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Menolly thrust her shoulders back. By her stance, I knew she was attracted to the woman, too. And beside me, Zach inched over to my side, one step at a time. I could feel the tension in his body.
Before Menolly could speak, Fraale beckoned us over. All our carefully laid plans flew out the window when she said, so low I could barely hear her, “I know who you are, and you put yourselves in danger by coming here. Don’t even bother playing the game I see you’ve set up. And I know who’s with you.”
She glanced around. “Rozurial, do you really think you can hide from me? I know you’re here, so you might as well show yourself. I recognize your scent even after all these years.” Her voice was soft, almost wounded, and she tilted her head in a way that made me want to kiss away the pain that stabbed into her words.
Roz stepped from behind a nearby pillar. “I wouldn’t have come if we didn’t need your help. Tell me this—and if you have any memories of the honor we once shared, speak truthfully—are you in league with the RÄksasa?”
Fraale looked at us, one by one. As her eyes met mine, I thought I caught a sparkle of what looked like a tear. She blinked. “On my honor, on the honor of our wedded days, I am not his ally. He controls me, yes, but not by my choice.”
“Then how?” Roz motioned for her to sit down, and we joined her around the table. “Speak to us.”
She gave him a pained look and ducked her head. As she returned to her seat, the glamour seemed to fade for a moment, and I found myself staring into the all-too-sorrowful eyes of a woman in mourning.
“He’s due to arrive soon. If he catches me talking to you—”
“We’ll be gone before then,” Menolly said. “Please, we need your help. If you aren’t in league with him, then at least hear us out?”
Fraale considered Menolly’s request. Finally she sighed and said, “Very well. What do I have to lose but my life?”
“It won’t come to that,” Roz said. “Now, what are you doing with Karvanak?”
“I accidentally crossed his path,” Fraale said slowly. “I teased one of his young pets into my bed, and Karvanak found us. He was furious; the boy had been a virgin, and the demon had been looking forward to . . . to . . . deflowering him. I couldn’t let that happen. The boy was young, barely eighteen. He was a poet, an artist. He wouldn’t have survived Karvanak’s treatment of him. Karvanak offered me a bargain. I let him source off my energy for a year’s time, and he’d let the youth go. How could I say no? How could I send the boy to his death? He looked like my brother, Rozurial. He reminded me of Marion.”
Roz pressed his lips together in a thin line. He hung his head.
“So you saved the boy at the expense of your own self?” Menolly asked.
Fraale nodded. “And a bitter price it is. Karvanak’s loathsome. He orders me to come here, to find a playmate, and then to bring him—or her—back to his house. There, he ravages them. I’ve complied twice, but I can’t do this time and again. I’d rather die. Is there any way you can help me?”
Her question ringing in my ears, I was about to answer when Menolly jumped in her seat.
“Karvanak. He’s over there.” She pointed to a table near the back. We couldn’t see much but the back of his head. There was no mistaking that gleaming scalp of his, nor the expensive suit, nor the fragrance of jasmine, orange, and sugar vanilla that drifted over to us.
I cautiously slid out of my seat, trying not to attract attention. “I don’t think he’s seen us, but we have to get out of here. Fraale, you know this place. Where should we go?” If we made for the door, we’d be walking right by him, and the place wasn’t full enough to give us cover.
She hesitated, then said, “The catacombs will be easiest. He’ll never go down there. The RÄksasa doesn’t like vampires and only comes here to finalize business arrangements. Come, follow me, and hurry.”
Before he could see us, we crept to the descending staircase and headed down the steps. I prayed to every god that might be listening that she was telling the truth. Otherwise, we were in for a world of hurt.
CHAPTER 25
The lower levels of the Fangtabula were far more gloomy than the main floor. The color scheme was a monochromatic black and white set in a large checkerboard pattern across both walls and floor, making me almost dizzy with its squares. The staircase ended in a hallway, which in turn branched off into other hallways. The doors, evenly spaced along the wall, bore no markings, and all of them were the same size and color. For some reason, that gave me the creeps. Who knew what lurked behind them? And with no markings, how did their occupants know which door to enter?
I crowded closer to Menolly. “What the hell is this?”
She glanced over at Fraale. “The catacombs. Vampires come here to rest and to feed. There must be some way of assigning rooms, but I’m not sure what it is. I don’t advise we randomly go opening doors, though.”
Roz and Zach took up the back, Roz keeping his eye over his shoulder. He had barely spoken to Fraale, and now it seemed like he was looking everywhere but in her direction.
“We can’t stand around here long,” he said. “We’re too conspicuous. What’s our next move?”
I turned to the succubus, feeling inexplicably sorry for both of them. “Can you lead us to Karvanak’s hideout? We have to rescue my boyfriend.”
She stared at me for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll help you. The hideout’s in south Seattle, not far from here.”
Her voice was weary, and I had the feeling she’d seen too much over the years. She didn’t seem cut out for the life into which Hera had thrust her.
“You’re taking a great risk,” I said.
