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As I strode into the waiting room, Shade motioned me over. “I know what we’re facing and why Lindsey’s group is feeling so lackluster. Bhouts.”
“Bow-uts? I’ve never heard of them.” I looked over at Camille to see if the name meant anything to her, but she looked as confused as I was. Morio, however, was looking grave.
“Of course—I didn’t even think about them because they’re rare. But it makes sense. Bhouts…demonic ghosts. They’re not fully spirit, not fully demon. They’re from the Netherworld but can be used by someone from the Subterranean Realms.” Morio shook his head. “We’ll have to walk very carefully on this one. I seem to remember legends of Japanese emperors summoning demons to control the empire. I think we’re just skimming the tip of the iceberg.”
Shade sat down, elbows on knees, pressing his index fingers together. “Bhouts aren’t fully of the Netherworld, either. I don’t think anybody knows where they originated but they’re…they’re in the same class as doppelgangers—creatures that are conduits. They can take control of their victim. In turn, they’re controlled by their master. The master controls the bhout—and by extension, their victim. They can see through the bhouts’ eyes and eventually gain control over the target.”
“So, the bhout is an active force used to control another?” I wasn’t quite clear on the whole thing, but whatever it was, it didn’t sound good.
“Not exactly. The bhout is an entity. Bhouts, when directed, can be used to control others. But it gets worse. Bhouts focus on magical or psychic energy. They feed off the magical force, not the life force. If there is no master controlling the spirit, they can kill their victims by draining them dry. It will break the silver cord.”
“The elfin guards! That must be what happened to them.” It was beginning to make sense now.
“Yes. However, when someone’s controlling the bhout, they can command the spirit to siphon off just enough energy to keep their victim alive and under their command. That thing in there was trying to pull Chase under its control. If it had succeeded, he would have woken up and gone about his business, but he wouldn’t be under his own control.”
“Crap!” Delilah jumped up. “Mind control, then? Via ghostly demons?”
Shade nodded, grimly. “That’s about the size of it. The bhouts feeding on Lindsey’s group seem focused on trying to control them, so they’ve most likely been summoned in. Chances are, someone’s bringing in vast numbers of them and some get free—like the ones who attacked the guards.”
Camille jumped up. “Lindsey was very tired. And her coven is, too. Could these things be directly controlling them at this point?”
Shade thought about it for a moment. “Possibly. But there’s also another possibility. The bhouts must feed. Since someone is summoning them here en masse, then the spirits will need to strengthen themselves. Lindsey’s group is well known, but the primary targets are probably more important, like Chase. He runs the FH-CSI, and his newly awakened powers are growing, making him an attractive target.”
“So meanwhile, these things can eat their fill off the people of Seattle, both Fae and FBH.” Camille fell silent, then paled. “What about Morio…me? What should we be on the watch for? Can they attack…well, I guess they can attack the Fae, can’t they?”
“Yeah. They find them especially juicy, so to speak. I don’t think they can attack dragons or vampires, so Smoky, Menolly, and I should be safe, but Iris…you, Morio…all of the Fae out in Aeval, Titania, and Morgaine’s courts? You’re all in danger.”
Mallen joined us then. “Did you find out what was attacking him?”
Shade regarded him quietly. “No. But we should take him with us to watch over him now that he’s feeling better.”
I started to say something but then shut up. Shade had his reasons for lying.
Mallen narrowed his eyes, then shrugged. “If you wish, feel free. He’s not in any physical danger.”
We silently followed him back to Chase’s room, where the detective mumbled groggily as we woke him up. “Come on, Chase, we need to take you with us.” I turned to Delilah. “Get Sharah. She should come with us, too.” I looked at her pointedly, hoping she wouldn’t say anything to give us away.
But she seemed to understand and left without a word. A moment later, she was back with Sharah in tow, a confused look on the Elfin medic’s face. As Shade and Morio helped Chase dress, we stepped out into the hallway. Sharah started to ask something, but I shook my head.
“Wait. Please, just wait and do as we say.”
“Very well. Thank you, though, for saving Chase.”
Again, I just nodded. When Shade and Morio appeared, Chase leaning on their shoulders, we headed out to the cars. As we hit the cold, crisp air, Camille and Delilah shivered. I glanced at them.
“Put Chase in my Jag. Shade, you go with Camille and Morio. Delilah, can you take Sharah, please?”
While they arranged the drugged detective in the backseat of my Jaguar, I pulled Shade off to one side. “How do we know these bhouts haven’t gotten hold of Sharah or Mallen?”
“We don’t, which is why I’ll have to check her out. But I don’t want to alert Mallen, in case he’s being controlled. It’s odd enough for us to remove Chase from the hospital, but right now we’ve told him we don’t know what’s causing the problem. They may—or may not—believe us. But it buys us a little time. Now let’s head out.”
He was about to head over to Camille’s Lexus when my phone rang. I pulled it out and punched the Talk button.
Iris’s voice came breathless over the line. “Menolly, we have a serious problem here. Can you come home right away?”
“What’s going on?” A cold fright took hold of my stomach. Please, don’t let demons be invading the land again. They’d come through at one time and torn the place to hell and gone. Iris had been lucky to escape with her life.
“The backyard is filled with will-o’-the-wisps. Bruce and I are stuck in the trailer. Hanna’s in the house with Maggie and Vanzir—he’s watching over them. Trillian, Roz, Shamas, and Smoky are trying to figure out where they’re coming from and what to do about them.” She sounded frightened.
