Forged in Flame Read online

  “He’s sloppy. There’s a Medical Examiner, Samantha, who knows about us. She has done what she can to hide our involvement, but without her, there would have been serious questions.”

  “Why do I get the feeling there’s more to the story you’re not sharing?”

  “Two more deaths happened in an apartment complex on the fifteenth, eight days ago. Our Renegade, and he didn’t even bother cleaning up. Some fang marks appeared on one of the bodies, but Sam is playing it up to the PD as a fetish or some kind of ritual. I found a set of obvious ones on the woman in the apartment, but covered them up.”

  Nicholas sighed and nodded. It’s a complication but sounds like something we can deal with. “Who do you think it is?”

  “Like I said, I’m not entirely sure I’ve pinpointed the right guy. However, I believe it’s most likely one of Samair’s people.” Daniel sipped his coffee and sighed. “He sired someone named Jayson a few months back. The rumor mill says the kid has gotten completely out of control.”

  “Shit.”

  “Yeah. That’s why I called you in. Dealing with nomad renegades is hard enough, but when your suspect is sired by the Lord of the City, it’s a whole new can of bullshit.”

  “When you consider that we’re talking about Samair, the situation escalates to an entirely new level of crap. This is not what I want to deal with right now.” Nicholas stared into his coffee until his eyes lost focus and everything went blurry. He shook his head and tapped his finger on the table for several seconds. “Does anyone else know I’m in town?”

  “No, I didn’t think it would be wise to advertise that the Assassin was coming. Thought it might freak the kid out, make him go to ground. At the very least, it would put everyone in the city on edge. ”

  “Good thinking. I want you to keep this meeting a secret. Don’t tell anyone I’m here until I give you the go-ahead. Not even your own people.” Nicholas sipped his coffee and leaned back in his chair. “Is there anything the victims have in common, or some detail you’ve thought of that we can use to track this guy?”

  “Nothing I know of, and the human authorities don’t seem to have any clues either.”

  “Do you have any trustworthy contacts within the police department? Can you think of anyone else who might be able to help?”

  “No. The guy who used to assist me once in a while retired a few months ago and, despite being born and raised in New Orleans, his partner isn’t exactly the type who believes vampires exist. It’s something I’ve been working on, but…” Daniel shrugged and took a sip of his own cold coffee, “…you know how those things go.”

  “I do recall.” Nicholas chuckled.

  Soon after becoming an Enforcer, his predecessor had given him the mantle of the Lead Enforcer. For a few decades, it had caused some strain among the older members of the corps. One of the changes that Nicholas had instituted was reaching out to select members of local law enforcement and trying to get them to assist when possible. A number of the partnerships had gone beyond assisting, as with Elizabeth and Eric, but others remained nothing more than business arrangements. Nicholas wrapped the coffee mug in his hands, enjoying the warmth while he contemplated their next move.

  Daniel glanced at his watch. “Anything else, boss?”

  “In a hurry?” he asked. When Daniel nodded, Nicholas chuckled. “Got a hot date?” A wry smile turned up one corner of his mouth.

  Daniel smiled. “Actually, I do. Not all of us are old married guys.”

  Nicholas smirked and tilted his head to the left. “At least I’ve got a hot wife.”

  “I’ll take the fifth on that.” Daniel chuckled, “I like my head riiiight where it is, boss.”

  The Lead Enforcer smiled and nodded toward the door. “Get outta here. Have a good evening. Go unwind. You need to relax. I’ll check in with you in a couple of nights.”

  “You’re going to lay low that long?” the younger vampire asked. He knew that once word got out that the Assassin was in town, the Renegade would go to ground, and their task would become even more difficult.

  “I want to stay under the radar as long as possible.” Nicholas sighed and gazed into his coffee cup as if he’d find something in the liquid that would solve his problems. He picked up the spoon and started stirring it, watching it swirl around in the mug. So, I’ve got a renegade on the streets of one of the largest cities in the states. Because Daniel’s always been so good at his job without need for my services, I really don’t know my way around town.

