Page 25 of Dark Reckoning
Chapter four
“Westillcan'tfindhim, my Liege,” Terrell, one of my griezels, reported to me.
I frowned because he was supposed to be training my newest griezel, Skylar, who was now sitting at my dining table enjoying what he thought was a steak made from a cow. Not so. We could eat animals, but human flesh tasted better and made us stronger. It was best when it was fresh, but still delicious after the carcass had been dead for a while. That went for both animals and humans. As far as Skylar was concerned, he needed to get used to the flavor. As a newborn griezel, he needed to be at his strongest.
“When was the last time anyone saw Leonel?” I asked. Unlike vampires, I couldn't sense specific griezels I had in my territory just because I was their king. I couldn't track one down by that link, but I did know when I'd lost one because I felt it. That was why I was aware of the griezel Sage had killed—the son of a bitch. I wasn't lying when I said I didn't care about the griezel that he'd killed per se, once I found out who he was by reputation. It was true, that griezel had been a problem, but still, I didn't take kindly to anyone killing one of mine. Leonel not showing up wasn't like him. He’d never let me down before and if something had happened to him, I needed to know. I could still sense him, but the sensation was fragile and that was alarming, to say the least.
“I spoke to Angela and she said he didn't come home last night. She thought he was working for you, as it wouldn't be the first time he had been working for you and didn't call to let her know he wouldn't be home. That's why she didn't panic. But after I had contacted her, she began to worry,” Terrell said.
I didn't like this situation one bit. I'd felt something last night, a loss of a connection, but it also felt dark, corrupted. It was unlike anything I'd felt before. “Search for him. In the meantime, I'll contact Sage Tamir.”
“Do you think he killed another one of us?” Terrell asked, a snarl on his face, because he didn't like the fact that the lion king shifter took such liberties.
I shook my head. “He'd be an absolute moron to pull that stunt twice. No, I'm calling him for the paperwork on the club.”
“Ahhh, yes. Can't wait to dance in it.”
“For now, look for Leonel,” I commanded.
Terrell bowed. “Yes, my Liege.”
He walked off and I pulled my phone out of my pocket just as it rang. “What the fuck?” I asked myself as I looked down at my caller ID. I answered. “I didn't expect to be hearing from you any time soon.”
“And I didn't expect to be calling, but I need to inform you of a serious situation,” said the vampire Archduke of Chicago, Salino Laurent.
“Oh? And that is?”
“A Dark God has breached this plane and from what I've been informed of, he is turning humans and supernals alike into monstrous beings. This is happening all over the world and I have instructed my vampires to go to safehouses and for my strike teams to capture one and kill any others they see,” Salino said.
I knew he had to have been telling the truth because the vampire wouldn't call me for a prank. It wasn't his style, that much, I knew about Salino. What he told me had me confused and to be frank, unnerved.
“What kind of creature? And do you know how this happened?” I asked.
“Sage and Adrian are now members of the Echelon Imperial. That is how they found out,” Salino said.
Well, fuck. The last thing that vampire needed was a freak fledgling that was now a member of the most powerful coven of mages. “That doesn't answer my question,” I pointed out.
“It happened and the beings it creates are savage beasts from what I'm told. It can't pass for human. It has claws, fangs, gray skin, horrid. It is believed if a supernal is turned by one, it will be stronger,” Salino said.
“Will you be able to sense if one of your vampires was turned? I mean, the ones you made yourself. I know as Archduke, you can't sense all vampires,” I said.
“Well, I am no longer the Archduke, I am the Emperor,” Salino said. “And I have already sensed the death of several of my vampires.”
Well, that was unexpected news and concerning... very concerning. If Salino was truly the vampire emperor of his line, with Sage being his... he could take over the entire fucking state. My griezels would not be able to combat him.
“And how did that happen?” I asked.
He sighed. “Vampire affairs are of no concern of yours,” Salino said.
“It is if you plan on making a move on my territory now that you're more powerful,” I retorted.
“Fortunately for you then, I am not concerned about your tawdry little territory and I never have been. Getting back to the reason for my call. I only wanted to alert you to the threat of the Dark God so you can protect your griezels,” Salino said.
He was leaving a lot out, but if he was serious about not trying to take over my territory, I could let it go. “Very well. I am, at the moment, unable to reach one of my griezels. The last time anyone had seen him, it was yesterday afternoon,” I said.
“If he's been attacked by one of these monsters, then he'll be far stronger than one made by turning a human. That is what I've been told,” Salino said.
“I will inform my griezels to be on the lookout. About this Dark God, since your child is now a member of the Echelon Imperial, what is the plan to send the god back to his realm?” I asked.
