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“Yo, Wilder!” Terrell ran through the kitchen into the living room. “Man, come talk some sense to that woman!”
Wilder ran, knowing full well who the woman was that needed some sense talked to. In the kitchen, he paused to pull on his wide-brimmed hat. It gave him time to assess what was happening in the yard. Mrs. Miller lay on the ground, Frank Mosby stood outside the circle staring down at her. Velvet, it seemed had left. “Where-”
“Over there, man,” Terrell said. He directed Wilder’s gaze to the patio. “That little girl is trying to tell her Keesha is gone, but she won’t hear it!”
Wilder burst out of the door, brushing past Terrell. Velvet was trying to push past Suzanne to enter the circle- and the sprite was actually holding her back! “Velvet, ease up now.” He took Velvet from the back, his arms securely around her torso. He grimaced at the smell of her burnt flesh and blood assaulting his nostrils. “Let Suzanne take over.” She was on her feet, but her body had had it. She felt like a lightweight in his arms. She was running on pure emotions.
“She’s dead,” Suzanne said. “There is nothing anybody can do for that girl, except risk her own life force.”
“She’s already done that twice on Mrs. Miller,” Terrell informed Wilder. “And it didn’t work. Just looking at her I dare say she’s in no shape to go for three on Keesha. ”
“I’m not finished,” Velvet stressed and tried to push Wilder back with an elbow to the stomach. “Let me loose before it is too late.”
“No, Wilder!” Suzanne objected tearfully. “She needs attention herself! She’ll die if she even tries to cast another spell, or use her life force. Please, make her stop. I’ll risk breaking our bond if I keep defying her.”
“Man, listen to the girl,” Terrell suggested.
“Velvet.” Wilder turned her around in his arms. Her burned head went back and she closed her eyes, then she began to sink, slipping down his chest. “Velvet?”
“Passed out,” Terrell remarked. “Super Woman is on the canvas.”
Wilder scooped her up, holding her like a sleeping toddler. “Who are you,” he flashed, demanding of Terrell. “And I don’t mean just your name. What part have you played in this?”
“Look, Dracula. She came to me for help. So don’t be throwing no attitude my way.”
“I asked you a question.”
“I ain’t no enemy, fella, so don’t be treating me like I burned her up. What you need to be doing is getting her to the hospital.”
Wilder kept the shine out of his eyes, the furrow from his forehead, even managed to not bare his fangs and spoke softly. “You need to be thinking about answering me in the proper tone of respect- or fear- in the next instant.” Seemed Terrell got the message that Wilder was not about to waste time talking because he lowered his eyes and told Wilder his name and introduced Lance as well. “You are both demons.” At first he wasn’t sure but their natures were suddenly apparent. Out of fear, Wilder surmised.
“I’m human enough.”
“So am I,” Lance spoke up. “Well, mostly anyway. We ain’t no body snatchers if that’s what you’re thinking. Miss Washington asked us to help, figuring it would be okay because a demon can’t occupy another demon.”
“You two just happened to be on hand?”
“Look, I can’t help it, you and her own team weren’t around to back her up. Her getting burnt is the choice she made in order to defeat the Avaricites. Eva attacked her and it was on. We were all she had.”
“Mister,” Lance glanced at Terrell a little uneasily. “The only persons that hurt her is them cheerleaders, and we got those demons in spirit bottles.”
“If I should find out otherwise.”
“Man, whatever,” Terrell blurted.
“I will with extreme delight,” Wilder continued. “Rip out your throats and then chew up your hearts before spitting them out!”
“Ain’t no reason for threats, Mister.” Lance sounded like he was hurt. “We were just trying to help everybody.”
“We did help, damn it!” Terrell scowled. “Velvet didn’t stand a chance without us.”
“Wilder,” Suzanne slung hers and Velvet’s bags crosswise her body. “Let’s go. Now.”
“Detective Mosby told me to tell y’all-” Lance began.
“Screw Mosby,” Wilder said, adjusting Velvet in his arms then started out to the street. Frank ran up beside him objecting, saying ambulances were on the way for everyone and that this was an official case he was in charge of. Wilder merely snarled at him and jumped into the air, flying off with Velvet.
“Hey!” Frank shouted at Suzanne, who was fidgeting with her bags trying to balance her load before taking off to follow Wilder. “Where the hell he taking her?” Suzanne gave him the big eyes and lifted off the ground. Frank chased her, grabbed her legs. “Come back down here, you little squirt!”
“Let go!” Suzanne shouted. “I have to see to my mistress! No – ah!”
Frank pulled her out of the air and slammed her down hard into the ground on her shoulder. “Ow!”
“Now, little miss! You tell me what that vampire is going to do.”
“It isn’t any of your business!”
“You saw how he looked, little lady. If he goes on a rampage, you know what trouble this city is in for.”
“You don’t care what happens to anyone! I know you worked for Jerome!”
Squealing tires from a black Benz zoomed up the street, swerved right into the front yard. Frank recognized all three occupants.
“Suzanne!” Devon leaped out before Rankin killed the engine. Partially transformed, in battle gear, he marched over to Frank and growled. “Step back from her.”
“Hold it, son.” Frank drew his weapon.
“You shoot him and you’re dead,” Tyra promised, slamming the passenger side door shut. She swiftly came around the car, placing herself beside Devon.
“He just threatened me,” Frank answered calmly. “And this is a crime scene, young woman. You all just pack yourselves back into your fancy automobile and leave.”
“You attacked, Suzanne,” Rankin said, joining the scene. He helped her to her feet. “Why?”
“She was fleeing the scene of the crime.”
