A Demon's Work Is Never Done: Latter Day Demons, Book 2 Read online

  "What good will that do?" Colonel Hunter covered the mic before he spoke.

  "You'll see," Opal jerked her head sharply, telling Anita to go.

  "All right, but if this doesn't work," Colonel Hunter began.

  "It'll work, Auggie," Zaria said. "Trust me."

  * * *

  Anita

  At least I wore a nice blouse over my jeans when I walked into the interrogation room at NSA Headquarters. Mahmoud barely looked at me; I was a woman and an infidel, in his eyes.

  "Mahmoud," I walked toward him. "You're going to look into my eyes and tell me every damn thing you know about this attack."

  * * *

  Lexsi

  Everything came tumbling out of Mahmoud's mouth that he knew. It wasn't everything we needed and certainly didn't name those at the top, but he knew enough for Homeland Security and the NSA to begin their investigations.

  He confirmed what Zaria said, though. His terrorist organization had paid for services rendered; he merely didn't know how much and in what currency it was paid. What worried me was that the enemy in Peru could use this as a form of blackmail; that they'd give further assistance to terrorist groups if we didn't back off and leave Peru alone.

  That infuriated me. They were killing Peru's indigenous people off by the hundreds and we were powerless to do anything about it.

  "Now tell me what you know about your allies in Peru," Anita asked a final question.

  "They say they were sent by the one god," Mahmoud claimed. "I think they may be something else." Well, he'd been born and educated in the US. At least he knew enough to be skeptical when somebody claimed to be sent by a god.

  "Did you see any of them?"

  "I saw the one named Deris."

  "Ah. Would it interest you to know he's from the devil instead of a god?"

  "What if you're lying? You all lie," he insisted. He spoke a personal truth—as he'd been taught it.

  "There are billions of people on this planet," Anita pointed out. "Not everybody lies to further their personal goals—or their religions. I'm done, here." Anita turned and walked out of the interrogation room.

  * * *

  "My people are exhausted, Colonel," Opal declined Colonel Hunter's offer of food and drinks. At least D.C. was still in operation. New York was shut down, along with all neighboring cities. I was glad nobody suggested we go to New York right now; I didn't want to see the tragedy that night. We'd already seen enough to do us for a few hours.

  "I'll have guards posted at your hotel," he said. "I know you have your own people on the job, but it will make me feel better if there's a military presence, too."

  "We'll discuss this tomorrow morning, I trust?" Opal asked after accepting Colonel Hunter's guards.

  "Yes. And your presence may be requested in a meeting with the President."

  "I'll be happy to," Opal confirmed. "Anytime."

  * * *

  Baby, I want to hold you tonight, Kory sent as we were checked into the same hotel in Silver Spring that we'd used before. I could see that this place was used to diplomats and dignitaries staying with them; the night manager didn't even blink when our crowd of security guards stood in the lobby, waiting to escort us to our rooms.

  I was glad Kory asked; I didn't want to spend this night by myself in a strange place. Not while every news station everywhere reported on the New York bombings while showing images of smoking rubble and emergency workers desperately searching for the lost and wounded.

  We have every werewolf and vampire in our employ working those sites, Opal sent mindspeech. They can scent the people trapped under rubble. We don't have nearly enough dogs on the scene to help with that.

  "Give us one room," I half whispered and gripped Kory's arm when my turn came to check in. His arms wrapped around me; I discovered I was shivering. The question that kept hitting me, much like a vehicle repeatedly racing into a solid wall, was—why?

  I didn't—and couldn't—understand.

  What I did understand was this; without the help of Deris and Daris Arden, those bombs wouldn't have been planted so easily. Earth had no answers for a powerful witch and warlock, whose endgame I couldn't guess at any longer.

  They had Peru locked up for whomever they worked for, and Sirenali to hide important facts and players from us. It could take days or weeks, even, to get a final total—in lives and destruction, caused by their interference.

  If they'd stood before me at that moment, I would hurt them before they died. Yes, I knew that was wrong. I'd once heard Great-Uncle Gavin say that a swift death for our enemies separated us from them.

