Lies & Omens: A Shadows Inquiries Novel by Lyn Benedict

Author:Lyn Benedict
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Group, Inc.
Published: 2012-04-23T22:00:00+00:00

9

Regrouping

LUXURY HAD ITS PLACE, SYLVIE THOUGHT AS SHE SETTLED MORE comfortably in the leather seat. The motor hummed quietly, the ride was smooth, and the car was pleasantly dim in the midday heat. Sylvie fumbled out her cell phone, found it cracked through, and said, “Alex. Phone?”

“Calling Val?” Alex asked, passing her phone back.

“Yeah. Her estate isn’t going to be much of a safe haven if it kills us as we try to get in.”

Demalion grunted from the driver’s seat. “We’ve had enough near-death moments today. I’m forbidding any more of them. My nerves can’t take it.”

“Aw, poor baby,” Alex teased.

Demalion’s glance toward her was not amused.

Sylvie ignored the start of their bickering and dialed Val. Usually, Val refused to answer Sylvie’s calls, but Sylvie was betting that with Zoe AWOL, Val would answer, no matter the time. Sylvie turned her watch, thought, actually her timing wasn’t that bad. Ischia was about six hours ahead. Dinnertime.

“Sylvie,” Val said.

She sounded so calm and competent that Sylvie felt strange, choking tears rise in her throat. “God, Val, I need your help.”

The line hummed between them for a long moment, then Val said, “What do you need?”

Ten minutes and copious notes later, Sylvie disconnected from Val, feeling better about their strained relationship than she had in ages. Nothing like knowing that your friend—no matter how justifiably pissed off—wasn’t going to leave you high and dry when your life was on the line.

Sylvie passed one part of the list to Alex, said, “We’re going to need to make a stop for supplies.”

Alex nodded.

Behind Sylvie, Lupe stirred and moaned, and Sylvie peered over the seat back. Lupe’s eyelashes fluttered, her hand flailed weakly. Her nails, Sylvie noted, were deep blue-black, another transformation that had failed to erase itself. Sylvie just hoped that the venom hadn’t made the transition back to human along with the claws. Lupe’s temper was far too dangerous.

“What happened?” Lupe said.

“Too much to explain. But hey,” Sylvie said dryly, “you made a friend.”

“I dreamed about a monster,” Lupe whispered. “Her teeth in my throat.”

“Her heart in your hands,” Sylvie said. “Her name is Erinya. She likes you.”

“It was real?” Lupe asked. “I dreamed I killed a man.” When Sylvie didn’t deny it, she turned her face away, toward the dark leather seat, hiding from reality, and nothing Sylvie said after that could draw her into speech again.

Finally, Sylvie just slumped back in her seat and closed her eyes. Not sleeping. Not yet. But she could rest her eyes.

Demalion kept the SUV running while Alex grabbed items on Val’s list and on hers, tearing through one magic bodega and one gun shop with an efficiency Sylvie envied.

Sylvie wanted to go in with Alex, keep an eye on her, make sure she got everything on the list, but she couldn’t leave Lupe unattended. The woman seemed wrung out, unable to move, much less shift shape and rampage some more, but better not to take the chance.

Alex returned, laden down with bags, and passed Sylvie the Taser.

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