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Camil e sucked on her lip. "That's a tempting idea. Only then we have to turn it over to Queen Asteria, and with her new idea to use them with the Keraastar Knights, I'm afraid of what's going to happen."
"What do you think she's doing with the seals?" I asked. Camil e was the only one who Queen Asteria had told about it, and I stil wasn't clear on the plan.
"She's up to something. Like I mentioned before, she's gathered Venus the Moon Child, Tam Lin, and Benjamin to her to form the basis of what she's cal ing the Keraastar Knights. From what I can tel , she's giving them back the seals and means to create some magical warrior force to fight against Shadow Wing. I'm not sure what prompted her to do this, but whatever it was, it had to be big. I'm almost afraid to find out."
"That's right." I almost wished I hadn't asked. The idea was insane, but you don't tel an Elfin Queen she's nuts.
"She shook her head. "The whole thing scares me, actual y. But back to the matter at hand. Vanzir and Roz, can you spend the day researching any potential place where we should begin looking for the next spirit seal?"
She paused, then looked at the Demon Twins. "By the way, what happened to the Tregart we captured?"
Vanzir looked her straight in the eye. "He's dead."
She nodded. I said nothing. There was nothing more to say about that particular matter. We al knew there was no other choice.
I pushed back my chair. "Sounds good. Okay, Roz, Vanzir, take a hike after you eat. Be careful; don't let anybody know what you're looking for. Camil e, let's get dressed and head down to the bar and get me de-stinkafied. While we're there, remember to ask if Luke has a picture of Amber's husband Rice.
Then we'l hit the hotel and find out what we can about her."
Camil e and the others stood. As we waved to Iris and headed out of the kitchen, I could feel life shifting and turning. Off one rol er coaster and onto another.
CHAPTER 6
Luke was at the bar early, mainly because we'd cal ed and asked him to meet us there. He handed me a spray bottle with a homemade label on it.
"Go into Menol y's office, strip, and spray yourself with it from head to toe, including your hair. The smel should dissipate for the most part." He waved me off, and I headed for Menol y's office.
I pul ed off my clothes and squirted myself sil y with the stuff. Immediately, I noticed a difference for the better as the skunk smel faded. After a moment, I decided to spray down my clothes, too. Wonder of wonders, it worked, and a whole lot faster than I thought. I might stil have a cool punk do, but at least I didn't reek. I slipped back into my clothes, then stopped. On Menol y's desk was a cream-colored envelope with a large crimson dagger printed on it and Menol y's name written in large, sloping letters across the front.
Peeking out the door, I made sure Camil e was busy with Luke, then slipped into Menol y's chair and gingerly picked up the letter. It had already been opened, so al I had to do was slide the pages out and look at what it said. My conscience tweaked a little, but I figured hel , she'd do the same if she was worried about me. And the dagger on the front of that envelope worried me.
A note card slid out--the fancy ones invitations were sent on--and I held it by the edges and flipped it open. The card simply read: To Ms. Menolly D'Artigo,
I summon the pleasure of your company, to be spent as my companion for the Winter Solstice Vampire Ball, to be held at the Clockwork Club on the evening of December 17th. My limousine will arrive for you at precisely eleven P.M., at your home, to bring you to the club. No RSVP necessary--I trust you will comply.
Roman
What the fuck? Who was Roman? The name seemed familiar, but I couldn't place it, although I knew I'd heard it before. I slipped the note back in the envelope and replaced it on her desk. That she hadn't told us about this made me wonder al the more.
"Delilah?" Luke's voice echoed through the door. "You okay?"
Hastily, I zipped up my pants and tucked in my sweater and, grabbing the spray bottle, I opened the door.
"Yah, just did my clothes, too. Even if it fades them, it's got to be better than the smel they were accumulating. You should market this stuff--it's a miracle. Hey, did Camil e ask you about a picture of Amber's husband?"
He walked me to the front, frowning. "No, should she have?"
"Should she have what?" Camil e asked. "And who's she?"
"The picture--remember? We need a picture of Amber's husband, if possible. I thought you asked Luke for one on the phone this morning when you cal ed him."
"Damn it, I forgot--"
Luke stopped her. "That's okay. I happen to have a picture of the two of them together in my wal et. You can have it." He pul ed out his wal et and fished out the picture. "Here you go--that's Rice, her husband. Fucking scumbag."
"So you said," I murmured, taking the picture. "Okay, we're heading over to the hotel now." Stopping as we headed for the door, I turned back to the werewolf. "Luke, have there been any . . . strange . . . vampires around the bar lately? Or other denizens that seem . . . out of place. Wealthy, maybe?"
He frowned, leaning on the bar, his biceps bulging through the shirt. Oh yeah, the man had muscles. "You know, someone came in the other night who I thought might be vampire, but I wasn't sure. He delivered a note for your sister. That who you talking about?"
