Chapter 2
Cori
She watched her last customer leave the shop, sighing. It had been a small job. Just a touch up of a small tattoo on the woman’s ankle that had faded during the last twelve years since she’d originally gotten it. Cori barely needed half an hour to fix it up.
“What’s wrong?” Melena asked, concern in her gaze.
The sensor was working late hours this week at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office in downtown Fairbanks—a supernatural affairs subdivision—so they’d been carpooling together. Cori always closed her shop at nine in the evenings, and since they were currently living together, taking one vehicle worked well. Cori needed to save the gas money anyway. Her newest vehicle was a ten-year-old Chevy Tahoe that could eat a lot of gas, and it needed a lot of maintenance since she’d gotten it cheap. She missed her last truck, but it had been destroyed when she was run off the road and kidnapped by her ex-husband’s minions.
Melena was letting her stay at her place since Cori’s cabin had also burned down in the same series of events. It was in the process of being rebuilt, but it would likely be another few weeks before it was finished. In the meantime, the sensor didn’t mind having someone around who could cook. Cori wouldn’t call herself a professional chef, but she could prepare meals that had people coming back for seconds. Melena’s culinary skills, on the other hand, left something to be desired despite her best efforts.
The two of them had been friends for a year and a half now. During that time they’d faced all sorts of dangers together, including Melena’s crazy brother who led a cult, a deranged nephilim called Zoe who took over Fairbanks briefly, and an outbreak of the black plague that targeted the supernatural community. Oh, and then there was the time Cori helped organize Melena and Lucas’ wedding that took place just outside of the pearly gates of Heaven. To say their friendship had been eventful since the start would have been an understatement, but they’d had each other’s backs no matter what they faced.
The sensor, who’d once been mortal until her nephilim mate changed her into something stronger and more resilient, was a total badass. She might not have the same bulk as the supernatural men they knew, but Melena had a tightly toned body and enough strength to pick up a car if she wanted. At the moment, she had her long, auburn hair pulled back into a braid. The unobstructed view of her features highlighted her creamy complexion and high cheekbones. Melena was pretty but in an understated way. She didn’t need to show off her looks.
While their body frames weren’t all that dissimilar, Cori had slightly more curves in the hips and chest, shoulder-length, wavy black hair, and she stood an inch shorter than Melena at 5’5”. They also shared the fair skin that was common to Alaska, particularly at this time of year. In November, the sun set far earlier than in the lower forty-eight states and rose much later in the morning. They were getting less than seven hours of daylight, and it was getting shorter every day.
“Business has been slow the last few days…too slow,” Cori replied, heading toward the back where her private booth was located.
She needed to start cleanup from the last job. She probably should have locked the front door and called it quits for the night, but the shop technically didn’t close for another twenty-five minutes. She’d take a minor job for the extra money if one came along.
Melena followed behind her, stopping in the doorway of the small room. “How bad is it?”
“Let’s just say I can count my total customers for the day on one hand and have fingers left over, which is not good for a Friday.” Cori grabbed some antiseptic and paper towels and began spraying down her work area.
“Including Asher?” Mel asked.
“I had to give him the day off.”
The sensor winced. “Has it ever been like this before?”
Cori paused her cleaning and gave her friend a pained look. “Only when there’s supernatural trouble.”
“It’s been quiet here.” Melena’s brows knitted together. “All my overtime has been spent advising offices in other parts of the country on how to handle their problems. Since most other places don’t have someone like me they can trust, every little problem the agency hasn’t dealt with before seems to fall to me. I’ve had to make day trips to three different cities on the west coast this week.”
Cori had noticed the lines of weariness around Melena’s sensor-blue eyes. It had to be a huge responsibility figuring out how to be fair to supernaturals and humans all while knowing whatever decisions she made—with the approval of her chain of command—would become the standard for all offices across the country. The higher ups in DHS listened to the sensor since she knew more than most anyone about supernaturals, and she’d served as a soldier in the army for six years before getting an honorable discharge. It gave Melena a certain standing and respect that couldn’t be duplicated by anyone else all that easily.
The shop doorbell chimed, alerting them a customer had just come inside. Cori quickly put her cleanings supplies away and led Melena to the front. Next to the counter, a man and woman waited for her with irate expressions on their faces.
This couldn’t be good.
