“Oh sure, we had Ghosts-R-Us come in and clean the place.”I sighed, then added, “Tomorrow we’re going to set up for a plan.We’ve been researching and we might have an answer.I just want to make sure that you don’t go home before then, because it could be dangerous.Actually, nix that.Itisextremely dangerous and I don’t want you there.”
“Not even to pick anything up?I think I left a couple books there I’d like to have,” he said.
“Konstantine, I’m serious.Just buy them new or go to the library.I don’t like to pull rank, but I’m going to now.Stay away from that house.I don’t want to lose my only living relative now that I’ve found you.If we’re lucky, your housemaybe clear by tomorrow night.If not, then we’ll see where we go from there.”
Konstantine hesitated, then said, “I’m touched.I haven’t meant anything to anybody since my mother died.Thank you, for caring.All right.I give you my solemn word that I won’t go back home until you give me permission.I thought we might meet for dinner —”
“That’s right,” I said, remembering his earlier suggestion.
At that moment, Lazenti came online again.“Kyann?Something’s up.I need to talk to you.”He looked distressed.
Sighing, I turned back to my phone.“Let me get back to you about dinner.Something’s just come up at the office and I need to deal with it before making any plans.I’ll text or call you soon.”With a quick goodbye, I hung up.
“What is it?”I turned to Lazenti, leaning forward toward the camera.
Lazenti frowned.“The demon I told you about is back.He’s at a bar near my office.I have a friend who works there and he called me.Do you want to come down here now?I can take you to see him?”
Iknewthat I had to meet this demon.
“On my way.I’m bringing Dante with me.”I hung up, then closed the laptop and turned to Sophia.“Please, can you contact my uncle Konstantine and tell him that I can’t meet him tonight?Ask him if tomorrow will work for lunch, or dinner if that’s better.”I motioned to Dante.“Come on.We’re headed down to Lazenti’s office.”
“I wish I was there,” Orik said, his voice booming from Sophia’s laptop.
“We’ll see you tomorrow, if you really want, but don’t feel like you have to rush things.For one thing, I don’t want Hilda mad at us for dragging you back into work early.”I ducked into my office and grabbed my backpack, tossing my tablet inside.
As I passed Sophia’s desk, she said, “Konstantine said lunch tomorrow will be fine.He’ll meet you at Garbo’s Steakhouse at noon.”
“Thanks,” I said.“Put it in my planner on my desk, would you?”
Dante joined us.He had changed out his white fluffy coat and leather pants for a leather jacket, ripped jeans, and a simple tank top.He’d also taken off most of his bling.He looked infinitely more dangerous, and with the shades he put on, he could easily pass for a gangster.
“How’s this?”he asked.
“You look good,” I said.
I was wearing my black leather pants, a cobalt blue halter top, and my black leather jacket studded with shiny hardware.While my belt was silver colored, it wasn’t the actual metal itself, so it shouldn’t draw too much attention.My ankle boots had three-inch heels, and I had pulled my hair into a high ponytail.
Together, Dante and I made for an intimidating couple.The less daunting you looked when you were in the Underground, the more trouble you were likely to attract.
“Come on, let’s get moving,” I said, pocketing my wallet and keys, and making sure my dagger was firmly in its sheath around my thigh.That, as well, would offer some visual reinforcement to ourfuck around and find outappearance.I also had clipped a boot knife to my right boot, and I was carrying a canister of pepper spray, made from Carolina reapers, ghost peppers, and a mostly-illegal pepper that had been bred in South America and was used against the drug cartels.It wasn’t lethal, but it did permanent damage to the eyes and lungs, and its use was creeping through the black markets here in the states.
Dante pocketed his wallet and keys, and he strapped a dagger to his belt.“Ready,” he said, brushing out his hair.The blonde strands looked edgy next to the black leather.
I texted Lazenti that we were on the way, and we set out, taking one of the company’s spare cars.We had a couple old beaters that were in excellent shape beneath the hood, but they looked like junkers.It didn’t make sense to drive a good looking car into a district populated with thieves and lowlifes.And the district around the Underground was just that.
The two-door, ocean-blue, 1982 Chevy Impala looked old and weathered, but beneath the hood, the engine purred.I turned the ignition and we headed out, into the afternoon light which was shining a little too brightly for my taste.
“So, how are you dealing with the whole family-reunion thing?”Dante asked.He stared out the window as the city streets rolled by.Traffic wasn’t great, but the gridlock hadn’t started yet.Everybody was either back from lunch, or taking a break from their shopping.
“I’m not sure how to answer that,” I said.
“I’m not going to tell you to be careful?—”
“You know that I will,” I said.“So don’t even go there.”I paused, then added, “It feels like things are lining up for a reason.I can’t explain what I mean, but I don’t think I was meant to meet Konstantine until now.I don’t know why, but it just feels right.The more Devon and Seton help me learn to accept my powers, the more my intuition seems to strengthen.”I eased on the brakes as we approached a yellow light, then stopped to wait for the red to pass.
A group of students crossed the street in front of us—four boys and two girls, who looked scared out of their mind.They were headed in the direction of the Underground.
“The teen years are a dangerous age, where mortality seems so far away, and where carelessness feels like exploration.You think they’re headed for the Underground?”I asked.
