Jake (Immortals of New Orleans #8)(97)

"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.

"Tell me he's joking," Kai said, her sight trained on Jake.

"I'm vampire, bella. I know you haven't had enough experience with the supernatural, to have time to learn the finer nuances of the different beings."

"He was human," Jake commented. "It looks like this might break out soon. Up there. I see light."

"I was very much mortal. In essence, I died. I am reborn. And in doing so, the magick entered my soul, a rechargeable battery if you will. But we require blood to survive. Without the life essence from which we originally came, we would cease to exist."

"I get that part. But how can you tell that's human versus an animal carcass or wolf for that matter?"

"When we die, our cells retain the knowledge of our death. The same way you can tell the scent of strawberries from blueberries … it's simply an instinct to us. You cannot eat a dead human. And if that fails to imprint, that's a problem. Take someone like me. How old do you think I am?"



       
         
       
        

"You're young, attractive. Look as though you maybe died in your thirties?"

"Yes, I did. But hundreds of years have passed. Wars. Pestilence."

"Killing," Jake added, his expression hidden.

"Well, yes. I'm a vampire, not an angel."

"What's that supposed to mean? I've met a few bad motherfucking angels." Jake trod onward, not missing a step.

"You know what I mean. Does everything have to be literal with you wolves?" Quintus shot back.

"So you kill people on a regular basis?" Kai asked.

"How the hell does me identifying death turn into a discussion about my mercenary skills?" Quintus shook his head, keeping a careful watch on her as she walked ahead of him.

"So you kill people for money?" Kai tilted her head to get a better view at the light streaming into the tunnel. Fresh air drifted inside, dissipating the rancid odor. "Thank Goddess there's an exit."