Dread Nemesis of Mine

chapter 6

Elyssa and I stared at each other, stunned by Felicia's words.

"Are you sure?" I asked, praying the signal didn't break up again.

"Oh, thank god you're still there." She paused, her breathing fast and panicked. "I don't have long," she hissed. "I'm positive about it. He showed it to one of his top guys. I've been sleeping with him to get information."

I felt my face blanch at the thought of her casual use of sex as a tool. "Felicia, you need to get out of there and go back to your brother."

"Is—is Adam doing okay?" she said, sounding like a little girl. "Will you tell him I love him and miss him?"

"He's very proud of you, Felicia, but you're putting yourself in danger."

"I know. But you, of all people, know I owe some good karma back to the universe."

"Where's Maximus now?" Elyssa said.

"Down here," Felicia said, as if that should be clear to us.

"No, I mean what city?"

"Bogota. He's been using the arch at La Casona to travel, to where, I don't know. Ever since I came back, he hasn't given me a second glance. He has new girlfriends."

"Does he have my sister, Ivy?" I asked, almost face-palming for not having asked that immediately.

"Your sister?" She paused. "I have no idea. So many people come in and out of here all the time, it's impossible to keep up." A noise sounded, like someone knocking on a door. "Crap," she hissed. "Just a minute, hot stuff," she said in a loud voice. "I'm in the bathroom."

"Who is that?" I asked.

"Alvin, the guy I'm sleeping with," she said in a whisper. "Tell the Templars they need to stop Maximus. I don't know who's making the potion, but it doesn't take much to turn a nom into a vampire. Right now, his quantities are limited, but if he figures out how to mass produce it, there won't be anything left in Bogota except a bunch of high school and college-aged vampires who live to serve Maximus. An army."

"We'll stop him," Elyssa said, giving me a look.

"Alvin said it doesn't always work. Sometimes, it turns them into vamplings."

I shuddered. "Oh, crap." Vamplings were part zombie and part vampire, and carried a highly contagious magical virus. One bite could turn a person into a member of the walking dead. I'd seen it happen before, and it wasn't pretty.

"Tell Adam I love him," Felicia said. I'll try to find out about your sister too. Bye, Justin." The connection went dead.

Elyssa pulled out her phone, tapped in a number, and put it to her ear. After a few seconds, she made a face and hung up.

"Who are you calling?"

"Michael. He needs to know about this."

"What about your father?"

Her nose wrinkled. "I'd prefer Michael gave him the news."

"Why? You think your dad won't listen to you?"

Elyssa shrugged. "After mind-wiping me and nearly exiling me to Europe, I don't think I'm the one he'll listen to. And with Jack dead—" She trailed off as a lone tear trickled down her cheek.

I wiped it away with my thumb and caressed her cheek. "You're the best of them," I said. "Talk to him. He'll believe you."

She looked at me, her eyes wet and rimmed with red. "Maybe so, but, ever since Nightliss restored my memories, I've felt so angry at him. Angry and hurt and worthless."

"You're not worthless, Elyssa." I gripped her shoulders and narrowed my eyes. "How could you say that? I mean, you're always so strong-willed about everything. Like the time you nearly took off my head."

A small smile lit her face. "When I found out you were spawn?"

I nodded. "I thought I was a goner."

"I was pissed. Hurt."

"Kind of like now?"

She shook her head. "Now, it's different." She clenched her hands tight and wiped away another tear with the back of her hand. "Anyway, you're right. I'll tell Father. Looks like we have more than one reason to finish Maximus now."

Shelton and Bella walked around the corner, steaming cups of tea in their hands. Bella's eyes looked bright and happy as she spoke to him. Shelton held his arcphone in one hand, studying it, nodding absentmindedly while Bella chattered away.

"Looks like the recording was made this morning around three a.m." He flicked his fingers across the phone and the screen expanded until it was about a foot across. "I also found the location information."

Hope surged in my chest. "You know where they were keeping her?"

"Hold on, hotshot." Shelton held out a hand. "Let me finish my train of thought before you bust in."

"Sorry."

"The location information was partially corrupted." He pointed to a pulsing blue dot in the center of a large circle on a map. The circle took in most of Atlanta, extending out to the northern suburbs. "The bad news is we don't know the exact location where this recording was made. The good news is she was here in Atlanta."

I clenched a hand into a fist. "And the worst news is, she's in Bogota now."

Shelton and Bella exchanged confused looks.

"Bogota?" Bella said. "How do you know?"

I filled them in on Felicia's phone call and Maximus's blood potion. "Looks like I'm headed south."

Bella took my hand. "Justin, you still have a great deal to learn. Give me and Harry a few days to teach you."

I shook my head. "Look, I know it's important, but Maximus has my sister. The devil knows what he plans to do with her. For all I know, it's already too late."

