Page 40 of Aleko
“Smells like diesel. Gross.” Sebastian made a face and Alex wasn’t far behind him. Diesel fumes lingered forever and gave him a headache. “We should be able to track them for a little way. Do you want to try on foot or get the car?”
“Car, I guess,” said Alex with a shrug. “I’ll go—”
Both their phones pinged at the same time.
“Pellos,” said Sebastian getting to his phone first. “Says call him. News about warlocks.”
Alex was already dialing.
“Pellos?” he demanded sharply as the call picked up.
“Hey,” said Pellos laconically and Alex relaxed. Nothing said,no need to worry, likehey.
“News on the warlocks? I thought you were running some location spells from home?”
“I was and then I stopped doing that,” said Pellos. “I’m texting you the address for a hotel. You and Bastian should come along. No need to rush, but don’t take too long.”
“OK,” said Alex. “Be there in a few.”
The line went dead and Alex rolled his eyes. “He’s doing the thing.”
“The less words more action thing?” asked Sebastian, grinning. “It is a Pellos speciality. I guess the Russians will have to wait?”
“I guess so,” said Alex, throwing up his hands in frustration. “I feel like I can’t get anything done. I keep getting derailed.”
“Well, as long as we’re not ambushed by another dead Egyptian chick, then we’ll probably get around to things eventually.”
Alex snorted. “Don’t jinx us.”
The hotel was a narrow old building, far away from the portand had only a view of other buildings. Grimy white plaster and a red tile roof with graffiti on the front and a torn awning gave it a run-down appearance.
Pellos was parked on the street, waiting for them. He was wearing a light weight jacket, but it still seemed incongruously warm for the weather. As Pellos moved, Alex realized that it was covering Kevlar and weapons.
“Are the warlocks here?” asked Alex, lifting his nose to scent the breeze.
“No,” said Pellos, shaking his head. “Wherever they are, they must be using some sort of blocking spell. The spell you used now gives multiple results. I’ve been checking all the locations, just in case, but I think it’s taking me to all the places they have been, not where they’re going to be.”
“Alex,” said Sebastian, tugging at his arm, his voice sharp.
“Keep it down, Bastian,” said Pellos. “There isn’t anything to be done.”
“Nothing to be done?” Alex repeated, glancing at Sebastian, whose nose was looking distinctly furred. But as Alex turned his head, he got the bright, glaring scent of blood and it was blood that he recognized. “The Russians,” said Alex.
“What’s left of them,” said Pellos. “Yeah.”
“What does that mean?” asked Sebastian, humanizing his face.
“Come and see,” said Pellos, jerking his head. They followed Pellos down a narrow alley between buildings.
“I would have expected more from the Russians,” muttered Sebastian. “This place is crap.”
“It’s usually temporary,” said Pellos. “Most people rent it by the hour. I passed some cash to the desk clerk who said that individuals matching the description of your warlocks had been here two nights ago to meet some Russians. He then volunteered that the Russians had returned and were in the same room. Ithought I’d take a look.”
They reached the back of the motel, and Pellos clambered up on the dumpster. With a jump, he snagged the bottom of the second-floor balcony and pulled himself up moments later. Sebastian took a running leap and pulled himself over the edge of the railing. Alex saw Pellos shake his head. He always felt bad that Pellos had to work twice as hard as they did, but there was nothing he could do about it. He followed Sebastian, and soon they were all standing on the balcony. It was only when Sebastian moved, his foot sending a piece of glass slithering over the edge to break in the alley below, that Alex realized the sliding door wasn’t open—it had been shattered.
Sebastian edged into the room and Alex saw his lip lift in a silent snarl. Alex peered in. Inside the three Russians, identifiable by their smell and not much else, had been ripped to pieces. Limbs and chunks of flesh were scattered on the floor and blood dripped from the walls.
“It smells like the same ones who attacked Lia,” said Alex, looking around. “I have to admit, other than the smell it’s hard to tell.”
