Kissed by Darkness(62)
He laughed at that. “At least we have some idea about your Darkness, if nothing else. Speak to your Sunwalker. Who knows? He has, after all, been around for a few years.”
I laughed. I already knew Jack couldn’t help and I had a feeling there was a lot more to this whole thing than either of us could imagine. Stranger things in heaven and earth and all that. Maybe Jack had heard of the Elemental Mages. That was something new, at least. “I’m off, Eddie. Take care, yeah?”
He squeezed my hand and went back to muttering over the Book while I headed for the front door. “Hey, Eddie,” I turned back, remembering something. “One thing before I go.”
“Yes, my dear?” He glanced up from the book.
“Lately I’ve been noticing something odd about the vampires I’ve been fighting.”
He frowned. “Odd?”
“Yeah, their eyes. All the vampires I’ve seen over the last few days have had these red, glowing eyes. I’d expect to see that on a demon, but a vampire?”
“How odd, indeed.” Eddie frowned even harder, if that was possible. “I only know of one way to make fundamental changes to vampire physiology and that is to change the power that controls them.”
Vampires were usually controlled by one of two things. They were either controlled by the one who turned them, or they were controlled by the most powerful vampire in their clan if their maker wasn’t strong enough to hold them. Since both types of masters controlled using vampiric powers, the physiology of the vampire being controlled wouldn’t change.
“What sort of change would have to happen to turn their eyes red? Would a demon do it?” The only time I’d ever heard of any creature-controlling vamp other than another more powerful vamp was the occasional demon.
“I suppose it might, depending on the type of demonic power used to control the vampires. But I’ve never heard of anything like it.” Eddie seemed unsure, but it was as good a theory as any.
“OK, thanks, Eddie. I really appreciate your help.”
I headed out to my car, my mind in a whirl. I was starting to feel a bit like Alice complete with rabbit hole. Curiouser and curiouser.
Chapter Seventeen
The sun was still up when I exited Eddie’s shop, leaving the bell above the door jangling merrily behind me, so I decided to swing by Cordelia’s. I thought for a minute about calling ahead then figured it was pointless since I apparently had some kind of psychic Bat Signal where she was concerned; either that, or Bastet told her. Gods knew that cat was a piece of weird. Cordelia had probably already put the teakettle on.
The traffic was unusually light for rush hour and I made it across town in record time, this time with The Who blaring loud enough to wake the neighborhood. Even more amazing was finding a parking space just around the corner from Cordelia’s building. How lucky. I frowned as I locked the car door. Somehow I didn’t think luck had anything to do with it. Call me skeptical, but finding a parking space anywhere near the Park Blocks during rush hour pretty much took an act of nature or a miracle of the gods.
“Hello, precious girl!” I was engulfed in a flurry of jade silk and floral perfume the minute I came through the door. I managed to extricate myself from Cordelia’s embrace before I completely suffocated. “Listen, I know you’re having a challenging time right now,” she said, patting me on the back, “but let’s have some tea and a chat. That always helps.”
She disappeared down the hall, her bright green robe billowing behind her. Force of nature, indeed. Seriously, who on earth wears a silk robe over blue jeans and a turtleneck sweater? Especially one with a Chinese dragon embroidered on the back? It was pretty, though.
“Come on in. Bastet’s really been looking forward to seeing you again.” Naturally, the cat wanted to see me. Who else? Rolling my eyes I stepped into the living room.
“We saw that.” There was laughter in her voice. “I know I sound like a crazy cat woman, but trust me. She’s talked about nothing else all week.”
I blinked. “Of course not. What else would she talk about?” Catnip? Seafood flavor versus chicken flavor kitty treats? Honestly, if Cordelia really did go ‘round the bend, who’d notice?
As usual, there was a steaming pot of tea and two teacups perched precariously on the coffee table. Cordelia had draped herself dramatically across an overstuffed chair, so I was left to shovel cushions around until I could find a spot on the couch large enough for my backside. Bastet glared at me from where she lounged on a particularly plush pillow dead in the center of the couch. Yep, she looked happy to see me all right.