H&W Investigations #2: Taken by the Others by Haines Jess

Author:Haines, Jess [Haines, Jess]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-01-07T21:00:00+00:00

Royce didn’t complain, but I could tell by his expression and tone of voice he wasn’t thrilled when I asked for a place to change into my hunting gear. He showed me to one of the empty offices down the hall. I hoped the boys wouldn’t end up killing each other while I was gone.

This office was quite a bit smaller than his own, but just as tastefully appointed. Framed photos were scattered here and there on the desk, peeking past a phone blinking with messages and papers stacked half a mile high. In the pictures, a man, a woman, and a towheaded girl were all smiling, holding each other, and generally looking like a normal, happy family. Some of the photos were taken at the beach or the park, and all three of them were standing in the sunlight.

I did what I could not to think about the pictures, not to wonder what would make someone so normal want to work for vampires. It bugged me, and the thoughts stuck with me while I shucked off my jeans and sweater and switched them out for the matte black armor. Next I pulled on my boots and put on the silver cross, but hesitated before putting on the finishing touch–the sentient hunter’s belt, complete with three enchanted silver stakes.

It lay coiled, untouched in the bag. My hands weren’t anywhere near it, but I could feel eagerness radiating from it. The dead hunter’s spirit inhabiting the belt wasn’t stupid. It knew I would take it on a road trip for only one reason.

When I ran a fingertip along the dark leather, the draw to put it on grew stronger. It was projecting that impatience, making me want it, yet I hesitated.

The last time I had worn this thing with the intent to fight Others, almost a year ago, I very nearly died. The belt was a thing of magic, and while it would make me stronger, faster, harder to kill, the artifact would also whisper its desire to destroy vampires. As soon as I put the belt on, it would adhere to me until daybreak. If I was going to be around Royce all night, this might not be a great idea. The spirit housed in the runes branded into the leather was eager, so eager, to see the stakes used to draw blood and to kill.

I was stronger than it. I knew that. I’d beaten back the urges it breathed to life in me before. I could do it again if I had to. I’d just never felt it like this, projecting those desires so strongly before putting it on.

Steeling myself against the inevitable mental intrusion, I reluctantly lifted it out of the duffel and settled it around my waist. The trio of stakes rode at my left hip. Extra ammo would go on the right. As soon as I slid the tongue through the buckle, the leather adhered to itself, and it was too late to wonder if I’d made the right decision by putting this piece of magework on.

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