"It was invented for full-alert. For some reason, there is a high concentration of Daimons leaving bolt-holes in this area, and when that happens, the Daimons reach their full power and they feed whether they need it or not. The only thing worse than a full-alert is a solar eclipse. Tonight, things will get ugly."
At seven o'clock, Amanda learned firsthand what he had meant by that.
She was cleaning up Kyrian's "breakfast" while Nick briefed him on what Acheron had said.
Kyrian had chosen twice the weapons he normally went out with and he was on his way out the door when the phone rang. Amanda answered it.
"Mom?" she asked as she recognized the crying voice. Her heart stopped. "What is it?"
Kyrian went rigid at the door, then rushed to her side.
"Mandy," her mother said through her sobs. "It's Tabby..."
Amanda didn't want to hear anything more. She choked on her sob and dropped the phone. The next thing she knew, Kyrian held her in his arms while Nick talked to her mother.
Kyrian's sight dulled as he listened to her hysterical mother talking to Nick while Amanda trembled in his arms. Her tears soaked him, and as they fell, he vowed to kill Desiderius.
"It's all right," he whispered against Amanda. "She's just hurt."
She pulled back and looked at him. "What?"
Kyrian wiped the tears from her cheeks. "He didn't kill her, sweeting." Though she was in bad shape, from what he could gather from her mother, Tabitha would survive.
Desiderius, however, would not.
"Tabitha is in the hospital," Nick said, hanging up the phone. "Luckily, there were only two Daimons and her group was able to fight them off." He looked to Kyrian. "You know, it sounds to me like Desi was just toying with her to make you mad enough to lose your head in a fight. There's no other reason why he would send only two Daimons and not more."
"Nick, shut up!" Kyrian snapped. The last thing he wanted was for Amanda to be any more upset. He kissed her lightly on the lips. "Nick will take you to the hospital."
He pulled out his cell phone and called Talon, who was already on his way into the city. He told the Celt to get over to his house and escort Amanda just in case Desiderius was waiting for them.
"Kyrian," Amanda said as he hung up. "I don't want you to go out tonight. I have a really bad feeling."
So did he. "I have to go."
"Please, listen to me-"
"Shh," he said, placing a finger over her lips. "This is what I do, Amanda. It's what I am."
As soon as he could, Kyrian had her in Nick's car with Talon tailing them while he headed downtown to find that bloodsucking, soul-stealing pig and do what he should have done the night they met.
Hours went by as Kyrian scoped out the French Quarter, looking for Desiderius. The Daimons would replenish their strength tonight, and sooner or later, he knew they would make an appearance in their prime feeding ground.
Desiderius, much like the rest of his brethren, preferred to haunt the French Quarter where unwary and often drunk tourists could be found.
So far, there was nothing.
"Hey, baby," a prostitute called as he passed her. "You want some company?"
Kyrian turned to face her, then pulled out all the money, about five hundred dollars, he had in his wallet and handed it to her. "Why don't you take the night off and go get a good meal?"
Her face stunned, she grabbed the money and ran.
Kyrian sighed as he watched her dodge through the crowd. Poor woman. He hoped she put it to good use. Even if she didn't, she could certainly use the money a lot more than he could.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of silver. Turning his head, he found two young men in the crowd. They were definitely human.
At first, they appeared to be the typical kind of street-gang youths Nick had once been, tough as nails and wearing black jackets, until he noticed the way they watched him.
As if they knew what he was.
His instincts alert, Kyrian returned their stares. The tallest, who appeared to be in his early twenties, crushed out his cigarette and crossed the street, his eyes never leaving Kyrian.
He raked a cold look over Kyrian's body. "You the Dark-Hunter?"
Kyrian arched a brow. "You the flunky?"
"I don't like your tone."
"And I don't like you. Now that we've dispensed with the introductions and have declared our mutual distaste for one another, why don't you take me to the one who holds your leash?"
The man narrowed his eyes on him. "Yeah, why don't I do that?"
It was a trap. Kyrian knew it. So be it. He wanted this confrontation. Was more than prepared for it.
Willingly, he followed after them.
They led him down the back alleys into a small, enclosed courtyard. Shrubs obscured most of the walls and tall plants blocked the streetlights from the area.
Kyrian didn't recognize any of it. But it didn't matter.
As they rounded a large hedge, he caught sight of Desiderius waiting. His smile evil, the Daimon held a panic-stricken pregnant woman in his arms with a knife at her throat.
"Welcome, Dark-Hunter," he said, his free hand stroking the woman's distended belly. "Can you believe what I was lucky enough to find? Two life forces for the price of one." He bent his head and rubbed his nose against the woman's neck. "Mmm, just smell the strength."
"Please," the woman begged, her voice hysterical. "Please help me. Don't let him hurt my baby."
