Crossroads

Take you to the elder who is on my payroll. He will verify that what I say is true.

An elder on your payroll? I can trust someone whose loyalty is for sale? You must offer me something more than testimony that’s been bought and paid for.

Chael retreats into his own thoughts a moment. Then his eyes spark with an answer. The man I saw with you at the lodge yesterday? He is a policeman, is he not?

Yes.

Then ask him. By now he will have been apprised of the problem.He hadn’t been as of yesterday.

Oh, but he will be now. This is something that threatens the economy of the entire Navajo nation.

And what is this problem?

Chael spreads his hands. Someone is flooding the market with fake artifacts from the sacred caves. They are wonderful fakes, hewn from the original rock, but fakes nonetheless. The originals are sacred to the Navajo. Only a few are ever sold and then they must be displayed in the proper way in Native American museums. Tracking down the counterfeiters has become top priority for the locals.

They are sure the thieves are working from the reservation.

Here.

I close my eyes, picturing the beautiful drawings in the cave.

Do you know something? Chael asks, jumping at my hesitation. If you do, you will certainly make the elders look more favorably on your request for an audience with Sani.

My thoughts are scattered. I know nothing of counterfeiters.

But if Chael’s story is true, was it just a horrific accident that kil ed Sarah and Mary?

Did I urge Frey to kil Judith Wiliams for nothing?

I slump back against the wal of the cave, ignoring the dampness seeping from the rock, pressing fingers against my eyes. Final y, I raise my eyes to Chael. Why have you stayed on? Did you intend to wait the week and see what transpired?

I told you. I heard about the skinwalkers.

I let a snicker rumble from the back of my throat. And you were going to warn me? When? Hate to break it to you, but you’re too late. I already had a taste of curse magic. I figured it was someone on your payroll, too.

He shakes his head. No. Skinwalkers are tricky bastards.

There’s no loyalty in them to anyone but those initiated with them into the witchery way.

But I’m sure you wouldn’t have minded if I’d met my end at the hands of one.

Chael’s expression shifts to irritation. I told you. I don’t want you dead. I want you removed from the position of the Chosen One.

And you want it done in a way that cannot be traced back to you.

That is preferable, yes.

At least that’s something I can believe. Dying at the hand of a skinwalker would certainly meet the criteria.

What do I do now?

I was so sure it had been Chael behind Sarah’s death, I never considered the possibility that the car accident had been just that — an accident.

My stomach knots with indecision. Chael is stil an enemy.

I could kil him here in this place and dispose of his body so that it would never be found.

Vampire thinks that is a good idea. Chael is no match for my anger and strength.

The human Anna is not so sure. I watched Judith Wiliams dissolve into ash and felt nothing. She was not a friend, but now I find she may not have been the enemy I imagined. Oh, she would have proved herself worthy of death eventual y.

Her lack of restraint would have been her undoing.

Realistical y, kil ing her saved the lives of unsuspecting hosts.

So easy to rationalize. What was it that Chael said to me at the cottage — when the time comes, Id d kil her for him.

And I did.

Chael stirs beside me, anxiety beginning to bloom in his thoughts. Does he suspect the decision I’m wrestling with?

Let me go, Anna, and you will have a powerful friend.

I should not hesitate this minute to tear out Chael’s throat.

Sani’s words echo again in my head. Would kil ing Chael assure the safety of mankind? Would it guarantee my return to mortality could be achieved with no disastrous consequences?

I peer at Chael. He is nervous, an insect squirming on a pin. He is but one of a growing legion who are tired of vampires being kept in the shadows. Kil ing him might spur his fol owers on to escalate the violence against those they see as their subjugators.

Friend? Never. But making him a martyr would not be smart, either. And there’s stil that nagging question of why I don’t feel the evil in Chael. Why I don’t feel the powerful need to kil him. It is a riddle to be solved.

I open my thoughts. Go. We will never be friends. But today, we are not enemies.

His relief is palpable, he draws himself up, squares his shoulders. You will not regret this.

Make sure I don’t. Leave the valley. I will check your story. If you have been lying, I will find you.

He reaches into a pocket. I look down at what he holds out to me.

A business card. Like we are two traveling salesman exchanging numbers. He’s holding out a fucking business card.

This number will reach me no matter where I am.

I’m too dumbstruck by the sheer idiocy of the scenario to do more than take it and stare.

He makes his exit head held high, aloof as departing royalty. The only thing that mars his departure is the very ungraceful fal he takes as his feet slip on loose rock. He lands on his ass, recovers quickly, and glances back to see if I noticed.

I let him know that I did.

CHAPTER 38

AS SOON AS CHAEL IS OUT OF SIGHT, FLEEING BACK

toward the hotel, I turn and trek farther back into the cave.

“Okay, Frey,” I cal out. “You can come out now.”

At first there is no sound — just water dripping from somewhere out of sight. Then shuffling. Frey’s scent, soap and shampoo, tickles my nose before his form materializes from the gloom. He’s rigid with anger.

“You let him go. You didn’t kil him.”

We retrace our steps to the mouth of the cave.

I hunker down, squatting on my heels. Frey joins me. I know he couldn’t pick up my thoughts, but he would have been able to pick up Chael’s. “You heard that Sarah didn’t address the council?”

He nods stiffly. “That wil be easy enough to check. What about the other things? Do you real y believe he had nothing to do with the skinwalker attack on you?”

“Yes. I think it’s time we looked at this from another angle.