Real Vampires Don't Wear Size Six(62)

"Not so much, but I didn't wimp out, did I?" He grinned and nodded to Jerry. "I'd say you kicked some goddess ass, Blade. Good job." He and Jerry bumped fists. Guess Ray had taught him that. "Valdez, hope this is the last of the rescues, my man. My heart can't take much more of this."
"You got it. My demon side is staying down from now on." Rafe gave me an apologetic look. "I'll never forgive myself for putting Glory in harm's way like this."
"There you go. See ya, Glory." Ray shifted back into bird form and took off.
"Great idea. I'm going home to my own bath. We'll talk later." Rafe saluted me and put his hand out to Jerry. It was the one on his injured arm, but he didn't even wince. "Wouldn't blame you if you refused to take it, but you were quite a sight down there tonight, Blade. I owe you everything."
"I'll shake your hand. Got to start being civilized. Gloriana is right about that. And you acquitted yourself well. Let's not do this again, shall we?" He shook hands with Rafe, then put his arm around me.
"No problem. Good night." Rafe shifted and was gone.
"Well I have to agree with both of them. You were amazing, Jerry." I kept my arm around his waist. "I have never seen you in battle before. It was quite a turn-on."
"Oh?" Jerry grinned. "Shall we go to my house and try out my Jacuzzi tub, then you can show me how turned on you are?"
"Sounds like a plan to me." I kissed his lips. One more thing to do and I was free of all my demons. I felt like celebrating.

"CiCi's having a birthday party for Freddy later. First, Simon will meet us at the club and get his deal with the demons set up." I paced the back room. It was deadline night.
"I hope this is the last of your work with stuff from hell." Penny sat on the table. She was supposed to report to Ian in a few minutes. They were scouting lab sites tonight.
"So do I. Have you thought any more about what to do about Jenny?" I was still haunted by what Honoria had said about my blood. Of course I was ordinary Glory St. Clair. That had been typical goddess stuff, messing with my head. A distraction. I had to forget about it or it would drive me crazy.
"Yes, I'm not telling her now. Maybe after she graduates from school." Penny sighed. "She's got a full plate. Studying for finals. Boyfriend trouble. And now she's going home for the summer to work with Mom. Cheerleading camp."
"I'm proud of you." I put my arm around her. "That's a mature decision. Let her enjoy college life. You can keep doing what you've been doing. Meet her after dark, get to understand your new life. Help her if you want to. Guess the mind reading has given you a new perspective on your relationship."
"No kidding. I never realized what my ‘gifts,' if you want to call them that, did to her." Penny made a face. "I was always jealous of Jen's popularity, the way she fit in everywhere. I had no idea she hated the way I got my parents' attention with my scholarships and school successes."
"You each have gifts. Now you are extra special, working for Ian." I rubbed my tummy, which still looked a little lumpy. "Any progress on my blood analysis? Figuring out why I'm the lucky one in a million who has a freaky reaction to the genius's drugs?" And could this be related to whatever the goddess had smelled or pretended to smell in my blood?
"Ian's onto something but won't tell me about it. I think he's waiting until he gets back a certain test result." Penny leaned against me. "Obviously you're the one who's special. You got me this gig and it's given me a new purpose. Introduced me to Trey too. We're really getting along."
I knew that. She was on the phone to the shifter or making plans to meet him every time I turned around.
"Good. Now I've got to go. Jerry's meeting me at the club for this last deal and the party." I jumped off the table and picked up a wrapped package. "Once this demon stuff is over, I'll make sure you get introduced to my friend CiCi, her son and his partner. Are you going to be at N-V later?"
"After Ian and I are through. Maybe I'll see you there." Penny hopped off the table too and gave me a hug. "Seriously, thanks for taking me in. I owe you for your patience. I realize I didn't make it easy. And I'll be so glad when you're free of the demon thing. I've been praying for you."
"Good. I appreciate it." I hugged her back. "And you've been coming along faster than most fledglings would have. Meeting Ian here?"
"Yep. I'll hang around and pick out a few things." She laughed. "I know. No horizontal stripes."
"Excellent. You really do learn fast." I walked with her through the shop, then fought the paparazzi horde as I headed down the sidewalk to N-V. I'd agreed to meet the crew there rather than be bombarded with questions from the photographers about Jerry or Ray.
