"Won't he?" I mean, realistically, that's probably what he was asking me to do.

He shrugged. "Maybe. If he'd taken the knife and I had to get it back and apologize-sure, I might'a offed him. But they started the ball rolling and then didn't play by the rules. The rules that the rest of us have used for years. d.a.m.ned foreigners. I don't like that. It p.i.s.ses me off. So here's what I want you to do-"

I heard a commotion outside and turned to go check it out, but Carmine grabbed my sleeve and held on tight. I'd forgotten how strong he is, nearly Sazi strong, so when he pulled, it kept me there. "No. You stay and listen. I want you to find the kid and get back the knife. Then you use it to kill the f.u.c.kholes who put me here and bring me the knife as a trophy. I want a message sent that n.o.body messes with Carmine Leone so you make it public, and wet. Front-page stuff. Oh, and you can slap the kid around a little if you think he's not got the proper respect, but don't mess with his fingers. I don't have a replacement for him right now. You got it?" It was unusual for Carmine to use so many swear words. It told me even more than the burned coffee and jalapeno scent that rose from him that he was well and truly furious.

The voices were getting louder, and it annoyed me I couldn't make out what was being said. The machines were playing h.e.l.l with my hearing. Everything was high-pitched. It was knocking the midtones out of my brain. But you don't ignore Carmine, so I nodded and kept my eyes on him. "Got it. Get the kid, get the knife, take out the hitters . . . messy, and come back with the prize."

"You going to have any problem with your people?" It was weird hearing him talk about my people, an acknowledgment that I wasn't his people anymore.

I shrugged. "Already got it covered. There's a price, but there always is, and it won't come back on you."

He nodded. "Your usual rate."

I held up my hand and shook my head. "No charge. This one's on the house."

He let out a growl that would do a wolf proud. "Your usual rate. I'm not a charity case. I pay my bills, just like always."

I'd p.r.i.c.ked his pride and hadn't meant to. But I didn't want to get into a situation where I was taking money on the side while working for Lucas. I had an idea, though. If it worked I'd be a really happy camper and Lucas might growl, but not too loud. "You want to pay me back? Fine. You get me back my car. I miss the old girl. Restored condition, but untraceable, and we'll call it square."

I knew where the car was, and so did he. My old '67 Mustang Fastback had been my pride and joy. It was black with a white interior, and had all original equipment. It was presently in the possession of my old buddy Jocko, who ran the bar where I used to hang out. He got it by default when I accidentally trashed his Lincoln while chasing down some kidnappers who'd grabbed Sue. But I hated giving it up. I wanted it back. And, I knew Jocko had torn out the front driver's seat to be able to drive it. Yes, he's just that tall, but it was original. It would need extra work to make it like new again.

He nodded and had a little smile on his face that he wasn't explaining. "Done and done." He offered his hand, which was attached to a variety of tubes. I took it and shook it as firmly as I dared without yanking off any tape.

"You can find them in Atlantic City, a new casino they're calling the Quetzalcoatl. I think it's a stupid name . . . way too tough for people to spell and p.r.o.nounce. But it's easy to find. You can't miss it."

Yet another tie-in to the snakes. I thought I remembered my mythology that a quetzacoatl was a winged serpent that was the G.o.d of wind and rain. Or maybe it was lightning and storms. Something like that anyway. I winked at Carmine and gave him a small smile. "Don't tell Linda I was here. After all, you didn't want me to see you."

He rolled his eyes and leaned back heavily into the pillows. "I love the woman, but she just doesn't get me some days."

I was almost to the door, where things had quieted down outside when I snapped my fingers. "By the way, congrats on the kid. Have a name yet? Boy or girl?"

He smiled and there was no mistaking the orange-scented happiness that covered over the antiseptic of the room. "We decided to be surprised. If it's a boy, Vincent, after my granddad. Middle name's up in the air. Linda says Matthew, but that sounds weird . . . Vincent Matthew. She's coming up with some others from the baby book, but some of those names are flat strange. I mean, Denim? Who wants a kid named after blue jeans? If it's a girl, though, Barbara wants to call her Isabella Marie. I like that. Bella Leone. Yeah, that's the one."

