Chapter One
The vamp came out of nowhere. One minute I was strolling down Beak Street, enjoying the night air in those joyous moments before dawn when the world seems to hold its breath, and the next I was sprawled on the pavement with a flapping, cackling body on top of me. It happened so quickly that for a moment or two I genuinely didn’t know what had hit me. I didn’t have time to panic which, I suppose, was some sort of progress on my part.
‘Gotcha!’ The vampire leered, his white fangs bared. ‘You ain’t so tough.’
I shoved my palms upwards, forcing him off me, and leapt to my feet. ‘You do realise what the penalty is for assaulting a police officer?’ I glared. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’
He swayed from side to side, his feet stumbling as he sought to maintain his balance. Then he frowned and gazed down at the pavement, silently suggesting it was the ground’s fault that he couldn’t stand upright. ‘Council should do something about that,’ he declared loudly, pointing down at an invisible spot.
I hissed in irritation. The guy was three sheets to the wind. I could smell the cloud of stale alcohol enveloping his body, and his eyes were glazed and unfocused. Whatever he’d been drinking, it was clearly strong stuff. But that wasn’t an excuse for his behaviour. This was the third time in as many weeks that I’d been jumped by a supe, and I was getting mightily fed up with it.
While I believed that neither werewolf, nor vampire, nor any other manner of supernatural being who lived in this part of London would dare to harm me, it seemed to be a growing sport to see who could take me by surprise. It was apparently the latest challenge in the supernatural world, like planking or that ice-bucket thing for humans. At least those pastimes had willing participants. As far as I was concerned, this was the sort of regular experience I could do without. It wasn’t news that I was neither as strong as a wolf nor as fast as a vampire.
‘Are you on your own?’ I demanded. ‘Or do you have buddies nearby who are enjoying the show?’ I was fed up with my position as an entertaining spectacle for supes.
‘Buddies?’ he blinked at me. ‘Yesh. I have many buddies.’ He waved his arms around as if he could conjure up hordes of fanged friends from the shadows. When no-one appeared and there were no muffled guffaws from any hidden spectators, his bottom lip jutted out. ‘I dunno where they are,’ he confided, his brow creasing. ‘Mebbe they went home.’ Then his confusion cleared and he jabbed a finger at me. ‘But I got you! I got you! I got the detective!’
Unbelievable. I rolled my eyes. I’d had enough. It hadn’t taken me long to discover that I had very little sense of humour where this sort of high jinks was concerned. It was time to put a stop to this shit.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a cable tie. In one swift movement, I snapped it round the vamp’s wrists. It took him a moment to register what had happened, then he stared down at his bound hands and frowned. ‘Hey!’
‘These are magic ties,’ I told him, aware that he had the ability to yank himself free in less time than it would take me to toss my head. ‘If you break them, you’ll be automatically cursed.’ I was lying through my teeth. Magic didn’t exist – not in the sense that I was describing, anyway. ‘In fact, the last guy who snapped them off ended up covered in suppurating boils. I’ve never seen pus like it in my life.’ I shook my head. ‘The colour,’ I whispered. ‘And the smell.’
The vamp blanched. ‘You … you … you can’t do this to me! You can’t lock me up or arrest me. It’s not allowed. You’re a human.’
I probably wasn’t human at all, but he didn’t need to know that. ‘You’d be surprised what I’m allowed to do,’ I remarked mildly. ‘But don’t worry. I won’t stick you in a jail cell.’
He stared at me. ‘What will you do then?’
‘We’ll pay your boss a little visit.’ For the first time since he’d jumped me, I smiled. ‘Together.’
‘Lord Horvath?’ The vamp’s eyes widened.
‘He is your boss, right?’
‘Uh…’
‘And he’ll be holding court at Heart as we speak, right?’
‘Um…’
‘And he’ll rip your head off for bothering me.’ I paused. ‘Right?’
The vampire’s jaw worked uselessly. I grinned and patted his shoulder. ‘Come on then, sir,’ I said with a cheerful twang. ‘Let’s go.’
The vamp gazed at me for a moment then twisted round, running off in the opposite direction. I folded my arms and watched. He staggered left then right, then smacked into a lamp post and bounced off it, falling backwards into a dirty puddle at the side of the road.
I tutted loudly and strolled over to him. ‘Well,’ I said, looking down at him, ‘that wasn’t very clever, was it?’
He groaned. I reached down, hauled him up to his feet and patted his back. ‘Come on.’
‘What – what did you do to me?’
Nothing. ‘I’m with Supe Squad,’ I told him. ‘In fact, as far as you’re concerned, I am Supe Squad.’ As the only detective in the department, that part was true. ‘There are all sorts of … tools at my disposal.’
He sniffed and hung his head. ‘I don’t wanna get in trouble.’
‘Perhaps you should have thought of that before you attacked me.’ I patted him again and steered him along the street. ‘Come on. I don’t have all night.’