  These took pleasure in the pain of others. That understanding was coming to me. There are two kinds of people, Gran said once after coming from a long Council meeting on Le-Ath Veronis. I'd watched as she'd removed the jeweled coronet from her head and set it on her dressing table.

  "What kinds are those?" I'd asked. I was twelve and visiting her at the time.

  "People who want to hurt and people who want to help," she said simply. "Sometimes the ones who hurt don't really intend to, it's just that they think they're protecting themselves in some way. The end result speaks otherwise."

  She wouldn't tell me what had transpired in the Council meeting. I still didn't know. I hadn't forgotten her words, however. Deris and Daris—they wanted to hurt. I had no idea why.

  * * *

  Kordevik

  We only had two changes of clothing and a few necessities with us; Zaria had transported our other belongings back to the house in San Rafael. The compound in Punta Blanca was now empty. I worried that the residents could be attacked again.

  It was late and I sat on the bed, waiting for Lexsi to come out of the bathroom. The violence was difficult for her to accept—that someone would willingly attack and kill those they didn't know and hadn't harmed them personally.

  I'd seen too much of the same during my lifetime.

  I watched her walk out of the bathroom, showered and dressed in pajama bottoms and a stretchy, sleeveless shirt. This Lexsi looked lost. I understood it was overwhelming her now, whereas she'd acted professionally in Peru.

  The New York bombings were a different story. We'd been there for Peru. Nobody had been there for New York.

  "Come here, baby," I held out my hands. She came to me—slowly. Tentatively. I wrapped her against me the moment she was close enough. A part of me felt just as helpless as she did.

  "We'll get them," I whispered against her hair. "I promise we'll get them."

  * * *

  Opal

  Kell, Klancy, Zaria and I were in the hotel coffee shop. We didn't need bodyguards for what we were about to do.

  After I'd suggested something of the sort, Zaria offered her services, on the condition that we not kill unless forced to do so. I'd already asked Colonel Hunter to arrange for holding cells. We had terrorists to hunt. A few thought they were beyond our reach; they'd flown out of the country before the bombs went off. They were about to be surprised.

  Currently, all airports were closed and on lockdown because of the extensive bombings. Yes, Zaria was violating her non-interference status, because I'd asked her to. In this case, I just wanted a cage full of murderers—all the murderers involved in this attack.

  They didn't have Sirenali to hide them. Hadn't known they might need them, after all. They were used to hiding beneath baseboards and in cracks and crannies, blending in with their surroundings.

  I wondered how they were going to take being caught, no matter where they were.

  "Ready?" I took one last sip of my coffee. It could be a long night, followed by an early morning meeting with the President.

  "Yes." Zaria took a deep breath and allowed Klancy to take her hand and help her from our booth.

  Kell's hand was beneath my elbow as he helped me rise. These two would die for us; there was no question. I also understood that Zaria and I would protect them with our lives, if necessary.

  "Let's go collect terrorist ass,
" I breathed.

  * * *

  Lexsi

  After a restless night, during which Kory was always there with a warm embrace, shushing me when I woke, shaking and terrified, we watched the morning news together.

  Yes, I understood that some that we knew had been busy through the night. Face after face, name after name, appeared across our television screen, while journalists explained that these—the ones involved in the bombings—had been captured after authorities interrogated one captured suspect the night before.

  They thought all those names had been given to them by Mahmoud. I knew differently—he'd only known a few of those names. The rest were likely supplied by someone else.

  I had suspicions as to whom that could be, but didn't want to voice them aloud. Kory's arms, warm and strong, were about me as we watched the news together from our bed. As expected, the death toll in New York had risen dramatically. One hundred thousand lives was now the estimate.

  "I saw Zaria's Larentii mate," Kory confessed. "The other day. He just showed up unannounced."

  "Who?" I asked.

  "Kalenegar," he breathed, his mouth next to my ear.

  I went still. "He's the Head of the Larentii Council," I whispered. "Why would he be here?"