I told him the absolute truth, my hand on the door. "You'll be a good dad."

He nodded, but then his eyes hardened. "You just make sure I'm around for that birth. I'm Barbara's coach, so don't make me have to go take care of business myself." Now that surprised me. I nearly laughed, if he hadn't sounded so fierce about it. Carmine in a Lamaze cla.s.s making panting noises, stopwatch at the ready? That was almost worth pictures.

I left the room feeling pretty good about his future. I hoped I wasn't wrong. A figure stepped around the corner just as I hit the hallway. I recognized the scent as friendly, but I couldn't quite place it. Liz was in the chair, Marvin's left hand firmly on her shoulder. She was staring after him too, and I didn't like the look in her eye.

I took a slow breath, but the antiseptic covered over anything that might be a personal scent. I looked sharply at Mike. "Who just left and why were people yelling out here?"

The big guy shrugged and rolled his eyes. "Oh, it was just Louis. He wanted to go in and measure the room, but we wouldn't let him. You said private, so it was."

Louis. Yeah, that could have been him. But I hadn't seen him in long enough that I didn't remember what he smelled like. I squinted my eyes in confusion. "Measure the room? For what?"

Marvin let out a sarcastic little laugh. "What else? A poker table. Said he didn't see any reason why the game couldn't go ahead as planned. Even if it was just for fun . . . no money chips."

Man, that guy is a gambling wh.o.r.e. Liz opened her mouth to say something but I shook my head. She closed it again, but didn't like it. "Did Louis know it was me in there?"

Mike looked at me like I'd lost my mind. "Private meetings are private. You know that. Carmine said to let you in if you came by, but we thought it was the drugs talking. I mean, the papers said-"

I nodded once and motioned for Marvin to let go of Liz's shoulder. "And as far as you know, the papers were right. I'm laying so low right now I have to look up to see the devil's a.s.s."

Marvin nodded just as Liz let out a guffaw. He pointed down the opposite hallway. "Then use the stairs around the corner. They come out the side of the building . . . an unmarked employee entrance. Louis said he'd be right back, and if you don't want to run into him-"

Good advice. I shook both of their hands solemnly and we wished each other a safe journey through life. It might be the last time we ever laid eyes on each other. They knew it too.

Liz was real quiet as we ducked into the stairwell and started to make our way down the six flights to the ground floor. It wasn't until we reached the underground parking garage, with enough time to actually do as I told Lucas and get some meat, that she finally spoke. "Those guys really respect you, huh? They said it had been an honor to know you. That's not real normal language."

I shrugged and pressed the b.u.t.ton to open the door locks. "I like to think so. I've sure as h.e.l.l earned a little respect."

She paused and then took a deep breath, her hand on the latch. She stared at me over the roof of the car, eyes intent and focused on my face "Okaaay . . . so it's probably none of my business, and you can tell me to shut up now and not answer this next question, but I have to ask it. Was that some sort of mob capo you were visiting? When that Louis guy showed up, he made my skin crawl. He smelled weird, pretty obviously had a gun under his jacket, and the guards sounded like a Sopranos episode talking to him. And don't pretend they weren't guards. If those were friends, visiting like you, I'll eat my hat. What kind of person are you to visit someone like him and have those guys respect you?"

Oh, sure, I could be insulted at the question. But she was a nice, white-bread girl who'd just gotten thrown into a harsh world without any entrance exam. My world. I'm not ashamed of it, and not afraid of defending my choices. It also wouldn't do any good to lie, but I couldn't tell her everything either. I got inside the car and she followed, still watching my face. Her nostrils were flared, probably watching for any sign of the emotions I told her she could smell. "There are lots of kinds of people in the world, kiddo. You just met one kind. Lucas and Charles . . . they're another. There are good people, bad people, and neutral. Me? I'm neutral-somewhere in between the two, neither fish nor fowl. But I can both swim and fly." I stuck the key in the ignition and fired up the engine. It purred quietly. Nice machine. I'd get one if Carmine couldn't manage to round up my old one. "I take lives, I save lives. Sometimes both at once. What you wind up being is entirely up to you. Just know that people can be happy in both roles, and miserable in both. I'm one of the happy ones, on both sides of the coin flip." I turned in my seat, put an arm on the headrest and raised my brows at her. "Now, let me ask you a toughie. Let's say you happen upon a man who has just attacked a young woman, wearing a wedding ring and with an empty infant seat in the back of the vehicle she was getting in. You know . . . absolutely know without a doubt from using those shiny new supernatural senses that he's going to rape, torture, and kill her. Would you kill him?"