This time he acquiesced, although he clearly wasn’t happy about it. ‘I didn’t mean anything,’ he mumbled. ‘I wasn’t attacking you. I only wanted to surprise you.’
‘Yeah, yeah.’ He stumbled against me, veering off course. I set him right again and continued. ‘What’s your name?’
The vampire hesitated just long enough. ‘Joe.’
I sighed. I wasn’t expecting him to tell me his real name because supes rarely did – and it wasn’t because of stubborn criminality. Their names could be used against them by someone more dominant. In theory, anyone with the right kind of power could compel a supe to do their bidding once they had their name. In practice, very few supes were capable of such a feat, and it wasn’t possible to compel anyone to do something that went against their true self. For example, you couldn’t force someone to commit murder unless that murder was something deep down they already wanted to do. By now, every supernatural being in London knew that I possessed compulsion abilities – but, like everyone else, I still had considerable limits.
‘If you say so.’ I looked ‘Joe’ over. Vampires age differently. While they certainly aren’t immortal, their life spans are around double the length of a typical human’s. Joe appeared to be in his early twenties but he could have been twice that age for all I could tell.
For all that, there was something about his demeanour – and his actions – that suggested youth. He possessed the same glowing good looks that most vamps achieve after they are turned, when their features are enhanced and nature works to boost their predatory abilities. His hair was blond and shiny, and his eyes were an alluring cornflower blue. However, he still retained a callow immaturity that was clear despite his lack of sobriety and his pretty vamp-boy facade.
‘You were turned this year, right?’ I asked.
Joe pouted. ‘No. I’ve been a vampire for three years.’ He held up four fingers. ‘Three. Years.’
‘Uh huh.’ I hid my grin. ‘And why were you chosen to be turned? Lots of people petition to be changed. Why were you one of the lucky ones?’
‘Because,’ Joe declared, ‘I am amazing.’ Thus far, evidence for that assertion was sorely lacking.
I rubbed my chin. ‘I wonder,’ I said casually, ‘if Lord Horvath will still think you’re amazing when I haul your drunk arse in front of him and tell him what you did to me.’
Joe’s steps faltered. ‘You don’t have to tell him everything,’ he mumbled. ‘You could leave out the part where I knocked you down.’
I wasn’t going to tell Lord Horvath a damned thing. I didn’t need Lukas to protect me, and running to him would only make me look weak. But that was something else Joe didn’t need to know.
‘I won’t be able to help myself.’ I let out a loud, melodramatic sigh. ‘Whenever I see him, he makes me forget myself. I think it’s his black eyes. They’re so mesmerising. Just one flash of those dazzling peepers and I want to tell him all my inner secrets. I can’t explain it.’
Joe swallowed. ‘He’s very busy. Lord Horvath has a lot going on, so he probably won’t want to be bothered.’
I pretended to consider this. ‘I think he enjoys being bothered by me,’ I said slowly. I tapped my mouth thoughtfully. ‘And didn’t he tell all his vampires that I was to be respected? I reckon he quite likes me.’ I cast Joe a curious glance. ‘I wonder what punishment he’ll mete out for what you’ve done. Will it hurt?’
The vampire paled further. ‘Don’t take me to him. Don’t tell him what I’ve done.’
I shook my head. ‘Joe, I’m only doing my job. I have to keep the streets safe. You assaulted me. What happens if you assault someone else and they’re seriously hurt?’
‘I won’t! I wouldn’t do that! I’m sorry!’ He turned pleading eyes on me. ‘I’ll do anything. Just don’t tell Lord Horvath what I’ve done. Please.’
‘You’ll do anything?’ I asked slowly.
He bobbed his head up and down frantically. ‘Anything!’
I gazed at him. He was still very drunk, and there was a good chance he wouldn’t remember any of this the next day. I shouldn’t have been taking advantage of someone in that sort of inebriated state. But Joe had come to me, not the other way around.
‘The thing is, Joe,’ I said, ‘I need someone on the inside. Someone in the know who can give me the scoop on vamp matters. Not gossip. I need someone who can give me the real good stuff.’
‘Like – like an informer?’ His blue eyes went wide
He wasn’t as daft as he was acting. ‘Yeah. Just like that.’
‘If Lord Horvath found out I was passing on secrets…’
‘They don’t have to be confidential matters,’ I said quickly. ‘I’m not asking you to betray your own kind. I only want to know what’s going on from time to time. You seem like the kind of person who pays attention and has the inside track.’
Joe pulled back his shoulders. ‘I am. I am definitely that kind of person.’
‘So?’ I enquired. ‘Do we have a deal?’
He wrinkled his nose. ‘Maybe. I’ll have to think about it.’
‘There’s no time to think, Joe. It’s either yes or no. You have to decide now.’
He hesitated.
‘Or we can head straight to Heart and talk to Lord Horvath about what you…’
‘I’ll do it,’ he interrupted.
I smiled. Perfect. ‘Once a week. We’ll meet under the large oak in Trinity Square right after dusk every Wednesday evening, and you’ll tell me what you know. In return, I’ll keep quiet about what you did to me.’