  Across the table, Daniel stood and picked up his empty coffee mug. Without a word, he offered Nicholas a quick bow and turned and left.

  Nicholas frowned as he picked up his coffee, glancing at the dark liquid, and set it back down, leaving about half of it behind. I’ve got access to a highly skilled investigator if what Elizabeth said is to be believed. All I have to do is make sure Morgan brings him with her when she comes to San Francisco. He sighed and stood. Making his way out of the coffee shop, he looked both ways down the street, turned left and started walking aimlessly through the city.

  Tradition dictated that the Enforcers use nothing more than their wits and preternatural abilities to hunt down renegade vampires. However, the advance of human technology and communication had rendered many traditional methods obsolete. By the time a problem came to his attention, more often than not, the human authorities were already working the case.

  Each passing decade made remaining hidden more and more difficult, not just for vampires but for all preternatural creatures. If technology continued to progress, preternatural creatures wouldn’t be able to hide much longer. There had been a time when a vampire could kill several people without being noticed. Now, however, if a vampire left more than one corpse lying around, it was possible they would be found out and not necessarily before the Enforcers could resolve the issue.

  Daniel opened the car door and slipped behind the wheel. He took a moment to verify the setting of the mirrors as he put the seatbelt on and started the engine. The classic Detroit engineering marvel rumbled to life, purring like a big cat. While waiting for the engine to warm up, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. She picked up on the third ring and within a few moments he had made arrangements to pick her up in half an hour. A smile of anticipation crossed his face. Phone back in his pocket, Daniel eased the car into the flow of evening traffic.

  Half an hour later he pulled up in front of one of the typical cookie cutter Victorians that dotted San Francisco like dandelions. She waited for him on the front steps. Petite with brown hair and eyes that reminded him of milk chocolate, she jogged down the stairs and slid into the passenger seat before he even had a chance to cut the engine.

  “Why didn’t you wait? I would’ve gotten the door for you. It’s the proper gentlemanly thing to do,” Daniel said, a hint of teasing in his voice as she settled into her seat. Her perfume filled the car with a feminine floral bouquet.

  “There was no point.” Her voice sang out smooth and melodious even as she scolded him. “You wouldn’t have found a parking space, not at this time of night. I just saved you from having to drive around the block fifteen times looking for one that doesn’t exist. If you’d like to do the chivalrous thing, I can get out and we can start again.” She put her hand on the door handle and waited a moment.

  “Oh, I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” Daniel reached over, his arm crossing her body as he secured her seatbelt, brushing his fingers against her hands in the process. “Just know that I’m kind of an old-fashioned guy. I like to do things for my dates when I take them out on the town.”

  “Well then, I suppose it’s a good thing that I’m a little bit of an old-fashioned girl.” She smiled and settled back in her seat.

  Daniel returned her smile, checked over his shoulder and seeing his opening; he pulled into traffic, heading down the coast. He hoped she would enjoy herself because he wouldn’t be partaking in the meal. While vampires could eat, he didn’t care for t
he ramifications that came with it.

  “So, would it be considered rude to ask where we are going?” A hint of shyness came through in her voice as she smiled and a slight blush appeared on her cheeks.

  “Maybe not rude, but certainly presumptuous.” Daniel signaled left and waited for an opening into traffic to enter the freeway.

  From the passenger seat, the woman watched him, her eyes searching for the right moment. While taking in her surroundings, she initiated small talk, laughing in all the right places, flirting when she thought it was appropriate, but never letting her real purpose be known. She didn’t know if her plan would work or if the impact would incapacitate the vampire so she could finish her work.

  Deep in thought, she smiled when they turned off the four-lane freeway and onto a lonely winding two-lane mountain road. As they approached a long sweeping curve at the top of the hill, she took a chance and reached out, touching his arm. As expected, he glanced over at her taking his eyes off the road. A cold, calculating smile crossed her lips before Daniel could react, and she wrapped her hand around his wrist, wrenching the steering wheel hard to the right.