She shook her head quickly and surely. "I'd call the police."

I met her indignation with a smile and a slow shake of my head. "Sorry. No police allowed. He's Sazi, she's human, and if the cops arrest him and hold him past the full moon, we're all discovered. Humans will panic and there'll be genocide on a worldwide scale of a kind you couldn't imagine. You're the only thing standing in his way. So, I ask again. Would you kill him? You can smell his l.u.s.t and need for pain. It's a thick, oily, nauseating scent that makes you want to scrub down in a shower afterward. Her fear makes your jaw tighten . . . and his too. What will her blood make his animal want to do? Eat her, bit by bit while she's awake and feeling it? It's probably already occurred to you that we're really good at torture. And remember this is real life, not a movie with a happy ending. He's done it before and he'll do it again if you let him go . . . even if you get her to safety. Are her kids next? Her address is in her wallet. You can walk away, or you can kill him."

Liz looked sideways at me for a long moment, as I eased the car into traffic, bound for the airport. She started shaking her head, but her scent was cold-metal determination, blended with the slightest touch of fear. "Then yes, I suppose I'd have no choice. I couldn't just walk away and let her die. I guess I would."

I eased to a stop at the traffic light and turned my head to catch her gaze. I let my eyes fade to the blank, expressionless killer ones I've had for a really long time. She shivered abruptly, unable to ignore what she saw. "So did I." I let that sink in for a moment before I returned my eyes to the road. "Like I said . . . it's real life. What kind of person do you think that makes me?"

The wheels started turning in the girl's mind so fast you could nearly smell smoke. I liked that she didn't have good answers and was thoughtful. I figured eventually she'd get tapped for Wolven, being an alpha and an animal most Sazi would naturally fear. The cab was silent for a long time, until we were on the freeway headed east. That was fine with me. The sun was already long past hitting me in the eyes, and the day was perfect for flying-clear and cloudless. Denver's a pretty city, so I just enjoyed watching the scenery, trying not to sneeze. The blend of scents from her was pretty much every one in the book and it was like walking into a flea market where every smell imaginable a.s.saults your nose at once. Finally, when we were less than a dozen miles from the airport, she shook her head again. "You're a very unusual man, Mr. Giodone."

It was the first time she'd called me by that name. I tried to remember where she'd heard it. I'd been Davis to this point. The traffic in front of me began to dissolve in favor of trees and vines. c.r.a.p, c.r.a.p, c.r.a.p! Really bad timing here!

Clouds began to appear like magic and I could taste thick creosote, like licking a railroad tie. I dove quickly onto the shoulder of I-70. So quick, in fact, that Liz threw her hands forward onto the dashboard, and luggage flew from the backseat to bounce against the headrests. We stopped in a swirl of gravel, horns honking all around us. "You have no idea, kiddo. See, I'm about to disappear from this car, so we're going to have to switch places. You'll have to drive and I'll be really annoyed if we wind up anywhere but the airport." At least she was unlikely to ditch me, being on the side of an unfamiliar highway.

She unbuckled her belt and opened the door, confused as all get-out. Rather than risk opening mine when I couldn't see clearly, I unbuckled and scooted over to the pa.s.senger seat. I was fading in and out now, the black hole in my mind threatening to eat me alive.

As soon as traffic cleared enough to open the door, she hopped in. "But I don't know where I'm going. I've always been a pa.s.senger coming out of Denver."

