Page 93 of Jake

“Is very special. Like you, dear pixiu.”

“Yes. I know magick is in her.”

“She’s not just a witch. Like you, she was born of the Gods.” The Elder paced, and going to the altar, he retrieved a shiny gold coin and held it in the air. “You must find her but I’m afraid your sacrifice must be great. The demon mistress who had a hand in her disappearance, she will not easily give her back. So I ask again, what sacrifice are you willing to make?”

“We don’t have time for all this. If you could maybe just hand that book there over to Kai, we’ll be on our way.” Jake paused, considering that he couldn’t be sure if they were still in San Francisco, or had traveled to an alternative dimension. “We need to know where…the mistress is. Quintus here is a vampire. I’m an Alpha. It’s time to take her down, but we need a little help here.”

“I know what you are.” His focus went to Kai. “You’re her mate. But to split the deity, the sacrifice must be made by the pixiu alone.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Jake growled. Sacrifices in the paranormal world generally consisted of spilled blood, which often included death. There was no way he’d let anything happen to Kai.

“You have the Kris,” the Elder stated.

“You know about the Kris?” Kai asked, excitement in her voice.

“The sacrifice must come from the Kris.”

“What are you saying? Are we supposed to use it on the demon?” Quintus asked.

“Sometimes things aren’t as they should be. Death can bring beauty. Give of yourself and you can destroy the deity. Destroy the deity and you can destroy the one who took your sister.”

“We don’t have a lot of time. We’ve got to kill the deity, find Kai’s sister and then I’ve got to go see about my pack. This is going to take all damn night if you don’t just tell us.” Jake grew impatient with his enigmatic sermon.

“Ah, your wolves, Alpha. They may not be who they appear to be.” The Elder held the coin, flipping it with his fingers. He closed it inside his fist and then opened it, revealing a stone. “Sometimes the shiniest elements are nothing more than a rock.”

“Nice trick,” Jake commented. “Please. Look, Kai’s life is at stake. We don’t have time.”

“Now you grasp the concept. It’s an illusion. A sleight of hand. But will you see it, Alpha for what it is?” He reached into the air, and the book reappeared in his hands. “Do not lose this again, Kai. Your mother and father treasured its contents, as should you.”

“Thank you, sir. I’m so sorry,” Kai said as she took it from him. “But please…the mistress…we need to go to her. My sister.”

“And go you will.” The Elder waved his hand and the wall to their right flared with light. The luminescent waves transformed into an arch. “You may pass into her lair, but go with caution.”

Jake glanced at the mirrored doorway, and then to Quintus and Kai. “This may be the clearest sign he’s given us all day.”

“Dearest Kai. Remember the Kris,” the Elder told her, darkness creeping in on his face. “Sacrifice must come from you.”

“Okay, people, I think it’s time to go. Kai, stay close to me.” Jake turned to the Elder and gave a quick bow, following the etiquette of his mate. “Let’s go get that bitch and your sister.”

Jake reached into the portal with Kai’s hand in his. As he passed into the abyss, cold surrounded him like he’d stepped into a crypt. His stomach tightened at his first breath of rancid air, and he prayed like hell they’d come out alive.

“Hey Quint, if this all goes to hell, be prepared to zap us all outta here,” Jake told the vampire. “Kai, how about you give me the book? I’ll keep it in my pack so nothing happens to it.” Jake opened his bag, allowing her to drop it inside. Clinching it shut, he slipped it back on his shoulder.

“Where the hell are we?’ Quintus inquired in a tense whisper.

“I don’t remember being here before,” Kai told them. “Last time, I was at her house in Monterey. This place…I don’t know where we are. It smells awful.”

“Jesus Christ, is that what I think it is?” the Alpha asked, aware of what the answer would probably be.

“Rotting flesh. Humans,” Quintus said.

“Oh Goddess.” Kai held her breath for as long as possible, trekking into the darkness. Although her preternatural vision gave her the ability to see at night, the magick blurred her vision. Exhaling loudly, she fought the urge to breathe through her mouth lest she taste death on her tongue.

“Holy hell,” Jake coughed, turning back to check on Quintus and Kai.

“Dare I ask how you know it’s humans?” Kai asked. “You know, as opposed to something else.”

“Hundreds of years of practice,” Quintus laughed.