"Thank you for bringing us, sir," Kai said, bowing to the man.
"Times are troubled. Your sister's still missing."
"I went to Kasdeya, but she … she … "
"I am aware of your actions. You gave her your blood," he said, disappointment in his voice. "You have made her stronger."
"I'm so sorry, sir. I was weak. I needed Shilan."
"Never believe the lies of a serpent," he told her.
"These are my friends. Jake. Quintus. They will help me this time. I promise I won't do … "
"Promises mean nothing," another voice shouted out of the darkness.
"Who are you? What's your name?" Jake asked, keeping his gun clutched in his hand. The Elder emitted an otherworldly essence that tainted the air but he failed to identify it.
"We have no name," a different voice answered from the shadows.
"We are all names." The faceless Elder stepped forward, coming within a foot of the Alpha.
"We mean you no harm," Jake told him. "But if you hurt Kai, I won't think twice about using this gun on your ass. I don't need to know who you are or why you're all hiding in the dark. I can find your location just by the sound of your voice. We're only here for your help. We need more info about Kasdeya and to get help finding the book."
"I think I've changed my mind about the gun. Good call." Quintus sighed. Stepping next to Kai, he took a protective position with Jake flanked at her other side.
"Put the gun away," Kai admonished him.
"Sorry sweetheart, but it's either the gun or I'm going wolf. And right now I need to talk, so gun it is."
"I need the book. The one my parents gave me. I left it … " she began.
"You mean this book." The Elder reached into his robe and lifted it into the air.
"Oh Goddess. You have it," Kai exclaimed.
"You were careless."
"I'm not experienced at this. I don't know what I'm doing. I promise you I'd never deliberately lose it. My sister," Kai's voice cracked with emotion, "Shilan … I need to find her. I'd do anything."
"Anything?" the man asked, pacing.
"Of course. Why do you think I'm here? Kasdeya. I know she has something to do with this. She's a demon and … "
"Shh. Do not speak her name in here. Even the mention of her threatens our sanctuary. Your sister … "
"Shilan," Kai said.
"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."