I reached for the lever next to the door that would lay the seat back. "You can't miss it. Just look for the Pena Boulevard exit. It's a two-lane exit to the right and only goes one place . . . the airport. Hopefully I'll be back with you before we get there. But if not, head for the Departures section and park in the covered lot near one of the United check-ins."

Now she was looking concerned, because the headache was back and she could probably smell the pain.

"Are you okay?"

I let out a small chuckle and closed my eyes. "Not really, but it's a hazard of the job. As you learn the ropes, you'll probably hear a lot about this group of exalted people that the Sazi call the seers. I'm one of them. We have weird psychic s.h.i.t happen-seeing the future, the past, and all points in between. Oh yeah. Real exalted. It hurts and it's annoying as h.e.l.l because you can't predict when it's going to lay you flat on your back." I paused and opened my eyes, ignoring the pain so I could make my point. She glanced at me, blinker on, ready to leap back into interstate traffic. "I don't recommend it as a career choice."

And then I was out again.

Chapter Fourteen.

NASIL LOOKED DOWN at the gas gauge and tapped it, hoping as I did it would rise above the red line just a fraction. "I've never tried to milk the tanks this dry before. The camp's just over the next rise, but it's a question mark at this point whether we'll make it."

I had no particular fear of plane crashes. I'd survived a dozen before. But I wouldn't relish telling Lucas the Wolven jet was scattered across the Honduran jungle. "You'll have to find a way to make it."

"We'll land." It was a solid ma.s.s of leafy green below us, with no flat surfaces, leading up to a high peak. Nasil apparently caught my incredulous look because he shrugged. "There really is a landing strip at our camp. I've no desire to walk out of the jungle either."

"Why are you in the jungle? You could have gone anywhere after I killed my father."

He raised his brows in amus.e.m.e.nt. "After who killed your father? I seem to remember a certain young female tiger who did most of the killing."

"Tahira couldn't have done it alone. You know that as well as I. She would have burned up from his power if she hadn't shared it . . . with me. You do know I gained a great amount of my father's power, don't you?"

He didn't reply for a long moment, but his tongue flicked out cautiously. There was nothing for him to smell, no way for him to dispute the facts-mostly because he left before the end. Deserted both my father and Antoine in order to escape with his lover. And I couldn't imagine he'd kept up with news about the council since then. He tried to keep his voice from showing any inflection, but he failed. "Have you? And what have you gained?"

Oh, no. It wouldn't be that easy. "Betray me, and you'll discover firsthand. I'm no longer someone to be dismissed as weak or impotent."

I used those words intentionally. I'd heard them from my father's lips to his ears, years ago. He stared at me for a long moment, eyes unblinking and cold. But a hint of surprise leaked out from underneath the unfeeling exterior at my lack of expression or scent. I'd never before challenged his authority, nor given any indication I was a match for him. I'd longed to track him down right after Sargon died, when the powers I gained were at their peak. That they were fading now said I'd probably eventually lose them all, which was frustrating. But I was fairly confident I was still Nasil's equal . . . or better.

Tuli poked her head in just then. I looked toward her, but she carefully avoided my gaze. "Are we nearly there? The terrain looks familiar."

Nasil turned his gaze from me to her. He had to get in one last dig before we landed. "Just over the next rise. You should both probably resume your discussion in the back."

If he expected me to flinch or show any embarra.s.sment, he was disappointed. Tuli wasn't looking at either of us. She was staring out the front window and raised a finger to point. "Is that smoke on the horizon? Why would they be lighting the cans in broad daylight?"

At my questioning look, Nasil explained. "We fill oil cans with gasoline-soaked rags and burn them at night to keep away el tigre. It lets us get a few hours sleep since Sargon left. They never approached the camp when he was here, but now they've grown bolder."

"You have tigers in the jungle?" That did surprise me. Where were they imported from?

"Jaguars," Tuli answered. "But the locals call them tigers. They don't realize there's a difference. And the cats have gotten a taste for snake lately so they're a real problem. But we normally don't see them in the daylight."

As the hillside flowed under us, and the engines began to sputter and whine, my brows raised. "I don't think the jaguars are your biggest problem anymore."