  Acting on instinct, Daniel stomped on the brake but the pedal sank to the floor boards without resistance. In the passenger’s seat, her laughter laced scream filled the air as if they were on nothing more than a carnival ride. He reached over and yanked the emergency brake, nothing happened.

  The car careened out of control bouncing against the guardrail, sending sparks into the night. They ping-ponged back and forth across the road three times before the vehicle careened over the edge and wrapped itself around the trunk of a massive California Redwood.

  Awareness returned like a shroud being peeled back to reveal the desiccated corpse within. Daniel took a deep breath but stopped when the agony of ribs puncturing lung tissue jolted him back to full consciousness. Around him, the car creaked and popped. Fluids hissed, sizzling on hot metal. He turned his head to check on her, certain that the crash and done her in.

  She wasn’t there.

  The telltale snap of a twig breaking spun his attention to the left. She stood a few yards from the car, blood trickling from a cut above her eye, holding her side as though it hurt. Other than shifting her weight, she made no move to help or offer any assistance.

  “My God, what have you done?” Daniel gasped as his own battered body began the healing process. He knew that he needed help as soon as possible, or else his injuries would begin to heal in strange and uncomfortable ways.

  “I am just doing my job.” She reached into her large purse and retrieved what looked like a simple tube of lipstick. “You, on the other hand, seem to be developing a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” She tilted her head to one side and an evil smile curled her lips. “Or maybe it’s the right place at the right time. How would I know?” She stepped closer to the car, picking out a careful path through the deadfall and detritus on the ground.

  Daniel tried to move, but his limbs wouldn’t respond. Something had happened during the crash. He wasn’t sure his body would heal from it without permanent damage. He couldn’t understand how she walked around without apparent injuries.

  “What are you?” he demanded.

  “I am one of many.” She removed the lipstick top and turned the bottom to reveal a short, razor-sharp, blade within.

  “Look, sweetheart, if you’re going to do what I think you are, I don’t have time for games. Now, who the fuck, are you?” he asked, filling his words with false bravado.

  “I…” she took a slow step forward, “am…” and another step, “your death.” Her words were plain and simple, spoken without malice, hatred, or spite. Basic facts.

  Daniel saw it as she leaned over him, the cuff of her long-sleeved sweater pulling back far enough to reveal the edge of a tattoo on the inside of her wrist. The unmistakable shape, bold curving lines that worked together to form a single black rose.

  He smiled and let out a soft chuckle. “Well, I didn’t think I would see any of you guys again.” At that moment, the dagger plunged into flesh below his heart. The world had exploded in crimson agony for a split second before everything went black… forever.

  5 – San Francisco, CA – September 25, 2012

  Jayson clutched the corpse to his chest, drinking deep, pulling every last drop of blood from the wound at the woman’s throat. He ripped his fangs from her and inhaled an open-mouthed breath, letting the smell of blood fill his senses. Sharp energy coursed through his body, filling him with power, opening him even further to the night around him. Sounds filtered through his mind and he let the awareness of them slip by as though they were leaves on the wind. Jayson dropped the corpse on the ground and licked his lips, savoring the metallic tang.

  At the end of the alley, Julian watched as the infant vampire, Jayson, first lured his prey into the darkness with pretty words and soft touches. The interlude didn’t last long. He took just enough time to entice her away from prying eyes. The initial strike was quick and clean, without hesitation. The woman let out a soft cry, but nothing more.

  I have to give the whelp some credit. He knows how to kill, though his technique lacks a certain finesse. The elder vampire strolled about halfway to the other vampire before he cleared his throat. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing?” he asked, taking a scented handkerchief out of his inner pocket to cover his mouth and nose.

  The young vampire’s head snapped up and his eyes narrowed. He stepped toward the other man. “Who are you?” The youngster flashed a blood-soaked smile that put his fangs on full display.

  Julian raised an eyebrow and met the young vampire’s eyes without blinking. “I’m the guy who’s going to give you exactly what you want.”

  “And what do I want?” Jayson stepped up to Julian, invading the elder vampire’s space and peering down to meet the shorter man’s silver eyes.

