Yes.
“But I want zero Freddy Krueger action going on. I’d like a promise from you. From your power. Anything that dies tonight stays dead.”
“I see.” Than stood. “You will have no such promise from me for my promises are already given.” And then he walked out of the room, without looking back, without a single additional word.
“That was…what just happened?” I asked.
“I think…” Myra frowned. “I think you hurt his feelings.”
“Me? How? I wasn’t saying he was bad at his job. I just wanted him there. Even on vacation, he’s got a better handle on death than any of us at this table. I don’t think him standing on the side and declaring the time of death breaks the rules. Does it?” I threw a look at Ryder.
“No. He wouldn’t have to access his stored power to know if someone was dead. He’s got good eyes for that.”
Aaron huffed. “Please. He told you he doesn’t want to be a part of your little fist fight, Delaney. This isn’t important to him. Vacation is important to him and you’re ruining it. Now you made death sulk before your big showdown. Smooth, Chief.”
“It’s fine,” Myra said. “Than doesn’t have to be there. It will be fine. We know how to kill Lavius, right?” She looked expectantly at Rossi.
“Oh, yes,” he said, low enough it made me shiver. “We do.”
Okay, even though I was worried (fleetingly) about disappointing Death, I knew the granddaddy badass vampire was on our side.
And that was good enough for me.
Chapter 16
Ryder and Rossi walked me out into the salty warmth of sunlight and calls of seagulls scrounging for early dinners. The wind was just enough to keep the heat from being too much, and the little parking area was filled with cars.
Myra was at her cruiser, having what looked like a very serious conversation on her phone. Aaron had stayed behind as soon as he spotted a couple people from the K.I.N.K.s and C.O.C.K.s sneaking into the joint.
For a god who insisted he was on vacation, he sure did get his kicks watching people get into fights.
“There is one thing I want you to carry.” Old Rossi reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and withdrew a slim silver dagger in a sheath. He held it out to me.
“I don’t do knives.” What I was really saying was I didn’t want to get close enough to Lavius for a knife to be necessary. If I was close enough to stab him, he was close enough to bite me.
Or break me.
Vampires were strong.
“Take the dagger, Delaney.”
Vampires were also stubborn.
“Don’t need it.”
“You very much do need it. The blade is poisoned. If you strike Lavius, it will slow him. It isn’t enough to kill him, but it should be enough so that you have a chance.”
“To kill him?”
“To survive long enough to get away from him.”
He didn’t sound all that sure about my chances. Fear fingered at the back of my throat, but didn’t stay long, dragged away by my missing soul.
Maybe having no fear, or at least not feeling it, would give me an advantage against Lavius.
Or maybe it’d just get me killed.
“What kind of poison?” Ryder asked as he came up behind us.
