Kelly Gay - The Better Part of Darkness

Mynogan’s lips lifted into what was supposed to be a smile, but it was more like a sick grimace. “Is that so?” He tugged his dress shirt cuffs out from under the suit jacket until the proper amount was shown to his satisfaction. “Do you know, Charlene—”

“It’s Charlie.”

His black stare lifted to mine for a second. “Do you know, Charlene, the kind of power the noble class holds?”

Which translated into: how stupid are you to get into a limo with two of them? I bided my time, though, before I had to pull my gun. “Of course I know. You’re the nobility of Charbydon. By right of bloodline, the nobles control the government, economy, and entire structure of your world. I know very well the power you hold.”

“We’re an oligarchy, Detective,” the other one said in a deep, mellow tone that sounded way more sensual than it should. “Ruled by two kings, two different royal bloodlines, and overseen by a council of elders.”

“Carreg is Lord Lieutenant of the House of Astarot,” Mynogan introduced the male next to me. “And I am High Elder of the House of Abaddon.”

“I know the history,” I said, hiding my surprise at finding them to be actual royals—only royalty served in such high positions in their government. The Astarots and Abaddons kept mostly to their own world, only sending delegates and lesser nobles like Otorius to ours. “Since when do the two Houses agree?” I asked, knowing full well the two ruling families in Charbydon weren’t known for working together. They’d managed their world for eons, but were always, according to scholars, at odds. Kind of like Republicans and Democrats.

They exchanged looks, and I detected a brief moment of tension. “We do agree on the continued prosperity of our people,” Carreg said slowly. “Cultivating a better relationship with your world will help us in that endeavor.”

I started to ask him what he meant, but Mynogan interrupted.

“But do you know the power inside us? The abilities we have, Charlene?”

My nostrils flared. Oh, this guy was pushing it. “The name is Charlie, and unless you want me to start calling you Mynie then I’d suggest you use it.”

Carreg covered his laugh with a soft cough as Mynogan leaned forward and pierced me with the blackest, most brutal stare. A streak of fear shot through my system, but his refusal to use my official title or my preferred name pissed me off. Eye for an eye, buddy.

Pink tinged his perfect olive skin. “I could end your insignificant little life with a thought, Detective.” His voice dripped with menace and disgust. “You possess the life span of an insect and hold just as much power. You have no idea the influence we wield.”

“Yeah, like walking all over those who are weaker and poorer? You’re no better than a schoolyard bully. Some power. You have no intention of bringing the races together, do you?”

Instantly, the limo filled with Mynogan’s rage. The whites of his eyes bled to blackness. An oppressive hum of strength and energy engulfed me in the smut of his being and past deeds.

Carreg cleared his throat gently, the sound diffusing some of Mynogan’s anger. “You have more courage than I thought, Detective.” He cocked his head. “Or is it stupidity?”

“Stupidity,” I answered, surprising him. “Of the purest kind. Which makes me unpredictable, wouldn’t you say?”

“You mock something you know nothing of,” Mynogan said. “I should take your blood right now.”

I frowned at the odd statement. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Was this the Abaddon way of threatening one’s life? Sounded suspiciously vampiric to me, which, as far as I knew, was nothing but pure myth.

A thin grin twisted Mynogan’s face, and he lifted a severe white eyebrow. “For all your knowledge, you know very little of my kind.”

“Then, by all means, enlighten me.” We stopped at another light. From our location, I guessed we were headed back to CPP headquarters, which meant I had to get out of the car soon.

“Better yet,” Mynogan said, leaning so close that I was forced to lean back into the seat. “Why don’t I just start by picking the flesh from your bones?”

One piece for me. One piece for you.

The breath whooshed from me, and my heart skidded to a painful stop. I pressed myself against the door, flailing for my gun. Air filled my lungs as my fingers closed around the handle. I drew it on him, hand shaking as the whine of the charging weapon filled the silence. “Get away from me.” He sat back, happy to have completely unwound me. “You too.” I waved the gun at Carreg. “Get over there, next to him.”

My gaze flicked to the street. We had stopped at a traffic light, but it was a bad time to bail. The bodyguards could easily follow on foot. “Who are you? How the hell do you know me?”

Mynogan shrugged. “I can be your worst nightmare, Charlene, or I can show you the path to immense power.”

I tightened my hold on Bryn’s bag and opened the door as the limo started through the intersection. “I’d rather suck face with an imp.” And with that, I ducked out of the limo before it cleared the intersection.

Bad plan, Charlie, I thought as I went down hard, tripping in the damn heels and rolling four times, bruising and scraping every part of my body and every bone that poked out and hit the pavement. Once my momentum slowed, I pushed to my feet to the squeal of brakes, horns honking, and the astonished look of the driver behind the limo, and then darted to the sidewalk and around a corner. Adrenaline made me move fast and helped ease the pain, but as soon as I realized no one followed, my steps slowed and my body began to throb and sting from the road burn.

My cell phone rang from inside the bag. I stopped on the sidewalk, fished it out, and flipped it open with one hand.

“Charlie, where the hell are you?”

“I’m fine, Hank.” I just rolled out of a moving car in high heels. “How are you?” The farther I walked, the more my left ankle hurt. Sharp lines of pain zinged up my leg with every step. I reached down and took off the black pumps, proceeding barefoot.

“Please tell me you’re laying low.”

“Um …”

I held the phone away from my ear as Hank yelled. “Damn it! I knew it! I knew you couldn’t stay out of trouble for one day. One day, Charlie!” He let out a loud, disappointed huff, making me roll my eyes. “Where are you right now?”

I glanced at the stop sign as I crossed the street. “I’m at the corner of Walton and Forsyth.”

“Stay there. I don’t care what the chief says, I’m picking you up. Go to the Subshop Deli at Broad Street. I’ll meet you there. Someone ransacked your house and broke into the school early this morning.”

At the mention of school, I froze, nearly causing a collision with the person walking behind me. “Oh, God, Emma went to school this morning.” I started running, the bag slapping against my hip and my ankle forgotten in the sudden panic.

“Calm down. It was before any students got there. Classes have been canceled. Em’s at Bryn’s and Will is on his way to get her. Oh, and Bryn made me go by and pick up Spooky. Who was, oddly enough, spooked by the break-in.” Hank chuckled at himself.

The damn cat could take care of herself. My thoughts were on Em. “Why the hell didn’t anyone tell me?!” I shouted into the phone.

“Look at your phone, smart-ass. We’ve been calling all morning.”

The sound of the rally must’ve drowned out the ring tone. And if it had rung in the limo, I had been too distracted to even notice.

“Fine, just hurry,” I said, approaching the deli.