  “You want to… how does the saying go… live fast, die young and leave behind a good-looking corpse.” Julian kept his gaze locked on Jayson’s. “How’s that working out for you, kid?” He stepped forward so their chests touched.

  The younger vampire growled low in his throat—a clear threat. Julian’s response was a slow smile, curling his lips.

  “What do you mean?” Jayson asked, showing caution while taking one step back.

  “You wanted to die and almost managed it, but Samair foiled your plan. And now you’re trapped, but you hear things.” Julian spun on his heel and strolled down the street. Julian waited a few moment to be certain that Jayson followed; he continued keeping his voice low. The young vampire would hear, but any stray humans would not. “You hear rumors that speak of a vampire who others of our kind fear.” He let his voice drop to a whisper. “The Assassin.”

  “Who?” Jayson fell in step beside him.

  “The Assassin. He is the real boogie man.” Julian paused, and if he played the situation right, Jayson’s mind would do most of the work for him. It was almost too easy. “The one who puts all bad little vampire boys and girls in their graves for the last time.”

  Jayson snorted, running a hand through his spiked hair. “Why would I go in search of this so-called Assassin?” He held up his hands and put air quotes around the last word.

  “Because you do not want to be here.” Julian spoke each word with care, letting some of his native Eastern European accent color each syllable. “I know you, perhaps better than you know yourself.”

  “And what is it that you think you know about me?”

  “You want to die.” Julian continued walking even though he knew Jayson had stopped. After a few steps, the young one caught up. “You want to go out in a blaze of glory. You tried, but Samair made you one of us. Now you’re just sloppy. You’ve caught the attention of the local Enforcer, but that won’t give you what you really want. Not like this.”

  The air filled with the sweet scent of excitement, “How can I get what I want?” Jayson asked, although his tone came across as more of
a demand.

  “Listen to me.” Julian checked the manicured tips of his nails, thinking that it was time to have them done again.

  “What will you do?”

  “Make sure you go out in a flood of blood with bodies stacked up around you like firewood.” His words resembled a carnival barker, directing the crowd to something in the center ring. “You’ll have headlines splashed across newspapers, television sets, the internet.” Julian pulled the young man up close by his shirt and whispered, “In the end, humans won’t know your name, but they will know what you have done.

  “How do you intend to do that?”

  “By upping your body count, of course,” Julian said, “it’s the obvious solution.”

  “I can do that on my own.” Jayson scoffed and shoved the other vampire’s arm aside.

  “No, you can’t, or you would have already achieved your goal. You’re sloppy. You go around killing without flair or style. The human authorities haven’t figured out that your kills are connected. At this rate, you’ll have to kill as many as thirty or forty more before they even start looking your way.” Julian stopped beside a dark colored sports car and turned to face the other vampire. “And if you don’t get your act together, you’re going to be anonymously dead in seven to ten nights.” He paused. “And this time it will be permanent. No third chance.” Julian opened the car door and held it there waiting for Jayson to make a decision.

  The young vampire stared at the car for several long moments before he walked over and climbed into the passenger’s seat.

  An unpleasant smile curled Julian’s lips as he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. Yes, this one should serve the Master’s purpose quite nicely.

  6 – San Francisco, CA – September 27, 2012

  Nicholas stood on the balcony of Abbi’s penthouse apartment, watching humans going about the business of life below him. Even at this height, he could hear the rush of traffic. The lines of headlights were mesmerizing, and he stepped back from the railing and sipped the wine his Enforcer had brought him. He heard her in the apartment speaking with someone on the phone. Nicholas tried not to eavesdrop, but the walls weren’t soundproof, and his vampiric hearing was more acute than most. From the snippets of conversation he heard, it sounded like Abbi and her donor were having a difference of opinion. He shook his head. One of the most difficult parts of being a vampire was juggling the various personalities and needs of the donors who shared their blood. She had been his donor for several years before he’d turned her at the end of their covenant. Decades before Morgan had sauntered into his life, Abbi had struck out on her own.