Page 41 of Nightmares and Numerology

“Yes. If it’s what I think it is, he’s probably doomed. That level of exposure to a manananggal is usually fatal.”

“A manawhat?” Roland repeated, giving Taliyah wide eyes.

“Who’s that?” Anthony asked.

“The Chief and one of her informed deputies. She’s trying to track down whatever jumped me.” I paused. “But I also second the question. What’s a manawhat?”

“A manananggal,” Anthony repeated, as if everyone in the room was stupid. “It’s a very distant offshoot of the vampire line, likely crossbred with local fauna or a demon species in the Philippines. It appears to be a beautiful woman when she approaches her victim but reveals her true colors after dark. Her torso can separate from her legs, and the winged upper half will fly around looking for prey. They mainly target pregnant women, but some prefer killing men. They tend to kill their victims over a span of weeks or months.”

“And they drink blood?” I asked.

“No, they don’t drink blood, exactly. It’s the essence they need, not the liquid. A side effect of their saliva is the destruction of blood cells and the degradation of marrow over time. They feed on life essence through magically significant places: the womb for women, usually the gut or the sexual bits on men. You woke up with your dick intact, right?”

I paled. Nightmares and numerology. Had I come that close to singing soprano? I’d have to kill the vampire just to settle the score. You didn’t chop off an incubus’ favorite appendage and get away with it. It was tantamount to taking off part of a human’s jaw.

“I did, thankfully. There was a scar on my stomach, though. This vampire of yours took almost everything I had.”

Anthony chuckled. The bastard. “If you hadn’t glutted yourself in the past few years, she would have killed you. Make no mistake about that. If this is who I think it is, she would hate someone like you, especially. She probably thought she’d taken enough from you to guarantee your death in the near future.”

“Who is she?” Taliyah asked, inserting herself into the conversation before I could get another word in.

“Andreais the human translation of the name,” Anthony answered. “It’s Andanarine to those in the know. She’s an incredibly deadly assassin, but usually works more quietly than this. She must have had a reason to leave you alive, Stedham.”

“She wanted me to attack Lydia, I’m pretty sure.”

“Attack her?” Anthony repeated.

“Feed on her,” I clarified. “And even if my feeding didn’t kill Lydia, she’d never trust me again, leaving her vulnerable to whatever Andrea had planned for her,” I said, following the line of logic to its chilling conclusion. “If I’d fed on Lydia without her permission, she’d hate me for it, making her susceptible to someone she might let her guard down around.”

“And then she’d be a dead woman,” Anthony said. “Do you see my problem now? Please tell me you at least suspect her human identity.”

If what he was saying was right, a lot of things made sense. Andrea’s ability to be in two places at once. My main suspect had been crossed off the list due to Fifi’s assertion that she was in the bathroom because she’d seen Andrea’s legs. Except it hadonlybeen her legs in the stall. The rest of Andrea had crept out to attack me in the parking lot. Another, more terrifying thought struck me.

“You’re right about the human translation of the name. She’s going by Andrea Reyes and she used to be a Filipino model. Allegedly. I don’t know how much of the backstory they give their operatives is actually true, though. Now she’s running for office in Haven Hollow. I don’t think Lydia is the only goal here.”

“What do you mean?” Anthony asked.

Praying I was wrong, I sucked in a deep breath. “I think the Masked Lords aren’t content to skulk in and out, attacking us individually. I think they’re putting a woman on the inside. Do you know how much harder life could be for us if the bureaucracy suddenly turned hostile to our existence here?”

Anthony cursed. My sentiments exactly.

“Where’s the hospital? I need to secure Lydia before this gets out of hand.”

“I’m coming with you,” I insisted.

“Fine. Give me the address.”

I did. He hung up, and I wordlessly strode from the door.

“Where are you going?” Taliyah asked.

“To save Lydia. You can come if you want.”

“If I want?” she almost yelled at me. “It’s my job to keep Lydia safe, Angelo.”

I nodded. “Then let’s get in your cruiser and turn on the lights and sirens, Chief Morgan, because we’re going to needthem.”

Chapter Eighteen

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