Blood Thief Box Set(40)

Something diverted my attention from their squabbling. It was the blanket draped over his lap. I know I saw it move, but not normally. It sort of rippled, especially when Sarpa's eyes narrowed.

He leaned over the arm of his chair and glared at Simon. "Listen, Simon, I've known Basileus a lot longer than you. That's why I know there's trouble on the horizon for you." His eyes fell on me. "And I don't think you want to be involving certain people in that much trouble."

Simon frowned. "You concern yourself too much in my business."

Sarpa sighed and leaned back in his chair. "This coming from someone who barges into my restaurant smelling like they came out of a shit storm and holding noses hostage so he can speak to me."

"Simon has a way with hostage negotiations," Dolf spoke up.

Sarpa's eyes flickered to him. "And bringing some very unusual company, even for a vampire."

Dolf grinned and bowed as well as he could considering the cramped quarters. "Dolf Fortis, at your service."

A flicker of light flashed through the man's eyes. "Perhaps that might be arranged." The doors opened and revealed a short hallway with a few doors.

Sarpa led out small group to the door on the right, and we stepped inside his square office. The windows at the back of the room looked out on the busy street and the people who filtered into his restaurant.

He wheeled to the side of the desk in front of the windows and turned to face us. "I hope you won't mind if I stretch out a little." He stood and the blanket fell off his lower body.

My eyes bulged out of my head as I beheld a long, slithery snake body starting at his waist and ending in a pointy tail. Sarpa slithered off his wheelchair and to the other side of the desk where he stood in front of the windows. He clasped his hands behind his back and studied us like I gawked at him.

The snake-man chuckled and turned his attention to Simon. "It looks like your friend there has never seen a naga before."

Simon smiled. "I believe not."

I whipped my head between them. My mouth flopped open and I pointed at the snake guy. "A-a what?"

Sarpa leaned his scaly back against the windowsill. "I am a naga, a very ancient species of king cobra native to the Indian subcontinent. My ancestors were considered gods by some ancient religions, but-" he gestured to the office around us, "-as you see times have changed. We've been forced to take up employment or risk extinction."

"Did I forget to mention this minor detail?" Simon mused.

I spun around and glared at him. "Could you start warning me about all these weird people?"

Sarpa pushed off the sill and arched an eyebrow. "I'll let that comment pass this once, but just remember you're the strange one to me." He glanced down at my legs and shook his head. "What an impractical way to get around."

Simon stepped between us with his usual sly smile. "It would be a pleasure to continue this conversation, but our business is pressing. An item has been stolen, and we seek its return."

Sarpa folded his arms and pursed his lips. "I'm listening."

"It is a golden fleece. Georgina informed us she sent the thieves in your direction," Simon told him.

Sarpa shrugged. "Haven't seen them, but I am interested in this fleece." He set his hands on the desk and leaned forward. For the first time I noticed his pupils were slitted and held a bright yellow color. "This doesn't happen to be the one from myths, does it?"

Simon chuckled. "You would know that better than I."

Sarpa frowned. "I'm being serious here, Simon. Is this the fleece with the Midas curse?"

Simon's good humor fled and he eyed the naga with narrowed eyes. "What is it?"

The naga's eyes flitted from one of our faces to the other. "I'm sure you're all well-aware of the benefits of the fleece, but like all good things this one ends. If used too much by the same person,the user is themselves turned into gold."

Simon arched an eyebrow. "Is this condition irreversible?"

Sarpa straightened and nodded. "It is. And should the user cease to use the fleece they merely slow down the inevitable. Their fate is still sealed."

Dolf furrowed his brow. "I guess that's why a lot of people don't know about the fleece's other power. They're all got turned into gold statues."

Sarpa slid back to his wheelchair and drew the blanket over his snake body. "Precisely. If you're trying to avoid an alarm going up in the city about people turning into gold I recommend you find this stolen fleece and hide it where it can never be found again."

Dolf shrugged. "Good idea, but we don't know where it is."

Sarpa wheeled his chair towards the door, but paused beside our group. "I would start with the depositories in the Midnight Bank."