It wasn't just cans burning on the wind. It was the camp. The smouldering remains of brick residences and elaborate wooden buildings were scattered across a broad area. I'd thought of camp as being just a few ramshackle storage buildings and some tents. I'd had no idea of the scale of the project father had been planning. It was a small city down there. Or it had been. I didn't notice any people around. At least upright ones. There were a number of bodies sprawled in openings between the trees and I could finally see the landing strip. I frankly didn't think it was long enough for the jet, but Nasil seemed confident.

"Eternal Anu!" Tuli exclaimed. "What happened?"

Nasil let out a hiss of frustration. "Federales, rival drug cartels, maybe even just an accident in the lab. Hard to say. I guess we'll find out. But let's see if anyone is still down there." He adjusted his headset and pushed a b.u.t.ton on the console, as I digested that there was a lab. What had they been making?

"Cinco, Cinco, Ocho, Be. Bien?" I supposed it wasn't surprising they had to speak Spanish down here. It wasn't a language I was terribly familiar with, but I could learn languages fairly quickly when exposed to them. Nasil repeated his call and then turned a dial. "Maybe they switched frequencies." He said the words again, even as he was lowering the landing gear. He listened intently and then turned on the speaker for Tuli's and my benefit. There was only dead air. Not even static. "It doesn't look good. It might be that the government finally managed to locate the camp. They've been trying for nearly a decade."

He started to lower the flaps. The plane hit a pocket of turbulence just as one of the engines stuttered to a stop. "I think it's time to buckle up. Will you need help up here?"

Nasil shook his head, concentrating on keeping the jet level. "I'm more worried about taking off again than landing. If all the fuel was burned or stolen-"

Tuli and I left him to the landing, hurrying back to the seats and buckling up. I wanted to ask her things, but she'd closed down from me, careful not to make eye contact-even though she made a point to sit right beside me. I could smell her desire every time we brushed hands or arms, which was often as the plane dipped and slid over the treetops.

Nasil's voice came over the intercom, making us both look at the ceiling. "Hang on. It's going to be b.u.mpy."

He didn't exaggerate. Branches cracked against the bottom of the plane, making ripping sounds that caused Tuli to lift her feet from the carpeting. The entire plane shook and the oxygen masks dropped from above . . . not from lack of air, but just because they were shaken loose. Tuli finally spoke and it was accompanied by the taste of fear. "Have I mentioned I'm not fond of flying?"

It seemed an odd thing for any Sazi to be afraid of. I shrugged. "You'll heal if we crash."

Even if it was what she expected to hear, my matter-of-fact tone apparently surprised her. Her expression and scent turned to one of deep hurt and she looked away from me. Had she expected comforting words? And why?

She gripped the armrests and closed her eyes, her teeth gritted for whatever would come. I heard the slowing whine of the second engine just as we made a steep nosedive, still going faster than I could care for this close to the ground. But then the nose rose rapidly and we were thrown against our belts from the force of the air brakes slowing us. The wheels. .h.i.t the ground with a bone-jarring thud that made my jaws slam together. We were thrown abruptly backward against the cushions and then forward again as the brakes were applied. Smoke rose from the wheels, invading the plane and coating my tongue. It would take days to get my joints back to normal. Even if I shifted now, I'd ache.

Loud sc.r.a.ping outside came from the front of the plane, with more branches breaking, as we went off the end of the runway. But we'd stopped. Tuli was still gripping the armrests with white knuckles and her breathing was rapid. I touched her hand and she froze, stilling even her breathing. Only her frantic pulse said she was still alive. "I am sorry if you were frightened."

There was nothing else to be said, so I unbuckled and stood, leaving her alone to get her composure. Nasil was already outside, examining the plane. It would probably need a new paint job and the landing gear was slightly damaged on one side, but it actually fared quite well.

While I loathed giving Nasil a compliment, there was really no choice. But there was nothing saying I couldn't turn it to my advantage. I lowered my brows with a studied frown, in a pa.s.sable imitation of my father. "A skilled landing. I suppose I'll let you live another day."

