Kristoff shifted uncomfortably. The finger of sunlight was creeping ever closer to our feet.
“It’s a little hard to piece together precisely, but I gather that there was a Bavarian Zorya who killed a vampire’s mate in a jealous fit. The vampire, in revenge, slaughtered both the Zorya and her husband, the sacristan for that area. The Brotherhood was so outraged at their deaths, it started a movement to cleanse the darkness that threatened to consume not just Brotherhood members, but all who stood in the way of the vampires.”
“A vampire started it?” I asked, finding it hard to believe.
Kristoff swore in Italian, fortunately only in my head. I had to admit I agreed with his sentiment. What do you bet there’s more to the story than that? I asked him.
There is.
I peeked at him out of the corner of my eye. That sounded like more than just a general condemnation of the reapers. Do you know how the Brotherhood got started on their vendetta against you guys?
All who hunt the reapers are familiar with their history.
Good, then you can tell me what happened. “Are you absolutely sure that a vampire started it?” I asked.
“Without a doubt, yes. I’ve seen the primary sources.”
“I’m surprised primary sources survived so long.” Kristoff?
Why do you care how the war started? It’s ending it that I care about.
Rick said as he set down his coffee, “There is only one that I’ve seen. Or, rather, seen photocopies of. It is a diary that mentions the origin of the Lodi Congress.”
I was a bit surprised at Kristoff’s snappish tone but kept my smile serene. “Fascinating stuff. I wonder-”
“I have spoken to the director,” Janice announced with a dramatic wave of her hand as she entered the room. Judging by the gloating smile on her face, she was enjoying every moment of this. “The director, as I told you, has no desire to speak with you personally, and asked me to inform you that your agreement to the original terms is binding, and is not open to amendment. Further, he was appalled and shocked to hear how you’ve been abusing the priestess and sacristan, and asked me to tell you that separate charges may be made on those accounts.”
No surprise there, I said. But we got what we wanted.
They didn’t confirm that they have Alec, Beloved.
They didn’t deny it, either, and thanks to Rick, we now know where he would be likely to be held.
“We will take them now,” Janice said, gesturing to her husband. “I just pray to the goddess that they will survive your abuses without permanent damage.”
“Mattias, how would you like to go to Los Angeles?” I asked as she and Rick went into Kristjana’s room.
He thought for a moment. “Would I?”
“Yes, you would. You’d have fun there, and meet new people, and see new things.”
“New things are good. Are you going?”
I leaned forward to whisper in his ear, “Not right now. Don’t tell anyone, but I will be there soon, and I’ll see you then.”
“Piaaaa,” he said, his eyes filled with adoration. He turned his head to kiss me, but I jumped back. He smacked his lips a couple of times at me. “Good-bye kiss?”
“No,” Kristoff said, slamming Mattias’s bag into his arms, sending him staggering back a couple of steps. “Don’t let the door hit you on the-”
“Kristoff!” I glared at him. You don’t have to be rude to him! He can’t help being like a gigantic human puppy when he’s under the influence of my womanly wiles.
He might not be able to help it, but I’m tired of him always trying to fondle you.
Jealousy ill becomes you when it concerns someone light-bound. “The doctor says she should be out for another hour or so,” I told Rick as he emerged from the room with a limp Kristjana in his arms. “But she should be fine. Go with Janice and Rick, Mattias. They will take you to LA.”
“I am going with Janice and Rick,” he repeated, following them to the door. “I will be good.”
“I’m sure you will,” I said, standing at the door to the suite and waving at Mattias until the door of the elevator closed on them. I slumped against the wall, relieved to be rid of the stress of keeping Mattias under control. “Whew. That’s done. I can feed you now. I know you’re hungry, and we should have a few minutes before we have to go spirit hunting-”
“Pia!” I de-slumped when a familiar dark-haired woman emerged from the other elevator, tugging a tall, thin woman after her. “Hi! We’re a bit early. You don’t mind, do you?”
CHAPTER 10
“I thought we’d get a good jump on searching for your spirit. This is Eve. Wow, nice room! Oh . . . er . . . hi.”
So much for feeding you. I’m sorry.
There wouldn’t have been time for the food I was interested in , he answered with a mental image that threatened to buckle my legs.
Oh, that is not playing fair . “That’s my husband, Kristoff.”
“Siobhan Gullstein. This is Eve Voorhees, who is the necromancer I told you about, Pia.”
“Hi,” Eve said, holding out a hand. She was as tall as Kristoff, freckled, with short sandy blond hair and wire- framed glasses. Her gaze was straightforward and earnest. She looked absolutely normal, not in the least as if she were the sort of person who raised the dead for a living. “Siobhan says you know where the essence is?”
“Not exactly, but I know where the village was before it washed into the ocean.”
“I see.” Eve had a slight accent-Dutch, I assumed by her name-and although her manner wasn’t as friendly and open as Siobhan’s, I liked her. She hesitated a moment, biting her lip before she continued. “I don’t normally do this. I may be old-fashioned, but I like to honor my commitments, and I don’t usually betray a client in this manner.”
“I absolutely understand, and I would never ask you to do so except this is really an emergency.”
She nodded. “Siobhan told me that the spirit in question belonged to you, but his soul was taken by the Ilargi who hired me. I do not judge those for whom I work, but I do not agree that it is right to take the soul of another.”
“I’m glad you feel that way,” I said, relieved. “Naturally, we will pay you the going rate for lich raising. Er . . . what is that?”
She named a figure that had me reeling for a moment.
Kristoff made a face and pulled out his checkbook.
Thanks, Boo.
“Excellent,” Eve said, folding the check and tucking it away. “Shall we go?”
“Sure,” Siobhan answered.
“I will meet you downstairs,” Eve said, heading for the door.
“She left the car parked illegally, and is worried about it getting towed. You have no idea how on top of those sorts of things the Icelanders are,” Siobhan told me.
Kristoff murmured something about getting our coats as he disappeared into our room.
“Wow, he is . . . Hoo, mama! Some kind of gorgeous,” Siobhan said in a whisper, taking a few steps to the side so she could watch Kristoff gather up his coat and hat. “I love men with cleft chins! It’s so sexy! I bet you suck it, huh?”
I blinked at her in surprise.
“Sorry,” she said with a little giggle. “Didn’t mean to shock you or anything. It’s just that you didn’t tell me you were married to a fashion model. My God, those eyes! Mmrowr!”
“I thought . . . Aren’t you . . .” I gestured vaguely toward the door through which Eve had just left.
“Oh, I am. That is, I like both sides of my bread buttered,” she said, winking as Kristoff came back into the room with my jacket.
Why are you looking so odd? Kristoff asked a few minutes later, as we emerged from the hotel. He held me