  "Because he's mated to Zaria?"

  "Oh. He may not be the only one, then," I said.

  "Only what?"

  "Only Larentii. Sometimes, people get more than one Larentii mate. Gran has two," I pointed out. "What did he say?"

  "Not much—they discussed the wristband and the likelihood that it was worthless, or would be whenever the enemy discovered it was missing. Kalenegar wanted to see Zaria in private after that, so I left them alone."

  "I wish I knew who she really is," I sighed. "She's important, I know that much. I don't think she'd be here, otherwise. And the fact that she's mated to the most powerful Larentii? You can't discount that for a minute." I moved to slide away from Kory.

  "I have a raging erection," he murmured while pulling me back.

  "You're the one who said no sex before kissing, and we haven't set a kissing date, remember?" I looked up at him. His eyes were dark while a wicked smile tugged at one corner of his mouth.

  "Too bad we can't bend time, then. We could show up for our own wedding," he teased as he let me go. "Would you kiss me then—when your father handed you to me? I'd catch you when you fell and take such good care of you afterward."

  "Kory," I pushed myself off the bed and stood, still gazing at him. "I'd marry you and kiss you. Without qualms. But we sort of have this in front of us now," I swept a hand toward the television, where more journalists were speculating on whether other terrorists were involved or if we'd collected all of them.

  "Then will you wear this? It was what I had for you, when you married me." He leaned over and pulled a small box from his shirt pocket. He'd left his clothes on the small chest beside the bed.

  "What's that?" I blinked at the box, dwarfed in his large hand.

  "The ring I picked out for you. When I ordered it, I didn't know how much I'd love you," he lifted the lid. "I know how much you mean to me now."

  My breath caught. The gem was Tiralian crystal, there was no doubt, and not a small one, either. "Kory, I," I didn't know what to say. The ring had to cost a fortune. I told him that, too.

  "I was given a discount," he said, "By somebody who regularly trades Tiralian crystal. Through a third party—your great-aunt Glindarok."

  "But it's still so much," I breathed, my eyes going from the ring to his face and then back again.

  "You're worth everything to me," he said simply. "This ring couldn't come close to what I think your worth is. I want to marry you, Lexsi Silver."

  "Will it fit?" I whispered.

  "Want to find out?" He lifted the ring from its bed of velvet and held it out to me. "Give me your hand, baby, if you want to marry me."

  My left hand trembled, but I held it out to him. With gentle fingers, he set the ring on the proper finger. It fit perfectly. Someone had given him my size. Perhaps my father had told him.

  It didn't matter. The man I loved and wanted to marry had put a ring on my finger and asked me to marry him. He'd promised to catch me when I fell after he kissed me. He promised to be gentle when placing the claiming marks.

  I believed him.

  I wanted to marry him right then and there. So many things had to be done, first and it made me want to weep. I had happiness while so many others grieved from terrible tragedy. Was all of life destined to be such a confusing paradox?

  "Come here." Kory pulled me against him and kissed the hand that wore his ring. "We belong together. To each other. That's what matters right now. We'll deal with the other stuff where and when we can. Get dressed, onion. We have bad guys to fight."

  * * *

  Kordevik

  We had breakfast in a hotel cafe while Opal met with the President, Colonel Hunter and every other bigwig who had anything to do with the US Government. I was pleased to see that our werewolf friend, Jorden Billings, had arrived to help guard us and drive us if necessary.

  "I was hoping we'd see you," Lexsi gave him a quick hug. He grinned and shook my hand after Lexsi moved away.

  "I was hoping I'd get to work with you again," he said. "I'd have asked if the boss hadn't told me to come."

  "What's on tap, then?" Watson joined us. He grinned and punched Jorden on the shoulder. They knew one another; Watson had already told me that much.

  "Last time I saw you," Jorden said after clapping Watson on the back, "I was in the Navy and stationed in San Diego, while you were serving drinks in San Francisco. Now I'm with the D.C. Pack and working for Director Tadewi."

