weapons into hidden sheaths under our coats and boots. Esras and Remy turned some of the knives and sheaths into swords and scabbards. Even though the Kris Dagger was inactive, Remy had brought it. He must have remembered what I had told them, that Master Haziel had insisted I must always carry it.
“Remember, we are going to talk, not fight, which means you don’t attack unless you get attacked. And no matter what they do, don’t use your powers. The last thing we need is Raphael and his tribe descending on us.”
“I don’t get it,” Solaris said. “They have one of our people and we’re going to talk?”
“Valafar has her, Solaris,” I said. “The Specials told us his men took Kim to the Order’s den in Detroit.”
A strange look crossed her face. A mixture of anger and excitement, I thought, but I could have been wrong.
“Let’s pair up,” Bran said. “Lil and I will take the lead. I know exactly where the Order is holed up. Sykes —”
“I’m with Izzy,” Sykes said, taking her hand. He still couldn’t stand the twins and didn’t care who knew.
Bran nodded at Remy and Esras. “Take the rear, guys.”
“What if Valafar doesn’t agree to a trade?” Solaris asked.
Bran glared at her. “There’s not going to be a trade. We’ll get Kim and we’ll all come home.” Talking only seemed to make him angrier. He grabbed my hand. “Let’s go and get this over with.”
We appeared in a field of some kind, across the street from a hulking, abandoned building. Street lights showed three arches with columns framing what once had been a grand entrance. Bricks now replaced the large, lower glass windows, while the ones on the floors above it gaped vacant like unseeing eyes. Above the smashed cinder block door were the words, “The Lee Plaza”.
Sirens resounded in the distance and loud music blared as an occasional car zipped past on Grand Boulevard. The tingle on my lower spine kicked into gear as we started toward the building, our amulets lighting up like stars.
“So this is the abandoned city,” Solaris said.
“Not for long,” Bran said. “Demons are moving in. Although they are adding sub-levels while doing very little to the surfaces.”
As we moved closer to the building, the warning tingle on my back went crazy, sensing the humming energies of demons. Inky writing etched under my skin before the two dozen demons surrounded us. I controlled my powers with some difficulty.
“We are here to see the Order,” Bran said.
“Why?” a woman called and stepped forward, the street light bathing her pale face.
Whatever hopes I had of the meeting going smoothly disappeared when I recognized Lottius, a Nosferatu girl with a bad attitude and a powerful father. We’d tortured her for information months ago. Dressed all in black like her gang, her black hair no longer had a streak of white in it.
“Lottius, you have a Cardinal Guardian and we’re here for her,” Bran said.
“Nice to see you again, Llyr. I see that being hunted like animals hasn’t humbled you yet,” she said, walking toward us.
“They have to catch us first,” Bran retorted.
“Be careful what you wish for, gorgeous.” She glanced at me and her eyes flashed. “The princess returns. Are you going to give yourself up and stop this madness?”
“We are here for our friend,” I said, refusing to be drawn into a discussion about me.
“My father is the head of the Order,” Lottius said. “We are part of security now, so before we can let you through, we must discuss—”
Bran was behind her, a sickle wrapped around her throat before she finished speaking. “We’re done discussing,” he said rudely. “Take us to your father.”
“Do you have a death wish? A signal from me and the guards will finish your team.” She tried to push his hand, but he pressed the dagger into her skin. “Unhand me.”
“No, walk and lead us to the entrance,” Bran snarled. He could be such a badass, and he’d been in an ugly mood since we’d learned of Valafar’s existence. “Any move from any of you,” he added without glancing at the demons, “and I’ll show you how sharp this baby is.”
The demons stopped, then fell back as we moved toward the building. The wall shimmered and disappeared to reveal a wide, arched hallway filled with debris. The elevators lining the arched hallway were all unusable, except for the one that suddenly appeared to our right, its steel doors new and shiny.
The elevator door opened to reveal mirrored walls and a burgundy carpeted floor. Soft music played in the background. The demon guards glowered as the door closed on their faces.
“The atrium,” Lottius said.
The elevator descended. Lottius glanced at me from the corner of her eye and shifted away. She was more scared of me than the knife at her neck. The power radiating up and down my back couldn’t be the cause. I had it under control.
Had I turned her? During our last meeting, she’d tried to kill me after we released her, and to punish her, I’d compelled her to fight evil—a death sentence for any demon.
“Let her go,” I said.
Bran frowned. “Why?”
“She won’t try to escape or hurt us. Isn’t that right, Lottius?”
Lottius rubbed her neck. “You cursed me.”
“I compelled you to do good, hardly a curse.”
“I’ve had to hide how I feel, sneak behind my friends and family to help humans,” she said through clenched teeth. “If my family finds out the things I’ve been doing, I will be banished. Remove your voice from my head, Guardian,” she spat.
“It’s called a conscience, Lottius, but I will remove it if you do us a favor.”
“I’m not helping you in my father’s…” She scrunched her face, as though battling herself, then snapped, “Fine, what is it?”
“Teleport to the top of Treasure Planet Casino and tell Dante and Kael we need them.”
Her eyes widened. “They’ll kill me before I open my mouth.”
“Then you’d better talk fast when they appear.” The elevator door slid open to reveal the guards from upstairs. Under their watchful eyes, we stepped into a hallway. Gold accents, plants and chairs along the hallway, chandeliers and light sconces, it was a replica of the decaying hallways upstairs.
We followed Lottius to the atrium and paused to gawk. There had to be hundreds of demons, all dressed for some kind of a ball. Music played in the background and trays of champagne and finger foods floated around.
“They kidnap one of us and celebrate?” I said through clenched teeth.
“Un-freaking-believable,” Sykes muttered.
“Not everything is about you guys,” Lottius retorted.
“They just spoiled 18th-century fashion for me,” Lunaris threw in.
The females wore flowing gowns and fancy upswept hairdos while men actually looked dashing in waistcoats, embroidered frock coats, and stockings. I wondered if the swords on their sides were real or part of their costumes. Was my father hiding among them? The masks and wigs made it hard to tell. Not that I expected Valafar to do something so mundane. He was too arrogant to dress up for a masquerade party. Besides, their psi energies said these were mainly mid-level demons, mixed with a few upper ones.
The ones closest to us noticed us first and silence fell like a wave across the room. The music stopped. The tingle near my spine reached a fever pitch, but I held it back through sheer will, my heart pounding with the effort, sweat starting to run down my back.
“This way,” Lottius mumbled.
Eyes followed us, Lottius, and her guards across the rectangular indoor court. It looked nothing like the hotel
