Fire Within

Page 26

“And,” Gillian said, as if Ari hadn’t interrupted, “I went back and checked the ozone levels at both scenes. They were elevated. With no electrical storm either night.”
Magical fire. Hot damn. They had a lead.
“Does your list mark the halflings known to have demon fire?”
“It does.” The elfin tech sounded rightfully pleased with herself.
* * *
After alerting Ryan and Andreas, Ari spent the next twenty-four hours chasing down every halfling-demon in town. She started with the nine who had the known ability to breathe or throw demon fire. Each one had a decent alibi for at least one of the events. The halflings were living peacefully within the Olde Town community and had no prior history of violence or criminal activity. When interviewed, they were cooperative, although puzzled about her interest. Taking no chances, Ari asked Andreas to have some of Daron’s vampires keep an eye on all nine at night. Ryan assigned random cruiser surveillance during the day. In particular, Ari wanted to know if any of the nine went near Shale’s agency. She questioned Ms. Binderman and learned none of them were past or present clients.
The other three dozen halflings, the ones without magical fire, received less intense scrutiny. They were low on her list of suspects, and as she anticipated, nothing of concern turned up. In fact, all of these efforts, including the intensive surveillance of the nine, failed to reveal the killer or even a good suspect. Ari’s initial excitement dwindled. They were still missing something.
* * *
In spite of the frustration generated by the investigation, Andreas and Ari continued to get along without a major fight. On Thursday, his regularly scheduled night to sing at the club, she spent the evening watching the show with Lilith and Russell. As Andreas’s voice rolled over the rapt faces of the mostly-human audience with songs from his Italian homeland and American pop culture, Lilith couldn’t resist teasing Ari.
“I wonder how many women in this crowd are wishing they could climb into his bed tonight.”
Ari shrugged, refusing to rise to the bait. Andreas’s eyes had strayed in her direction often enough that she wasn’t worried.
Russell, on the other hand, growled and said, “I trust you’re not one of them, my dear wife.”
Andreas kept his magic at low level, enough to spice the atmosphere without risking audience enthrallment. Ari relaxed and enjoyed the same wickedly delicious evening as the other guests. She kept her own fantasies hidden.
On Sunday, Ari attended Cirque de la Symphonie with Andreas, their first public outing. Well, a group outing actually. Prince Daron and Carmella, one of his lieutenants and current lover, attended with them. Ari had suggested cancelling due to the recent public tension, but Prince Daron thought the appearance might serve to offset the bad publicity, remind the community that vampires were regular people. Right.
With promoting good publicity in mind, they dressed for the cameras in semi-evening attire. The vampires wore black. What else? Ari was in pale sea green.
Their appearance immediately drew the spot light. Despite the expected interest, Ari was uncomfortable with the lights and hubbub, until the stage show started. Then, she forgot the press. The performance absorbed her attention, except when Andreas’s knee brushed against her or his hand captured an escaping curl.
He kissed her goodnight at her apartment door. A kiss that made her heart beat faster, but he kept it brief and didn’t suggest coming in. She couldn’t decide whether she was relieved or sorry he was being such a gentleman.
“Thanks for the evening,” she said, leaning back against the door, hoping he would linger. “I enjoyed the show.”
“My pleasure.” He gave her a brief look, before turning away. “See you tomorrow.” At the bottom of the steps, he glanced back, a smile parting his lips, before he disappeared into the trees.
Disconcerted by his abrupt departure, Ari frowned. Why didn’t he stay? Did he have some hot vampiress waiting at the club?
* * *
The next morning, Ari stopped by the shop to tell Claris about her double date.
“Honey, I already know,” Claris said as she handed Ari a steaming mug of coffee. “At least, some parts. Brando and I saw you on the late night news. The vampire court and their dates. You guys have gone public in a big way.”
“Did I look all right?” Ari imagined a terrible shot of her with the gorgeous vampires. Well, Daron wasn’t gorgeous, but he was compelling.
“More than all right. You and Andreas in fancy dress. What’s not to like? How are things off camera?”
Considering how Claris went right to the personal stuff, Ari was glad she’d come during the lunch break. It was really the only time they could pop into Claris’s kitchen and talk privately without customers or Brando.
