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Zen moved away then to say her good-byes to Giguhl and Adam. Behind me, Georgia called my name. I turned and was surprised to see a determined expression on her face. “What’s up?”
She raised her chin. “I want to go with you.”
I paused. To reject her outright when she was still clearly so bitter wouldn’t end well. I chose my words carefully. “Georgia, I—”
She held up a hand. “I’m strong and I’m fast, so I will be an asset if you get into any scrapes.”
I nodded. “That’s true.” And it was. Having another vampire on the team would be helpful, but her emotional state could end up making her a liability. “But I’m afraid it’s just not possible. Besides, you need to stay here and figure out what you’re going to do about Lagniappe.”
“I don’t care about that. I just need… I need to get away from here.”
I approached her and put a hand on her shoulder. “Running from your problems won’t make them disappear. Besides, battling a psychotic murderer isn’t exactly the best path toward mental peace, you know?” Her face fell and I worried she might cry, so I rushed ahead. “But I promise that if things get too hairy, I’ll call you in from the bench, okay?”
She pursed her lips and thought things over. “I really wanted to help you.”
An idea occurred to me, a way she could help me without getting involved directly. “Actually, there is something you can do for me.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Anything.”
“Have you ever heard of a vampire named Nyx?”
Georgia frowned. “I don’t think so, why?”
I forced a casual shrug. “A friend asked me to look her up,” I lied. I hadn’t really expected Georgia to know Nyx, but I figured this way I could at least tell Asclepius I’d asked around. “Do you think you could ask your friends if they’ve heard of her? She was last seen in Italy, but I figure maybe someone here has run into her over the decades.”
“I could ask around. I have some old friends in Europe, too. I’ll make some inquiries and let you know if I find anything.”
I smiled genuinely. “That would be great.” I felt better that I’d figured out a way to let her help without risking her life. Even if I didn’t expect her research to turn up much, I could at least tell Asclepius I’d made an effort when he showed up demanding answers.
“I’m sorry I freaked out on you earlier,” Georgia said suddenly. “I know you have a lot of your own shit to deal with right now.”
“Don’t worry about it. You didn’t know. But I’m glad you came by before we left.”
She looked up, her expression unsure. “Really? Even after I yelled at you?”
I shrugged. “I consider it penance for sticking my nose into the situation to begin with.”
Georgia waved her hand. “I know you were just trying to help.”
“Red?” Adam said, his tone quiet but weighted. “We need to head out.”
I turned back to Georgia. “Look, I don’t know when I’ll see you again, so I’m going to give you some unsolicited advice.”
The corner of her mouth twitched. “Shoot.”
“Don’t avoid the pain. The sooner you face it, the sooner you’ll come through on the other side.”
Her face fell. “It hurts too much, Sabina.”
I put my arms around her for a hug. “It’ll keep hurting forever unless you deal with it. You’ve got too much living ahead of you to let a little heartache turn you bitter.”
“Thanks.” She sighed and hugged me back. “For everything.”
I pulled back and smiled at my friend. “You’re welcome. And let me know if you turn anything up about Nyx.”
While Georgia moved on to say good-bye to Adam, I checked my gun and the knives I had stashed in my boots. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Giguhl and Brooks hugging as well. The Changeling was sobbing openly while the demon tried to comfort him. Adam and I had often speculated about their relationship, but Giguhl swore he and Brooks were platonic and I believed him. Brooks had come into Giguhl’s life on the heels of a bad breakup with a Vanity demon. My theory was the demon’s friendship with the faery had filled a hole left by that vindictive bitch and for that I was grateful. There’s nothing more pathetic than a heartbroken demon.
Dismissing the tearful good-bye, I focused on Erron again, who was loitering nearby. “You ready?”
Erron crossed his arms and eyed me. “You know what? I think I am. I know I had reservations, but I want Cain to pay for what he did to my friends as bad as you do. That bastard needs to bleed.”
I held up a hand to high-five the Recreant. “Now we’re talking.”
Adam and Giguhl had finished their good-byes and came to join us. I turned to the males so that we all formed a small circle. “All right, let’s take this fight to Cain.”
“Next stop, Rome!” Giguhl called excitedly.
The magic rose and the vortex opened. Over Adam’s shoulder, I got one last look at the anxious expressions on Zen’s, Georgia’s, and Brooks’s faces. Despite the bravado, we all knew this might be the last time we saw each other.
“Watch each other’s backs,” Georgia called.
“Be careful, bitches!” Brooks yelled.
Zen crossed herself. “Holy Loa, blessed saints and gods protect you.”
A split second later, we disappeared.
Chapter 6
Red-tiled roofs and church steeples glowed in the rosy aura of the setting sun. The waning moon hung low in the east along with the first hint of stars. In the distance, St. Peter’s Basilica lorded over the skyline like an authoritarian father. The air smelled of exhaust and rosemary and ancient secrets. And everywhere, Italy’s poetic mother tongue floated through the cool evening breeze like a song.
Erron led us down narrow cobbled streets to a discreet wooden door set back into a stone building. A small, hand-painted sign advertised the name of the establishment: Bar Sinister.
We’d headed straight here the instant we arrived in Rome. Luckily, the bar was only a few blocks from the park where we’d manifested, so we didn’t have to risk our lives in one of the stunt-driving taxis.
Adam and Erron led the way, while I carried the canvas bag containing Giguhl in his hairless cat form. Not for the first time, I was thankful the demon could switch into the more portable and less-conspicuous body. I just wished he’d quit bitching.