Rafe's club was jumping as usual. Trey met me at the door and pointed me toward the bar. Rafe waved and downed a glass of Jack Daniel's.
"I'll be glad when this night is over." He lifted his glass in a mock toast, then drained it.
"Man, way to shove it in my face." Ray came up behind me and signaled the bartender. "Give me some of your vamp special, without the alcohol." He smiled at me. "I'm staying on the wagon."
I turned and smiled back at him. "Love to hear it's still holding. What are you doing here?"
"Got to see this all the way through. Am I right?" He glanced at Jerry, who'd come up on my other side. In true Ray-style, Ray slung an arm around me and drew me close. "You want something stronger?"
"Why not?" Jerry smiled grimly. "Glory?"
"As you say, why not?" I was proud of Jerry for not doing his usual jealousy thing, trying to wedge himself between Ray and me. Not even a growl. I kept things cool myself, easing away from Ray. But I had to go to Rafe and check in with him.
"How are you doing?" I bumped him with my shoulder.
"I'm still wondering if this will all go down like it's supposed to. You can't trust a demon to keep his word. Or Simon. Bet the fact that we demoed his golden dome didn't sit well." He gazed around the crowded club. "Man, just when things were going great. Isn't that always the way?"
"Think positive. We did what we set out to do." I dredged up a smile.
"Yes, we did. Let's go." Rafe took a fresh drink that I hadn't even seen him signal for and tossed it back. He pushed away from the bar. "Clock's ticking." He nodded toward Jerry and Ray. "Maybe I should do this alone. In case things go bad."
"No, no way!" I grabbed his arm and looked back at Jerry and Ray.
"We're coming. I didn't dirty my broadsword to sit out the finale." Jerry grabbed his drink and mine, Ray right behind him as we headed for the stairs.
The music was loud and a recent hit. It was about having it all. Yes, that's what I dreamed of-having everything, these three men who were so important to me, my friends and security with my business. Why couldn't I ever get it all together? Rafe was right. The timing here sucked.
We got to the deserted balcony, which Rafe had had roped off with a Closed sign at the bottom of the stairs and looked around. It didn't take long for the telltale sweet smell to fill the area.
"Ah, what have we here? The gag-me gang and the demon child." Caryon materialized next to a round table, Spyte right beside him. They were both dressed in their disco best, as if they'd been back in the seventies. Cary had on the full bell-bottomed pants and matching vest in white with a red and gold print shirt with full sleeves. He could have been Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Spyte had done a white suit with an open-collared red shirt.
"Look at you two. Did you forget to check a calendar?" I couldn't help taunting them. I hated them so much I wanted to spit, then kick them with my pointed-toe shoes if it wouldn't have damaged the leather.
"It's a dance club. We got into the spirit. And this is an homage to you, Glory. You do love the vintage look." Cary grinned at me with fangs showing.
"Spyte? Not saying much. How are your eyes?" I felt Jerry's hand squeeze my shoulder. I'd told him about the confrontation in the back room. Guess he thought I was pressing my luck now.
"I can see, no thanks to your chubby cherubs." Spyte cackled. "Oh, I love that. Chubby like your chunky self, eh, Glory? Now you'll never be a size six. We've got orders from Lucifer himself. You are on our no-fly list."
"Good to know." I smiled. "Now why don't you two give up and go home. I'm sure there's a torture chamber down there calling your names."
"Gladly. Come here, Rafael." Cary crooked his black claw. "Unless you have a surprise for us, Glory?"
"You can't have him." Jerry stepped in front of Rafe.
"Right. You have to go through us." Ray was suddenly shoulder to shoulder with Jerry.
"Give it up, guys." Rafe put his hands on their shoulders. "You can't fight this."
"How do you know? Have you tried?" Jerry glared at Caryon. "Concentrate. All of you. I've had centuries to build my power of mind control. I think I can make these assholes change their minds."
I gasped. To try to manipulate the minds of demons? Was it possible? I focused on Spyte. He and Cary looked bemused, like maybe this was something new to them.
"Rafe, you too. Focus on them and make them think they are going to head home empty-handed." Jerry was in his element, commanding the troops. I didn't mind. I just prayed it worked. But then I looked around. Ray was stone. And those were the last words Jerry uttered. Because he was now a statue too.