Elyssa took my other hand. "I have to agree with Justin. Once my father hears this, he'll probably mobilize the Templars and move out fast. "

"That'll take at least a day," Shelton said. "Until then, your ass is mine."

"At least let us teach you a couple of defensive spells," Bella said.

"And let me program some useful stuff into your new phone." Shelton minimized his arcphone and jammed it into a pocket. "No sense rushing off to get killed."

"They're right," Elyssa said. She pulled me away from the others until we were alone. "I'll go to Father in person. Make him see how important it is we mobilize quickly. The minute I know something, I'll let you know."

I really didn't want her to go, but the orderly little nerd with angel wings on my right shoulder told me it was for the best if I stuck around and learned a thing or two. The horned demon on my other shoulder agreed since it didn't want to die any more than I did. Pressing Elyssa to the wall with my body, I kissed her hard.

"I wish—"

She gave me a steamy sensual smile and smacked me on the bottom. "Me too. There'll be time later." She kissed me again. "Open the stairs for me?"

As Elyssa vanished up the stairs, a longing tugged at my heart to follow her. To race to the Grotto and take the arch to La Casona in Bogota immediately. The urgency of finding my little sister burrowed into my stomach and weighed it down with dread and helpless frustration. What good would it do me to dash down to Maximus's stronghold without an army backing me up? And what if Thomas Borathen decided her rescue wasn't all that pressing?

Now, more than anything, I needed a snappy montage of happy songs and scenes of uplifting moments from my training so I could learn magic really fast. If only real life were like the movies.

Sigh.

Over the next few hours, Shelton showed me how to store and use spells on my arcphone, digging around in his archives for basic, yet useful spells I could use to get myself out of a bind. Unfortunately, I still had problems drawing in magic without closing my eyes, and even more problems executing a spell with little more than a whimper of power.

"Maybe I'm just too weak," I said. It was late. My eyelids drooped and my tummy felt like I'd just eaten a bowlful of Ebola virus. "Why does my stomach hurt so bad?"

Shelton pocketed his phone and crossed his arms. "It ain't weakness kid. You haven't used your well before. It's like a muscle. The more you use it, the more it can hold. The sick feeling is magic poisoning. Your body isn't used to storing it."

"Is my well a physical part of my body?"

He scrunched up his forehead. "Nah, it's an extension of aura, but it can sure feel like it's a part of your body." He held out a hand and helped me out of my seat. "C'mon. Get some rest and we'll start again in the morning." His phone dinged.

I glanced at the screen and saw an image of Elyssa standing outside the secret entrance. "Um, I would let her in, but I think if I try to do one more spell, I'll puke."

Shelton grinned. "I'll do it."

My heart leapt at the thought of curling up in a nice warm bed with her, even if it was just to sleep. I was too tuckered out to do much more.

Elyssa flew down the stairs the minute the barrier illusion vanished. "Justin, I'm sorry, I really am, but—"

Thomas Borathen came down the stairs, a squad of Templars at his heels. His icy blue eyes bored into me.

"What the hell?" Shelton said.

Elyssa's father ignored Shelton, folding his arms over his chest. "So, young Mr. Slade, are you ready to go?"

"Where?"

"Why, Bogota, of course. Elyssa explained the situation. I communicated with Commander Salazar, and his people are standing by."

I raised an eyebrow. "Just like that?"

He snapped his fingers. "Just like that. We are Templars, young man, not a ragged group of misfits."

"The kid's exhausted," Shelton said. "Can't this wait?"

Thomas glanced coolly at the sorcerer. "He can rest upon his arrival."

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Bella said, appearing from the hallway.

Now that the shock was wearing off, some of my earlier depression melted away. "It's fine, Bella." I didn't know why Thomas was so eager to get me on my way, and I didn't care. He was ready to help, and I was ready to go. "I'll pack." I'd stored clothes at a couple of Shelton's hideouts in case of an emergency. Despite Thomas's offer of a place to stay at Big Creek Ranch, aka The Ranch, aka the Templar compound in Atlanta, I didn't feel safe sleeping in a place where he could come by and decapitate me at any moment.

Elyssa followed me back to the bedrooms. "He really surprised me," she said.

"Maybe he wants to get the blood potion off the streets," I replied. "I sincerely doubt he gives two craps about my sister."

"No, he agreed before I even told him about the blood potions."

I shoved a handful of clean underwear into my duffel bag and paused. "Seriously?"

She nodded. "Knowing my dad, he probably wants to move fast before the enemy finds out about his movements."

"How would Maximus know what your dad is up to?"

"He might have vampires watching the compound for all we know." Elyssa crossed her arms. "Keeping the enemy off balance is a favorite tactic of my father's."

"You're going, right?" I grabbed a stack of T-shirts and jammed them next to the underwear.

"Oh, yeah. I made it clear he wasn't keeping me out of this operation."