‘Once a week?’ His voice was incredulous. ‘And right after dusk? I’ve got better things to do at that time than hang around with a policewoman!’
I remained calm. ‘That’s what it will be to begin with. Then we’ll see how things go.’
‘I can’t… I won’t…’ Joe’s shoulders sagged. ‘Alright.’
I dug out my phone and turned the camera onto record. ‘Say it to video, Joe. I’m sure you’re honourable, but you might forget your promise. I need to record it, just in case.’ I leaned towards him. ‘Evidence protects us both.’
A more sober Joe might have refused but his judgment was already compromised. ‘Fine.’ He looked at the lens. ‘I will meet you every Wednesday night and tell you what’s happening with the vampires. If I do that, you won’t tell Lord Horvath that I attacked you.’
‘Good lad.’
He held up his wrists. ‘Will you take these off now?’
I pulled out a penknife and swiftly cut through the plastic. ‘There. Job done. No nasty oozing boils for you.’
Joe shuddered. ‘Can I go now?’ He was almost meek about it.
‘Go on, then. But if you don’t show up on Wednesday,’ I waved the phone, ‘I’ll release the video.’
‘I’ll be there.’ He shuffled his feet. ‘I’m sorry if I hurt you.’
I held my sympathy at bay. I wasn’t hurt – but I could have been. ‘So you should be.’ I nodded at him. ‘See you soon, Joe.’
He bowed his head and, a moment later, scarpered off down the street. Halfway down, he collided with a parked car and I winced at the thud. That looked more painful than his encounter with the lamp post. I watched as he picked himself up and took off again, weaving this way and that. Then I spoke again. ‘You can come out now.’
There was a faint chuckle from the shadows at my side. ‘You knew I was here?’
I shrugged. ‘I guessed.’
Lukas stepped forward, peeling himself away from the darkness. ‘It’s good to see you again, D’Artagnan.’
‘Likewise, Lord Horvath.’ I inclined my head.
A small smile curved his lips. ‘Is my presence making you forget yourself?’ he asked softly. ‘Are my black eyes mesmerising you right now?’
‘I’m weak at the knees,’ I said drily. ‘And far too flustered to think straight.’
He laughed, then he looked down the street where Joe had disappeared. ‘I’m beginning to think it was a mistake turning that one. Young vampires often lose their heads for a while, but I expected better of him.’
‘Are you upset that I’m forcing him to inform on you?’
Lukas waved a hand dismissively. ‘He’s hardly privy to state secrets. You can play your little games with him if you so desperately want to. You should know, however, that if there’s anything you want to know, you only have to ask me.’ He bared his teeth. ‘Sometimes I might even give you a truthful answer.’
I smiled. ‘It’s useful to get information from a variety of sources.’
‘If you say so, D’Artagnan.’ He moved closer. ‘Did he hurt you?’
My back felt bruised from where I’d fallen but I’d survive. ‘Not really.’
Lukas’s eyes glittered. ‘He shouldn’t have done that.’
‘No,’ I agreed. ‘He shouldn’t have. But you can’t punish him for it. You’re not supposed to know what happened.’
‘Hmm.’ He gazed at me for another long moment. ‘You don’t have the crossbow with you.’
‘Whatever Joe did, he didn’t deserve a silver bolt through his heart.’ I’d been practising with the weapon, but I wasn’t much better than I’d been four weeks ago.
‘No,’ Lukas murmured, ‘but it won’t always be a drunk vampire on a dare who comes at you. You should be able to defend yourself properly.’
‘I’m working on it.’
‘Work harder.’ He folded his arms. ‘You might think you’re immortal, D’Artagnan, but there are always loopholes – and we don’t know for sure what you are yet. You might not always resurrect. It would … pain me if something happened to you.’
I met his gaze. Nothing was likely to happen to me. Not given what I’d been up to in the last month or so. ‘Do you know what I’ve been doing lately? Supe Squad is supposed to be more involved in your affairs, but I spend most of my time directing lost tourists.’
‘That’s not a bad thing.’
I stood my ground. ‘It’s not what I’m here for.’
Lukas licked his lips. ‘Are you telling me that you wish there was more crime so that you can justify Supe Squad’s existence?’
‘No, I’m telling you that when a crime is committed I should know about it so that I can help out. That was the agreement. I wouldn’t have to force vamps like Joe to spy for me if you and the clans were more open.’
His eyes sharpened. ‘Do you also have wolves informing on their kind?’
‘That would be telling,’ I said primly. ‘I’m not the bad guy, Lukas. I’m not your adversary.’
‘I’m glad to hear it.’ He tilted his head, and I had the strange sensation that there was something else he wanted to say. Something he wanted to ask. In the end though, he simply nodded at me. ‘Stay safe, D’Artagnan.’
‘Back at you, Lord Horvath,’ I returned.
And before I’d finished my sentence, Lukas had melted away into the night.
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