Since nearly dying and ingesting some of the sensor’s immortal blood to heal severe burn injuries, Cori had developed a few new abilities. One of them was that she could see auras around people, telling her which race they belonged to—as long as they weren’t human. The stronger and brighter the aura color appeared, the older and more powerful the individual.
The man had a fuzzy red glow about him, indicating he was a young vampire who’d probably been turned in the last ten to twelve years, making his real age somewhere around his mid to late thirties. To look at him, though, one would think he wasn’t a day over twenty-five. With his short brown hair, dark eyes, and lanky figure, he could have been a local college student. The woman, who appeared a few years younger than him, had no aura. She was fully human. Her thin blond hair, pale and waxy skin, and slight form gave the impression she was likely a blood donor for the vamp.
Cori remembered the young woman, Tara, coming in the other day for an intricate band around her wrist. She’d brought the design on a sheet of paper with no explanation about the origin other than her vampire boyfriend wanted it on her. During the entire tattoo process she was quiet, and despite it being her first time, showed no signs of pain. This had bothered Cori. She remembered being worried for the girl and what kind of man she might be dating. Had he compelled her to do this against her will? The fact he was a vampire had twisted her gut and made her wish the girl was immune to compulsion so she couldn’t be manipulated.
“You,” the man said, pointing at Cori. “What did you do to my girlfriend?”
She stopped midway across the room, Melena next to her, and put her hands on her hips. “I gave her a tattoo like she asked. What’s the problem?”
“I can’t compel her anymore!”
“I’m heartbroken to hear that.” It was all Cori could do to keep a straight face at this unexpected turn of events. “But why are you assuming it has anything to do with me?”
The vampire gestured at Melena, practically spitting his next words, “Because you hang out with her, a sensor, and everyone has heard how she did something to change you.”
“Little boy.” Melena crossed her arms. “You do not want to make an enemy out of me.”
The vampire snarled, his body vibrating with the need to attack. He had to be aware that he was treading on dangerous territory confronting two women who could both put up a decent fight on their own, plus their mates were strong nephilim. He was as good as dead if he touched them.
He took in a necessary breath to speak. “I just want my girlfriend fixed.”
Cori shook her head. “I didn’t do anything to her except give her the exact tattoo she requested.” She turned her attention to Tara. “And do you really want to be fixed?”
“Yes.” The young woman nodded vigorously. “There are things he does for me and, uh, I like to be compelled when he does them.”
Cori knew she shouldn’t ask, but she couldn’t help herself. “What kinds of things?”
“It’s a…” Tara blushed a fraction. “Sort of mental bondage. You know, instead of being tied up he compels me not to move while he…”
“I get the picture.” She held her hand up. “But you do realize he could do many other things to you such as remove your memories or your ability to complain about what he does just as easily. Giving a vampire that kind of freedom is dangerous.”
“I would never hurt her!” the man said in outrage.
“That’s what they all say at first.” Cori knew from experience.
Her first husband, who’d been human during their marriage, managed to hurt her in all sorts of ways she hadn’t expected. It went on for years before she finally found the courage to leave him, but she’d had that choice because he couldn’t compel her. Could a woman being manipulated by a vampire really ever leave?
“I wouldn’t,” he repeated, taking his girlfriend’s hand.
Melena shook her head at Cori. The sensor wasn’t convinced by the act either, but she had the advantage of telling lies from truth. By her expression, the vampire was lying.
“Look.” Cori kept her tone calm. “I don’t know how your girlfriend became immune to compulsion, but whatever caused it, it can’t be fixed. Deal with it.”
“Can’t we just remove the tattoo?” the young woman asked.
“Yeah.” The vampire straightened his shoulders, attempting to appear more badass than he was. “You should pay to fix this or else I’m going to...”
Melena stiffened. “Shut up for a minute.”
Her eyes rounded, and her gaze went beyond the glass front door to somewhere outside where the shopping center parking lot lay. It was dark out there, so Cori couldn’t see much. The vamp froze and stopped talking. The sensor was letting off a lot of nervous energy that swept over the room, and it was making everyone’s internal alarm bells ring. Melena didn’t get worried like this unless she had a good reason.