I smiled. "Good." Some of the worry lifted from my chest. Things would be all right.

"Better pack a little warm," she said. Bogota isn't hot like the south part of the country."

"I don't need sweaters. I'll just cuddle with my smoochie-poo," I said dropping my clothes and taking her in my arms. "How's that, honey boo bear chocolate pie?"

"Sweet Jesus almighty," Shelton said from the doorway, his mouth screwed up in disgust.

My face went red hot. "Uh—"

Elyssa burst into laughter.

Shelton waved off my reply. "Look, I ain't about to let an apprentice of mine go wandering off into vampire central without some backup. Me and Bella are coming along."

The embarrassment melted away, replaced by gratitude. I grinned. "Thanks, Shelton."

"Yeah, don't get all mushy on me, kiddo. I just don't want you to be an embarrassment to me by getting your ass kicked." He shook his head and left, muttering.

"Honey boo bear chocolate pie?" Elyssa said with a snort. "I'll need to do some research if I'm ever going to top that one."

I chuckled. "Oh, my head is full of romantic nicknames."

"I think you need to look up the definition of romantic."

My duffel bag bulged with clothes and other supplies. I'd even remembered to pack a toothbrush. As I contemplated the impending journey and hopeful rescue, I thought of Felicia and wondered if we could extract her while we were in there. It made me think of her brother, Adam Nosti. Had she told him anything? Did he even know where she was?

I pulled out my new phone. "Nookli, call Meghan Andretti."

"Do you want me to search the web for Magic Fishnets?" my phone replied.

"What? No, Meghan Andretti," I said carefully enunciating her name.

Meghan sounded surprised but happy to hear from me. No doubt she was hoping and praying I wasn't about to drag her into yet another mission where mutilation by an enraged demon was a likely possibility.

"Is Adam around?" I asked.

"Sure, he's in his study," she replied, in the voice of someone only just growing used to the quirks of dating someone with an obsession. For Adam, it was finding out who murdered his parents years ago and left him and Felicia orphaned. His obsession had driven Felicia to drugs and eventually to Maximus and life as a vampire. Unlike her brother, she had no arcane talents.

"Justin, what's up?" Adam said, sounding pleased to hear from me.

I hated to burst his happy bubble. "I just heard from your sister."

"You did?" Apprehension tightened his voice.

I filled him in.

"Son of a—Justin, she can't stay in that vipers' lair any longer. We've got to get her out."

"I'll have an army of Templars helping, Adam. I'm sure we can do that."

He made a frustrated noise. "I'm coming with you. What? Justin, hang on." The sounds of muffled talking filtered through the receiver. After a moment, I heard his hand slide off the microphone. "Um, we're coming."

"Adam, I really don't want to drag you into my mess—"

"Both of our sisters are in trouble, Justin. Hold tight. Meghan and I will meet up with you."

I looked at Elyssa. "Are we taking the Obsidian Arch at the Grotto?"

She nodded and checked the time. "Father says we're shipping out at midnight."

I relayed the information to Adam and ended the call. I knew Adam would want in. I mean, who'd pass up the opportunity to die screaming with me as a traveling companion? At least I'd feel a lot better adding another strong Arcane to the group, not to mention Meghan and her expert healing abilities. Geez, with Bella and Shelton coming along, this promised to be the bestest Justin Party ever. Except I forgot to bring cake. Maybe one of the Arcanes could pull cupcakes from behind our ears. "Your dad has this all planned out, doesn't he?"

Elyssa shrugged. "Commander Borathen doesn't mess around when he makes a decision."

When we rejoined the others near the exit, Bella and Shelton were in a heated discussion with Thomas.

"I take it you have no compunction about taking untrained civilians into this conflict?" Thomas said, his voice deadly calm as always.

"Dude, I'm probably the least trained here and you obviously don't care about tossing me to the wolves." I set my arms akimbo and gave him the look my mom reserved for me when she caught me doing something naughty. "Don't for a minute think you've fooled me into believing you're doing this for my benefit. I'm sure you have some ulterior motive I haven't figured out. Even this morning, you seemed eager to kick me back down to Colombia."

His cool expression didn't flicker as he replied. "What I do is uphold Overworld law, Mr. Slade. For that, I will do anything or sacrifice anyone without compunction. In this instance, our goals coincide. I happen to believe you can play a pivotal role in bringing down Maximus, thanks to your history with that criminal."

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as we digested Thomas's blunt words. I forced myself to maintain eye contact with his cool, blue gaze and found no shred of doubt lingering within.

I cleared my throat and shifted my feet. "Alrighty, then. Shall we go?"

Thomas turned and left, followed by the rest of us. We piled into the back of a large black SUV, and headed toward the Grotto. I had no idea what to expect once we reached Bogota except for one thing.

Maximus would not go down without a fight.