Jake (Immortals of New Orleans #8)(65)

Chapter Twelve


Kai's courage rose with her Alpha by her side, observing her surroundings. Portraits of young children from the 1800s leaning against the wall gave an eerie ambiance to the historic home. Kai wondered when Dominique had been turned, if she had given birth. Were these paintings of her daughters? Or had she simply purchased them at an antique dealer?

"Why do you think Dominique had the Kris?" Kai asked, running her fingers over the robin's-egg-blue painted hearth; the pilot light flickered inside the gas fireplace.

"Excellent question." Quintus rounded the corner into a breakfast nook. He pointed to a Voodoo doll that sat on a bookshelf. "Perhaps she had a personal interest in magick."

"Maybe," Jake replied, studying the room. "I'm not saying that I know Dom all that well but I've met her a few times over the years, and she always struck me as a straight shooter. I never got a witchy vibe. She was always on the prowl for sex. Aside from that act, she's one of Luca's henchmen." 

"She works security with him at Issacson Industries," Quintus stated.

"Why would she have a Kris that Ilsbeth knew about? Do you think maybe it belonged to the coven?" Kai asked.

"Not sure. We don't know how she got tied up with the demon either," Jake said.

"Maybe it came after her," Quintus guessed.

"Maybe she needed it for protection," Kai suggested, staring up a steep flight of stairs.

"I don't think she lived here," Jake said. "This place looks more like a rental of some kind."

"Kade said she kept it as a guest house," Quintus explained.

"Look at all these antiques." Kai spied a rusted iron bulldog on the hearth.

"All I know is that if Jonathon fucking lied about the location of the Kris, I'm going to feed him to those damn fish myself. Anything in the kitchen?" Jake asked.

"Nope. Just more of the same. Are either of you two feeling drawn to anything?" Quintus asked.

"What's upstairs?" Kai shivered as she asked the question; a faint echo of voices sounded from above. "I think there's something up here."

"I don't sense any humans," Jake said, coming up behind her.

"Me neither, but this magick … " Kai breathed slowly, concentrating on the energy around her. "It's thick. I can feel it. I hear them."

"Hear what?" Jake asked.

"Voices. They sound like children. I don't know. They're whispering."

Both Quintus and Jake exchanged a look of concern. Jake moved ahead of Kai onto the first wooden step.

"Do you know if Dominique had any kids?" Jake asked Quintus.

"I'm not sure. It's possible she had them as a human. Sometimes … well, not in my case, but I know for many of us, we're turned after we've had families. It's not always convenient."

"So what happens then?" Kai asked. Tilting her head, she strained to listen. Silence filled the air and she continued. "Do their families live on without them? Die?"

"I suppose it depends on the situation, but yes. Becoming vampire … we are not born like wolves. We die and are reborn into our lives. Sometimes by choice. Sometimes by force. When Dominique was turned, I imagine life would have been very difficult."

"This city's had its fair share of drama. War. Disease." Jake's gaze went to the paintings. "And these creepy kid pics? They almost remind me of a death portrait."

"They were popular during Victorian times. I myself was never fond of following trends," Quintus noted, his expression impassive.

"Thank God for small favors," Kai said. "Those things have always given me the chills. Humans … they hold the body in too high regard. It's the soul they should be worried about."

"To be fair, there was a time this city was filled with the bodies of the dead. Yellow fever. Had them piled in the streets." Jake slowly began to ascend the steps. "It killed the humans faster than they could bury 'em."

"I don't hear the voices anymore." Kai stilled, listening. The hiss of the wind rattled outside but the house remained quiet. Her eyes went to the landing; a long cord dangled from the ceiling. She imagined someone hanging from it, a chill running up her spine. "Something about this house … "

"It's not just magick," Jake told them.

"No, it's … I don't know … I don't have much experience with this. But it feels … " Haunted. Kai hesitated, her words lost as her attention was drawn to the rectangular attic door.