“I didn’t do any crime. I was following Wilder and Vee. She’s hurt real bad.” Suzanne began to cry again into Rankin’s side. “I think he wants her to die!”
“Die?” Devon growled viewing the lawn. Two women lay stretched out on the ground. “What happened?”
“A battle, son.” Frank holstered his revolver. “Miss Washington defeated the leader and another one. The third, those young fellas over there-” Devon leaped over to the patio where Terrell and Lance were keeping an eye on Deidre. She lay on the deck wrapped in a quilt. Lance stood to meet Devon.
“Terrell,” Devon greeted, keeping a sharp eye on the bigger Lance. “What happened to Velvet?”
“Short version, we defeated the Avaricites and in the process Velvet just about got herself barbecued. That redheaded vampire with the personality flew her off somewhere. And he was working himself up into a state, man.”
“How long they been gone?”
“Just a few moments before y’all screeched to the scene. Went flying east.”
“Thanks.”
“Hey, Devon. Y’all need some more muscle? If what the Avaricite said is true, a couple of exorcists ain’t gonna do it. You have to whoop their asses first. Lance and I are ready and willing.”
“For what?” Rankin came upon the trio. He frowned at the dead bodies no one thought to cover, then at the shivering girl under the blanket.
“The fellas want to help, Rankin. They’ve fought the Avaricites and know how to handle themselves.”
“Absolutely not.” Rankin knelt to examine Deidre. She felt warm yet she shivered. “Go join Tyra and Suzanne in the car.”
“Rankin, I think you should listen.”
“Devon, my job is to think,” he flashed. “Yours is to carry out my instructions.” Devon’s reply was a rumbling growl. Rankin raised a brow at him then continued. “The police are arriving, do you want to be detained or be where you need to be to help Velvet? I’ll stay here to answer questions and see what I can find out. You go with Tyra and Suzanne. The last thing we need around a bunch of armed cops is a werewolf transforming and growling.”
“Fine, Rankin. I wasn’t planning on sticking around here anyway. I just thought we’d all go see about Velvet together.”
“She was burned, I’m pretty sure she’s going to be unconscious for a while.”
“So?”
“Devon, I have things to do! Things Velvet would want me to be doing rather than run around in emotional overdrive. The police have to be handled and these boys questioned before the police take completely over. Don’t you get that, Devon?”
“I get plenty, Rankin.” Devon transformed to full werewolf, breaking loose of his boots. He ran past the Benz on all fours howling. Tyra got behind the wheel and followed.
“Dude,” Terrell said. “You got one hell of a disposition on you.”
“You are the high school reporter Velvet recruited to cover the raid on the Grove?”
“Yeah,” Terrell boasted. “Me and a couple of fellas.”
“Next time she asks you for help, you tell her no.”
“Why would I do that? Miss Washington is my ticket to the other side of life.”
Rankin reached into his pocket, pulled out a money clip, counted off ten bills then stuffed then in Terrell’s shirt pocket. “Don’t mention this to Velvet.”
Lance let out a slow whistle and walked off going to sit with Deidre. Terrell pulled the money from his pocket to examine the bills. “Is this supposed to be a bribe?”
“Is that enough?”
“Hold on now.”
“Hold on for what?” Rankin snapped. The uniforms were conversing with Detective Frank Mosby and a crew in a van pulled up alongside the street. The mobile crime lab. “How much do you need, boy?”
“I’m not about to make a deal with you on general principle. And I sure ain’t about to refuse Velvet Washington when she can use my special brand of help.”
“Your special-” Rankin swallowed back his over the top reaction to the boy’s show of arrogance. Velvet believed he was at least part demon and judging from his torn and stained clothes he’d been involved in the battle, just like the other one. Demons passing as humans, and she trusted them enough to watch her back rather than call in her team. More unprofessional and reckless behavior that nearly got her killed this time. “What do you say to two thousand?”
“I say stick it up your ass,” Terrell retorted, wadding the bills. He let them fall to the ground between their feet. “Your boss is the real deal. This work is important to her.”
“I don’t need you telling me who Velvet Washington is. Pick the money up or don’t, but you stay off her playing field. Both of you.” Lance acted as if he didn’t hear a word. He lifted Deidre and carried her out to an ambulance that just arrived. “Who is he?”
“Just a guy, that’s all you need to know.”
Rankin smiled. “Maybe I haven’t made it plain to you yet.” He jerked Terrell by his jacket, tearing the shoulder seam loose. Putting his face up close to the hip-hopper, he spoke through his teeth. “You do not associate with Velvet, Devon, or Tyra. We are a team and we don’t need any slippery young characters involved in our projects and inquiries. Now, if you and your friend were instrumental in keeping her alive today then I owe you and I thank you. But demons are not welcome allies to Velvet Washington and Associates.”
“Seems you’re the only associate that’s got a problem.” Terrell gritted and shoved Rankin back. “You’re the immortal, aren’t you?” Rankin rushed him again, grabbing him by the neck. “Man, what is eating you? Because I know you don’t really want to fight me!”
“Stay out of her world.” Rankin released Terrell’s neck. “You’ve been warned, half demon.”
“I think you better look up what a demon is, old ancient one. You seem to have it confused with bitch. Now, excuse me. I have a schoolmate to see to.”
“Be sure to convey to your friend what I said.”
“I wonder if she has any idea what a strange case you are.”
“You should be wondering if crossing me is in your best interests.”
“A straight out threat,” Terrell marveled.
“We are done,” Rankin said. He headed for Velvet’s car, sure she left the keys in the ignition. “How predictable,” he muttered, rolling the car from the curb out into the street and motored out, burning rubber.