Dolf frowned. "Never heard of the place."

Sarpa chuckled and drew past us. "Then tonight is a good night to learn about it. But if you'll excuse me, I have clients to attend to. I'm sure you can show yourselves out after you've finished discussing the matter."

With that he left us, and more confused than before.





CHAPTER 8





"So what now?" Dolf spoke up as he looked around our little group. "Do we trust the old snake guy with this bank shit or what?"

Simon turned to him and nodded. "He is to be trusted. It is Georgina who we must investigate."

I frowned. "Why? Do you think she got to the thieves before they got to Sarpa?"

He shook his head. "No. In fact, I don't believe they ever left her office. Or rather, the vicinity of her office."

I started back. "You mean they're down there?"

He nodded. "Yes. Georgina is not particularly interested in wealth, but the power behind such wealth as the fleece would prove too tempting for her to ignore."

I clenched my hands into fists at my sides and narrowed my eyes. "You mean that snake tricked us?"

Simon pursed his lips. "More than once, and through her Phantoms she is aware we survived. However, she will not be aware we hold the information provided to us by Sarpa. That is our advantage."

"Are you sure we can we trust that snake?" Dolf persisted.

A smile curled onto Simon's lips. "If he had wanted to eat us, he would have started with you. Werewolves are a delicacy for the naga."

Dolf crossed his arms and glared at Simon. "That isn't very funny."

"But very true," Simon added as he turned to Certus. The silent servant stood close beside him. "Have we any plans of the Midnight Bank?"

Certus nodded. "Of the interior, but not for the extensive security system."

Simon glanced at Dolf. "Then we'll need the nose of our furry friend here."

Dolf narrowed his eyes. "This nose is going nowhere until it knows where it's going."

Simon chuckled and passed by him to the door. "As I said before, the Midnight Bank."

Dolf turned to follow the vampire. "That doesn't tell me anything."

"Ditto," I spoke up.

Simon paused at the door. He wrapped his hand around the knob and half-turned to face us. "The Midnight Bank is an exclusive depository for the wealthiest of paranormal creatures. It is where they store their most precious valuables."

Dolf arched an eyebrow. "So how come you haven't had us rob it yet?"

Simon smiled. "Because the resale of such rare items would be nearly impossible, and I would rather not clutter my penthouse with more books." Simon glanced at our werewolf friend. "There are thousands of boxes in the depository. We will need a powerful nose to lead us to the fleece."

Dolf cracked his knuckles and grinned. "Sounds like my kind of job."

Simon's eyes fell on me. "Now we should leave before Faith's better instincts take control."

Dolf blinked at him. "Her better-" his eyes widened. "Oh, that." He stepped away from me and sheepishly grinned at me. "You don't happen to have a taste for werewolf, do you?"

I glared at him. "I don't have a taste for anything except steak."

Simon chuckled and opened the door. "We will see if we can't procure a rare steak at a less crowded venue."

Simon led out small group out of the office and down the elevator. We stepped out of the elevator into the side hall. A young man in a black vest and pants, and a white shirt greeted us with a smile and a bow.

He gestured to a hallway that led around the elevator and to the rear of the building. "If you would, Mr. Sarpa has requested that I was to show you to the back door."

Simon smiled and bowed his head. "Then lead the way."

The young man led us down the dark hall filled with doors and to the back entrance. He grabbed the knob on the door, but Simon set his hand on the man's shoulder.

"A moment," Simon requested.

The young man half-turned and blinked at him. "Is something wrong, sir?"

Simon's sharp eyes studied our guide. The corners of his mouth turned down. "Is Sarpa aware of your being a werewolf?"

I whipped my head from Simon to the young man. He blinked and his eyes revealed the yellow hue of the werewolf.

A sly smile slid onto the young man's lips. "He isn't even aware I'm here."

The man spun around and jumped backwards. His back slammed against the door and both tumbled into a dark alley behind the restaurant. The door clattered against the puddled ground, and the young man flipped and deftly landed on his feet atop the door.