A moment later, a large man with chocolate skin and a smoothly shaven head appeared through the darkness, heading toward them at a fast pace. He strode into the shop, stopping a few feet behind the vampire with such an intimidating presence that the couple took a few steps away. His aura was a bright gold, stronger than Bartol’s but not quite as overpowering as Melena’s mate, Lucas. That put him somewhere between their approximate ages of 1800 and 2500. Cori had never seen him before, and there was no recognition in anyone else’s eyes, either. He was strong and powerful, not someone you’d want to make angry.
Considering this was her tattoo shop, she had to pull herself together first and figure out what he wanted. “Can I help you?”
The nephilim glanced at the vampire, who appeared ready to run. “Are you done here?”
“Well, I was still explaining how I…uh, needed compensation for my girlfriend’s tattoo removal…” the vamp began.
“If it’s truly a problem, find another human woman to manipulate.” The nephilim stared at him hard. “Now leave.”
How had he known what they were discussing? Did he use some sort of magic to listen in from afar? Cori knew each nephilim had individual talents, but there was no telling what this one could do unless he admitted it.
The power behind his command was strong enough that both the vampire and human fled the store without a backward glance. Cori was half tempted to go with them. Immune to compulsion or not, the tone and strength of someone’s voice could sometimes be more than enough to make a person want to obey.
“Forgive me for the intrusion.” The nephilim moved toward them with his gaze directly on Cori, stopping a few feet away. “I am Caius, an old friend of your mate, Bartol.”
That drew her attention. She hadn’t seen her “mate” in weeks, and aside from their mutual friends in Fairbanks and what she’d gleaned about his past through them, she hadn’t had a chance to learn very much about the man she’d mystically bound her life to. Bartol had confessed his highly sexual past, and how he ended up in Purgatory, but Cori suspected there was a lot more to him than he let on.
But could she trust this newcomer just because he said he knew her mate?
Melena crossed her arms. “I’ve never heard of you before.”
“I’ve only seen your mate a few times over the years.” Tightness filled his expression as he looked at Melena, as if he could hardly stand the sight of her. It wasn’t unusual for out-of-town supernaturals to behave that way until they got to know her, assuming they managed to get on her good side. “We tend to run in different circles, so I’m not surprised.”
Cori lifted her chin, annoyed at his reaction to her close friend. “Bartol hasn’t ever mentioned you, either.”
“We’ve not seen each other in nearly two centuries, but I assure you that we were once very close, and I come here in peace. It is not my intention to harm you.”
Melena glanced at Cori. “He’s telling the truth for whatever that’s worth.”
Actually, it made her feel a little better. No one could tell a lie around Melena with her abilities. Some could skirt around the truth, but Caius was being rather direct.
“Why come to me?” Cori asked.
“I met with Bartol first, but he will not listen, and this is a matter of grave importance.” He glanced at Melena, his gaze a little less unfriendly toward her. “It has to do with Zoe of Chalcis.”
The sensor cursed. “Don’t tell me she’s up to more trouble.”
Caius grimaced. “She isn’t, but there is another who may soon become a serious threat.”
“Who?” Cori asked, narrowing her eyes.
“Zoe knows more details than I do, but there are reports across Europe of a demon on the rise. One who plans to use the Gregorian stones to keep anyone of notable power from stopping him.” He took in their doubtful gazes. “I assure you that I have checked into this with my own sources and believe it to be true.”
Melena narrowed her eyes. “I believe you believe this, but how can you be sure that Zoe isn’t in league with this demon? It wouldn’t be the first time.”
Cori recalled a story the sensor had told her about when Zoe tried to raise a demon prince named Stolas from Hell a few years back. There had been signs of demonic activity all over Juneau, Alaska where the rising was to take place. It had taken a bloody battle with dozens of supernaturals to stop the prince from breaking loose, and even that wasn’t enough. An archangel had to step in at the last moment or else they would have all died in the fight. If this new demon had obtained Gregorian stones and gotten strong enough, he’d be unstoppable.
“She would not ally with a demon—not with her daughter here now,” Caius asserted. “She has tried getting messages to you and others in the supernatural world with no success. None of you will speak to her or her messengers, which is why she sent her vampire minion to get your attention. She believed if you saw the danger of the stones when used against you, you might be more inclined to hear her out. But you didn’t, and she eventually convinced me of the problem so I would come speak with you.”
