A little wiggling revealed that while I was passed out, someone had divested me of all of my weapons. So, not only was I unarmed, I’d also been groped by some asshole to boot. I looked down where the amulet should have been rested between my cleavage, and noticed it was gone too. The only good news was someone had also taken my shoes, so my feet didn’t hurt any more.
Yü Nü watched me wiggle with a passive stare. For someone being held captive, she sure seemed unworried. Easy for her, seeing how she was immortal.
Giving up on the possibility of calling in the cavalry or overpowering a guard with a weapon, I turned my attention to my surroundings.
The ceiling was high overhead, but it didn’t look like a normal ceiling. The sound of clomping footsteps echoing from above told me that we were in a space under the main stage. A pulley system near the center of the ceiling indicated where the stage would open up so large set pieces could be raised from the basement level.
Directly below, on the floor, was a large platform holding a crucifix. I realized it must be the one Stefan mentioned earlier.
“What is going on?” I whispered.
“We got to get the fuck out of here,” Yü Nü said.
“Oh, you’re not going anywhere.”
My heart stopped for a beat and then galloped ahead like a spooked horse. That voice, though muffled by the mask, had been Aphrodite’s, and it told me two things. First, they knew I was awake. And second, they weren’t too worried about the ramifications of kidnapping three cops, which meant they thought they had nothing left to lose.
Where the hell was our team, though?
Knowing I wouldn’t have any answers until I jumped through the hermaphrodite’s hoops, I schooled my features and prepared to play ball.
“This is the weirdest bachelorette party I’ve ever been to,” I said. “When does the stripper get here?”
Aphrodite ripped off the mask. “Yes, laugh it up while you can.” The voice had been calm with a hint of scorn, but those eyes were alight with a level of crazy I hadn’t seen there before.
“How about you untie me so I can apologize?”
They snorted. “You’ll be untied when the time comes. Until then, you will stay there and keep your mouth shut. Or I will make your boyfriend bleed.”
Boyfriend. Somehow, Aphrodite had found out about my relationship with my partner and intended to use it against us.
My gaze jerked toward Morales. He looked relatively unharmed, but I didn’t have a lot of hope that would remain the case. His eyes met mine across the room. He looked up toward the pulley system. I nodded to let him know I’d seen it too. At that point, it was probably our only chance for getting the hell out of there, since Aphrodite had armed guards posted at the locked door.
The Hierophant wandered behind Morales and ran a hand through his hair. He clenched his jaw and stayed totally still. “Every bride needs something old.” They jerked their head toward Yü Nü. “Something new.” They looked toward the crucifix. “Something borrowed—that’s you. And something black and blue.” They patted Morales’s face and laughed.
“And why, exactly, did you borrow me?” I asked, trying to stay calm.
Aphrodite walked over to the corner of the room where Harry’s unconscious body had been dumped unceremoniously—at least I hoped he was just unconscious. “This asshole here fucked me over. Said he could help me cook the potion for immortality. But at the last minute, he chickened out.” They nudged Harry with a golden sandal. “Pussy.”
“Why would you ask Harry to make an immortality potion?” As the head of the Sanguinarian coven, his specialty was blood magic. While there probably were blood potions that could make someone live forever, I was pretty sure it would also turn them into something pretty close to a vampire. Not that Aphrodite couldn’t rock a pair of fangs, but it didn’t seem like their style.
“Because I couldn’t trust any of the Votaries to help me,” Aphrodite said. Then they laughed, bitterly. “Guess I should have known not to trust anyone in this godforsaken town. Used to be there was honor among the covens. We had each other’s backs. But now you can’t trust anyone not to fuck you over.”
It struck me as odd that the person railing against the dearth of honor in Babylon was currently holding three law enforcement officers hostage, but I figured they wouldn’t enjoy the irony. I did need to keep them talking, though.
“If you couldn’t make Harry cooperate, how do you figure Yü Nü will instead?”
“Not willingly, of course.” They laughed. “I have to thank you for being such a shitty detective, by the way. I mean, Jesus, how many clues did I need to plant for you to arrest someone from the Fangshi?” They shook their head as if we disgusted them. “Anyway, I never would have been able to get to that horn once she was in prison. So, thanks!”
“Leon works for you,” I said, finally putting it together. “Not the Chinese.”
“Ding, ding, ding!”
“Which means you killed Basil, too,” Morales said. “Your own nephew.”
“I knew you were the smart one,” they said, winking at him. “Yes, I killed Basil. It wasn’t my original intention, of course. I simply wanted to remind him of his loyalties. But that Votary bitch seduced him too well.” Aphrodite sighed and shrugged. “After Gregor put him down, we saw the Chinese potions in the fridge and knew what the police would think—you are so predictable, after all. We torched the place and got out of there.”
“Why kill Krystal?” Duffy asked.
“Well, she was just fun to kill. Plus, I needed to send a little message to my old friend Abe to remind him what happens when you fuck over Aphrodite Johnson.”
“You went out of your way to make it look like it was the Chinese who did it.” Morales said. “How does that send a message?”
“Abe was the one who taught me how to make gu. It was years ago, but trust me, he knows who killed Krystal.” They laughed. “I’m afraid you were the only ones in the dark.” They made a mocking pouty face.
“All of this was because you were pissed at Abe for partnering with the Fangshi?” I demanded.
“Among other things,” they said coyly. “Anyway, that’s all water under the bridge. I’d hoped to do all of this with less of a mess, but if my meditation practice has taught me anything, it’s that you have to learn to let go of your need for control.”
I levered myself into a sitting position, which earned me the attention of a very big gun and an even bigger man holding that gun. “Easy, there,” I said. “My arm was just going to sleep.”
“Oh, by all means,” Aphrodite said, “you’ll be needing both of your arms in a minute.”
I didn’t like the sound of that at all, but I refused to let them see my fear. “You know that Volos and Hung are looking for Yü Nü and our team will find us. It’s only a matter of time.”
Overhead, the sounds of music filtered down from the stage. Apparently, Aphrodite had considered it might take time to make the potion and scheduled other entertainment to divert the guests’ attention.
“I had your partner send them a message that you were busy interrogating Leon and everything was hunky-dory, didn’t I?” She looked at Morales. He nodded solemnly.
My stomach churned. The cavalry wasn’t coming. Yet. Eventually, they’d get suspicious. Until then, we had to stay alive.
“They’re probably enjoying the show.” Aphrodite smiled up at the music and put on the sun mask again. Judging by the smugness of her tone, she’d orchestrated something shocking up there. “Fontina will keep the show going until it’s time for us to join.”
They snapped their fingers. In a sudden rush of motion, the guard with the gun had my hands untied and I was led over to the Hierophant.
“Oh, Kate, Kate, Kate. I’d lost hope of making the potion after Harry disappointed me. Then you literally fell into our laps when you chased poor Leon. It was divine providence that you showed up when you did.”
I didn’t ask where Leon was, but I wasn’t real optimistic he was among the living. “Forgive me if I don’t feel lucky.”
They smirked. “Anyway, now that you’re here, you can cook the recipe.”
I froze.
“Oh, don’t look so surprised. Immortality potions are an alchemist’s specialty.” They looked around wide-eyed. “Do you see any other alchemists here?”