  "I'm the new Packmaster for the rebuilding San Francisco Pack," Watson sighed.

  "Heard about that," Jorden jerked his head in a quick nod. "Never did like Claudia. Scent was off, in my estimation."

  "I hear that."

  I'm surprised there was no butt sniffing, I sent to Lexsi, who turned her head so the wolves wouldn't see her smile.

  Jorden's cell phone buzzed. He excused himself and walked away to answer the call. He was back after a minute or two had passed. "We'll transport you in—the boss has asked for a meeting with your crew."

  We were herded into dark, bulletproof vans a short time later, and our convoy headed toward a building not far from the Capitol. Jorden hadn't told us where we were going; he drove while another guard sat on the passenger seat up front. Yoff, Anita and Watson rode with us; Zaria, Klancy, Kell, and Tibby rode in another van. Mason, Davis, Thomas and Sandra were in the last van, while Farin and Jamie were left behind at the hotel under heavy guard.

  They weren't happy about being left behind, but I hoped they'd understand eventually. If it weren't for Opal and Tibby wanting them where they were, I'd have asked that Farin be sent home to be with her parents, while Jamie stayed at the San Rafael house with hidden guards close by.

  I'm sure they could allow Farin's brother to stay there, too, and merely move his guards to his parents' home so they could watch both.

  It occurred to me then that I could remove the obsession from Rick; he'd be back to himself the moment I released him from my mist. I made a mental note to ask Opal about it when we had a private moment together.

  Jorden parked our van in an underground parking area and waited for the other two vans to pull up beside ours before stepping out of our vehicle and searching the area to ensure it was safe.

  We unloaded after that and headed for a nearby elevator. Jorden used his badge to convince the elevator doors to open; we crowded inside while Jorden pressed the button for the fourth floor. Half of us were taken on the first trip, the rest waited until the elevator deposited us in an empty foyer, then returned for the others in our group.

  When we were all gathered in the foyer, Jorden led the way to a locked door in the center of the foyer. Swiping his badge got us past that door and into a hallway. At the end of that hallway was another locked door
. It opened for us before Jorden could swipe his badge again.

  Opal, Colonel Hunter and several others, including the President, waited inside for us.

  * * *

  Lexsi

  I had no idea I'd be hearing what we did; Kory's hand gripped mine beneath the table while the President spoke of a declaration of war and Opal attempted to talk him out of it.

  I understood Opal's reasoning; declaring war against Peru because they were a stationary target could be the worst mistake of his career. It wasn't Peru he had a problem with; it was what had taken over Peru that was our difficulty.

  Opal had attempted to warn him at the beginning of this mess; he and the Secretary of State hadn't listened. After seeing the recorded version of Mahmoud's confession, naming those in Peru as the facilitators in the New York bombings, they'd swung from one end of the pendulum to the other.

  Already, Congress was called to convene and declaring war would be on the agenda. The fact that the Secretary of State's multiple calls to the puppet government in Peru had gone unanswered had convinced him and the President that we were now engaged in a conflict with that South American nation.

  If troops were sent to Peru's border, the moment they attempted to cross, they'd be fried by the death machines that waited. The president shouted about being betrayed by supposed allies, while the Secretary of State nodded his agreement.

  Opal and Colonel Hunter weren't able to interrupt and attempt to convince him to listen to reason.

  In the President's opinion, Peru had just joined the terrorists and would pay for their involvement.

  It wasn't that simple. Colonel Hunter pointed out that Peru was engaged in killing their own. We didn't need to add our help to what amounted to genocide in that country by attempting indiscriminate bombings.

  In essence, those who held Peru would likely hold the innocent population hostage if we attempted to cross the border. They were already killing enough as it was. What the President suggested could destroy millions.

  "We have a plan, Mr. President," Opal sounded weary as she spoke during a lull in the President's tirade. "We're trying to avoid senseless loss of life, sir."

  "Then you have two days. I'll have Congress convinced to declare war by that time. I'm ready to go," he jerked his head toward several Secret Service agents who stood at the back of the room.