Melena processed all of this in the same few moments as Cori. “Where exactly is this demon now?”
“I haven’t been able to pinpoint a location yet, other than I believe he may be in Eastern Europe at the moment based on the strength of the omens from mystics and other magic users. Zoe claims to know a lot more, but she insists someone from Fairbanks must come speak to her—and bring her daughter.”
Cori rolled her eyes. “Should’ve known there’d be a catch.”
“She has angel contacts,” Melena argued. “She should pass on the problem to them.”
“They will not listen to her without more reliable confirmation. Apparently, that would be someone from here.” He glanced between Cori and Melena as if they had that kind of pull.
“We aren’t that significant to the angels,” the sensor muttered.
“This is stupid. Can’t they just figure out these things for themselves?” Cori asked.
Melena lifted a brow. “In case you haven’t noticed, they don’t ever interfere on Earth until something becomes a major problem—our mates being the apparent exception to the rule. The last time we had a demon on the rise, it took me dying for a few seconds to get their attention and even then it was because it was Lucas’ sworn job to keep me alive. Remiel showed up to punish him when he realized what was happening.”
“Good grief.” Cori didn’t think she’d ever understand the angels’ way of thinking and doing things.
“Exactly.” Caius nodded. “Which is why I’d hoped Bartol could come speak with Zoe. She has no issues with him, and he can freely travel.”
“But he won’t come with you, will he?” Cori surmised by the frustrated look on the nephilim’s face.
“I need you to convince him.”
She snorted. “I haven’t even seen him in nearly a month because he won’t see me or talk to me. You’d have better luck finding Lucas and seeing if he can get Bartol to come out of hiding.”
“Why would he not see his own mate?” the nephilim asked, perplexed.
“It’s a long story,” Melena replied. “But let’s just say his stay in Purgatory has made him less than sociable and asking him to leave his cabin is a chore, much less going out of the state or country.”
Caius worked his jaw. “You have to try.”
“Why should we?” Cori asked, lifting a brow. “Is this going to be dangerous?”
“Zoe will not hurt him,” he promised. “All we need right now is to find out what she knows so that we can begin searching for the demon and stopping him. I assure you that your mate is the best one for this job.”
Cori considered it. “But once you have the information you need, will Bartol be going on this hunt?”
The nephilim shrugged. “That will be up to him, though it seems unlikely based on his response so far.”
“How dangerous is this demon?” She wasn’t about to help this guy without knowing the full stakes.
“There are reports that death follows wherever he goes, but as I said, my information is limited.” He went on to describe his meetings with mystics in Athens and what they’d told him. “It will only get worse from here if we don’t stop the demon in time.”
“And you’re sure there’s no one else she’ll talk to other than Bartol?”
Caius nodded. “I would not be pleading my case with you otherwise.”
Cori didn’t want a bunch of human deaths on her conscience. If a simple meeting could help this nephilim on his hunt, she had to at least make an effort. “I’ll try talking to him, but I can’t guarantee he’ll even see me.”
“There might be one way.” Melena frowned in thought. “But it’s going to mean hitting him on several fronts, including using his mate to soften him.”
“Whatever it takes,” Caius replied.
“Is this going to make him even angrier with me?” Cori asked warily.
The last thing she wanted was to make matters worse between them. Just because she wasn’t ready to make the ultimate commitment didn’t mean she wanted to do anything to hurt him. She cared about Bartol more than anyone knew, and she believed with time they could forge a true bond. It was just best if they didn’t rush into it. After her first ruinous marriage, she wanted to be careful before diving into something that could last for centuries or even millennia.
The sensor smiled. “If we handle it right, your job will probably be the easiest.”
That sounded promising, especially if it meant she’d finally be able to spend time with her mate and maybe work things out with him. “And you have a way I could see him without him running?”
“Of course.” Melena nodded. “But I was saving this as a last resort because it’s probably going to make Bartol really angry with me. You should be fine, though.”
“Alright,” Cori said, hoping she was making the right choice by going along with this. “Tell me more.”
The sensor looked to Caius. “I’m telling you now that none of this is going to happen until Lucas confirms your story. If we find out anything is false, we’re kicking your ass out of town.”
“I understand,” he said, dipping his chin.
“Then this is what we’re going to do…” the sensor began, laying out her plan.