited me on the second floor, two standing open. One of the closed doors was narrower than the others, denoting a hall closet or something similar. Being that I saw the edge of a toilet through one of the open doors, I suspected this place was a two-bedroom.
Ignoring the bathroom, I walked slowly toward the other open room. I needed to keep my calm and not blast his face with fire. Given that my split-second reactions were always incredibly violent, which had kept me alive so far, my goal of composure was easier made than kept.
I brushed my fingers against the wood, pushing the door open slowly. It swung on well-oiled hinges. A bed came into view, neatly made. A dresser stood against the wall, its top bare. The nightstand next to the bed had a bare top as well. This was a guest room, and clearly not lived in.
The last door awaited me. So did the vampire standing next to it, looking at me like I was going into the snake pit and he did not approve.
“Shoo,” I mouthed, and motioned for him to get away. I had enough to worry about without his vampiric protective malfunction tripping me up. “Go!” I waved at him again until he grudgingly moved to the side.
The deep breath I took didn’t still my raging heart. Adrenaline surged within me, preparing me for a showdown. Making me want to kick the door open with guns blazing, ready to take the O.K. Corral. I was not a subtle person.
I wrapped my fingers around the doorknob and held my breath as I turned it. The latch clicked and I froze. No sound issued from within. I slowly pushed open the door. The bottom rubbed against something. A rug.
That sound would be heard.
I threw the door open the rest of the way and jumped into the room, my sword drawn in front of me, ready to cut through a hex. Something leapt out from the right, streaking through the air. A wall of fire roared in front of me. I hadn’t meant to summon it. A spire of flame shot out, raking across the back of something small and headed straight for me. I hadn’t meant to summon that, either. The thing screeched and darted away, its tail on fire. I cut out all the flame, getting a grip, just in time to see the creature disappear under the bed.
Chapter Eighteen
I stalked forward and swept my gaze across the room. The rumpled covers indicated someone had slept there last night, but it was currently empty. Small artifacts littered the dresser and one of two nightstands. He was single and often slept alone. Somewhat neat, but not anal about it.
My boots creaked as I sank down onto my haunches, trying to see whatever had darted under the bed.
As if hearing my unspoken question, Darius said, “It was a cat.”
I pulled in a breath. “That thing jumping at me was a cat?”
“Yes. You firebombed a kitty.”
“Crap. What kind of a monster sets fire to a cat?” I grimaced and got on my hands and knees. “Are you sure? I don’t want some creature that you mistakenly thought was a cat to dart out at my face.”
“I am sure, yes. It was a black cat.”
I crawled a little closer, searching for it. The smell of burned hair tickled my nose, making me potentially feel worse. Potentially, because I wasn’t fully convinced it was an actual cat, and not some vile thing with three rows of teeth that the mage had found lurking in the wilds of the Realm. I’d seen some crazy things in my life.
A lump much too close to my face shuddered and hissed. Something flung out at me. I jerked back. Flame roared in front of my face again, blocking anything from advancing.
“Of all the things to fear, a cat gets you jumpy?” Darius asked with humor ringing in his voice.
I sighed and ripped down the wall of fire. “Are you positive it’s a cat? I think it threw something at me.”