Kyrian took a deep breath as he fought the fury inside him that demanded Desiderius's blood on his hands. "Let me guess, you'll trade her life for mine?"
"Exactly."
Trying to rattle his opponent, Kyrian let out a tired breath as he surveyed the six Daimons and two human criminals around him. If not for the woman, he could have taken them easily. But one move against any of them and he had no doubt Desiderius would cut her throat. Indeed, Daimons valued very little more than taking the soul of a pregnant woman.
"Couldn't you think up something a little more original than this?" Kyrian taunted him, knowing Desiderius was pompous enough to take insult. "I mean, push your limits. You're supposed to be a crazed mastermind and this is all you have to offer?"
"Well, since you're unimpressed, let me kill her." He pressed the knife against her throat.
The woman screamed.
"Wait!" Kyrian snapped before the Daimon could draw blood. "You know I'm not going to let you hurt her."
Desiderius smiled. "Then drop your srads and move to stand against the fence."
How did he know about those?
"Okay," Kyrian said slowly. "And why?"
"Because I said so!"
Trying to figure out his reasoning, Kyrian pulled Talon's weapons out from under his coat and moved slowly toward the fence. Once he stood in front of it, the two human men grabbed his wrists and placed ropes around them.
Suddenly, he was pulled backward, his arms spread out against the fence. Kyrian fought wildly. His heart pounding, he jerked at the ropes holding him pinned. All his calm, cool Dark-Hunter rationale evaporated, leaving him in the throes of panic. He fought his restraints like a wild animal caught in a trap.
He had to get out of this. He would not be tied helpless. Not like this. Not ever again.
He fought against the ropes, tearing the flesh around his wrists. He didn't care. All he wanted was his freedom.
"I told you I knew your weaknesses," Desiderius said. "Right down to the fact you would never let me hurt a pregnant human." He leaned down and kissed the girl on her cheek. "Melissa, be a good girl and thank the Dark-Hunter for his sacrifice."
Kyrian froze as she left Desiderius's embrace and moved to stand by the oldest human male.
She'd been in on it all along.
Son of a bitch, when would he learn?
"Are you ready to die?" Desiderius asked.
Kyrian bared his fangs at him. "I wouldn't be so cocky. You haven't killed me yet."
"True, but the night is still young, isn't it? I have plenty of time to play with Artemis's errand boy."
Kyrian gripped the ropes and pulled with all his strength as another wave of panic threatened to consume him. He had to calm down. He knew it, and yet those old, haunting memories of his torture in Rome tormented him.
"What's the matter?" Desiderius asked, stepping forward. "You look a bit pale, Commander. Are you remembering the humiliation of your defeat? The touch of the Roman executioners as they prepared you?"
"Go to hell!" Kyrian toed the release for his boot and kicked out at Desiderius.
Desiderius jumped back out of range. "Oh yes, I forgot about those boots. After you, I shall have to go find good old Kell as my next Dark-Hunter target. With him out of the way, what would all of you do without your weapons expert?" He inclined his head to the girl. "Melissa, be a dear and rid the commander of his boots."
Kyrian ground his teeth as the girl came forward. Dark-Hunter law allowed him to protect himself against humans who sought to do him harm, but he couldn't bring himself to hurt her, especially while she was pregnant. Though she didn't know it, she was still a little girl. "Why would you mess up your life with him?" he asked her as she pulled his boots off.
"Once my baby comes, he's going to make me immortal."
"He doesn't have that power."
"You're lying. Everyone knows vampires can take or give life. I want to be one of you."
So that was how Desiderius was enlisting his human helpers. "You could never be one of us. He'll kill you once he's finished."
She laughed at him.
Desiderius clucked his tongue. "Still trying to protect her even while she prepares you for your slaughter. How sweet. Tell me, were you so considerate of your Roman brothers?"
Kyrian threw his body toward Desiderius.
A Daimon came out of the shadows with a large hammer. Kyrian froze the instant he recognized it. He hadn't seen one in over two thousand years.
"Yes," Desiderius said as he moved closer to Kyrian. "You know what this is, don't you? Tell me, do you remember the way it felt when Valerius used it to break your legs?" Desiderius cocked his head. "No? Then let me refresh your memory."
Kyrian clenched his teeth as Desiderius brought the hammer down across his left knee, instantly splintering the bones. Once he had delivered a like blow to his right leg, the Daimon dared to stand before him.
Kyrian held himself up with his hands. He tried to put weight on his legs, but the pain made it impossible.
Desiderius smiled at him as he handed the hammer back to the Daimon. Then he pulled something out of his pocket.
Rage filled Kyrian as he recognized the ancient Roman spikes they had used for crucifixion.
"Tell me, Dark-Hunter," Desiderius said with a smile, "would you like me to put you up for the night?"