“OK. No…good, I think. Last night’s show was special. You should have seen the aerial acts. And Andreas, well, you’ve seen him. He’s even better up close. It’s weird, but he’s so easy to talk to. I know we’ve got no future, I’ve accepted that, but I’m enjoying it while it lasts. How do I explain this? He’s never boring.”
“Never boring!” Claris laughed. “He’d give up if he heard you say that. And no future? Does that mean you’re losing interest in him already?”
“Goddess, no. It’s not that. But I’m trying to be realistic. For one thing, how can I continue to date someone if I don’t trust him?”
“Is that because he’s a vampire? Or has he done something I don’t know?”
“I’d tell you if he’d done something,” Ari said simply. “He’s been great, but…well, you know. I’ve gone over it all before. The mind thing still bugs me.”
“I thought you accepted his word on that.”
“I know. I did. Doesn’t make sense, does it?” Ari sighed. “Maybe it’s the other stuff too. I have some valid reasons not to trust men, like my last boyfriend’s cheating. Maybe Andreas started out with two strikes against him.” She hesitated, reluctant to bring up what was really bothering her. “Andreas could be seeing someone else. Last night he was in such a hurry when he left my place, I wondered…if he was meeting someone.”
“Really? Jealous, huh?” Claris didn’t sugarcoat it. “Well, he isn’t Simon. Give him a break, unless he gives you a lot more reason than a short evening. He may have had business for all you know. He’s actually been quite attentive.” Claris smiled. “Might make someone think he’s in love with you.”
“Oh, please. Let’s not take romantic fantasies too far. Are vamps even capable of love?” Ari countered. “Even if they are, think how unlikely it is in this case. He’s had two hundred years of experience in manipulating women. How would you or I know what he’s thinking or feeling?”
“Then find out. If it’s not love, or the possibility of love, then what’s the point? What do you want from him?”
Ari frowned, taken aback by her friend’s blunt question. “I like being with him.”
“Is the sex good?”
“Hey, Clare, back up. How’d we suddenly jump to sex? I told you I wasn’t rushing into anything.” Ari gave her a fierce frown. “There’s been no sex.”
“You’re kidding.” Claris hid her surprise, but not before Ari saw it. “Actually, I thought you were kidding. Andreas isn’t pushing?”
“Well, no.” Ari thought about the brief kiss last night and bit her lip. “Do you think he’s not interested? Maybe I’m too young, too inexperienced for him.”
“Ari!” Her best friend laughed. “You’re being silly.” Claris shook her head. “No, I think your vampire is very clever, biding his time. But not interested? The sparks fly when you get in the same room. Remember the auction?”
As Ari remembered it, she was the one who’d had the intense reaction. He’d been paying attention to another woman. And she’d forgotten to ask him who Ms. Slinky was, an error she’d have to correct when she saw him. In the meantime, she was through discussing her uncertain love life.
“It’s no big deal anyway. So, what’s going on with you and Brando?” she asked, determinedly redirecting the conversation. She sat back and listened to the ups and downs of dating a wizard scientist. Brando was so absorbed in his work that he was never romantic for long. When your girlfriend was an ultra-romantic like Claris, that was a problem. Claris was uncertain if their relationship was going anywhere. A familiar theme, Ari thought. Was it possible she and Claris were worrying too much about the future? After all, Andreas had reminded her there were no guarantees.
* * *
Ari spent the afternoon at her office in the Otherworld Center. In between meeting with an elf looking for a customized bow-and-arrow maker and the childless wood nymphs seeking a reliable adoption agency, Harold Shale called looking for updates again. She didn’t have much to tell him. Frankly, she was already tired of the calls. Why didn’t he read the paper or watch TV like everyone else?
“The press seems to think we have a serial killer,” he suddenly said. “Is that official?”
Well, damn. Apparently he did follow the press. “I’ll tell you the same thing we’re telling the media, Mr. Shale. No comment. We’re working as fast as we can.” She tried to remain patient, but she hadn’t forgiven him for not calling them about the graffiti. Or more likely it was just because she didn’t like him. “We’re following several leads, keeping all possibilities in mind.”
“Surely you can tell me something. A description, a profile. I have to tell my clients how to protect themselves, who to avoid.”
“They need to be alert around everyone.”
“That’s not very specific. Clients, even staff members, are afraid. I’m thinking about hiring a security guard for the Center, but we need advice on safety measures.”
“Which we’ll give in more detail as soon as we know something. Until we do, suspect everyone.”