He'd finally had enough and stood up to his full height, turning to face me with the confidence of old.

"Be very careful you don't overstep yourself, Rimush. Your father didn't underestimate me, and neither should you. While I chose to serve him, I was, and am, every bit his equal. Who do you suppose it was he sparred with? Do you really believe he would hold back from giving his best in a battle . . . any battle? I wouldn't be alive today if I couldn't hold my own. You're here at my sufferance. If you expect to live to return to your plush life, keep your mouth shut."

It was time to increase the stakes, and his nervousness. "I've seen you with a sword, Tormentor. I know your skill with all manner of weapons and potions and your magic is strong. But you should be careful as well, for my back is now fully black. I hold death in my hand-" I let the smile that bared my teeth rise into my eyes. "And I've been practicing."

Inheriting power wasn't the same as inheriting gifts and he knew it. He was likely still faster, but you can't outrun a killing touch. His eyes narrowed, but he didn't respond. He simply stared. But even the scent of burning brakes couldn't hide his anger, or his sudden fear and wariness.

Tuli found us like that, staring across the distance of half the plane, neither one giving ground nor advancing. She seemed back to her old self. She descended the stairs and stood precisely between us, turning her head from side to side. She let out a low, angry hiss and thrust her chin forward. "You both stink of challenge and we have no time for that. We have work to do. I'll go make sure the temple is safe. You two find out what happened here. If you can't work together then, for Her sake, at least stay apart!"

For her sake? At last we were getting somewhere. "I would like to see the temple, if I could. Father talked much about it."

Again Nasil's eyes narrowed in suspicion, but I gave nothing away except the excitement I really did feel. Tuli nodded. "Of course. You've every right to see what we work for and meet those who will serve you. You've claimed the right of succession." Now Nasil stiffened, his back going completely rigid. So, that term meant something to him too. Interesting. "Come. It's this way." She walked away and I followed, careful not to pay any attention to his reaction. After all, you don't notice those who serve. They do their job competently without your supervision or they die.

But Nasil was no ordinary servant. I'd have to watch my back from now on. It was nothing new, of course. I'd listened and tasted for his presence in every room of every home I'd lived in since I'd left Akede. What was a few more days?

TULI BECAME MORE agitated the farther we walked along the jungle path. It had been carefully cleared of undergrowth, but was hidden from above by the towering trees. Birds and insects of all descriptions swooped around us, but I could do without the biting flies. I just hoped they choked on the venom-laced blood. "Is something wrong?"

She stopped and listened for a long moment. Her tongue flicked repeatedly, tasting the air in all directions. I wasn't sure what she was searching for, so I remained quiet and pa.s.sive to whatever might happen.

The heat was oppressive, moisture hanging in the air like steam in a sauna. Moving would at least get a breeze going. I shrugged. "What are you listening for? I hear nothing but birds."

She nodded, her teeth nibbling on her lower lip. I'd forgotten she did that and remembered how adorable I'd found it when we were children. But her words weren't childlike when she spoke.

"Precisely. I don't hear anything either, and I should. There should be guards, many guards and the priests of the order. We're only a few steps from the temple, and it's silent. Something is horribly wrong." She broke into a sudden run and I followed, twisting and turning behind her along the rocky path.

When she stopped, I nearly ran into her, avoiding her only by sidestepping. My hands. .h.i.t something solid, covered in green slime. It was a stone, cut to a perfect square and set alongside a hundred others in every direction.

We'd arrived.

Tuli didn't wait for me. She ran around the corner of the structure, calling out names. "Carlos? Jose?

Where are you?" Now her voice doubled and I realized I was hearing it both outside and echoing through the stone next to me. "Syed?" She let out a loud gasp of fear and surprise and I found myself racing around the corner of the temple and into the blackened entrance before I even realized I had.

It took a moment before my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting inside the temple entrance. There were torches in sconces on the walls, but they were unlit and cool to the touch. The only light was the torch in Tuli's hand. She was fifty meters or more ahead, the only spot of light in the black that the daylight couldn't reach. "What's happened? Why did you gasp?"