Page 53 of From the Shadows
“If it helps, we still can’t see your death, so that counts for something.”
Of course they couldn’t. “Whee. Oh, joy.”
“Stop that!” she snapped. “You and your group are important to the world. You help to keep those on the other side of the veil where they belong.”
Yeah, just what he wanted to do for the rest of his unending life.
“You do know our wards would have kept the vampires at bay, right? You and Martin are able to pass through them, but no one with ill intent can.”
“Trust me, you weren’t my primary concern.”
Because the Fates were wicked strong. Especially when they combined their powers. Diego had witnessed them performing something akin to a miracle when they held a literal behemoth at bay to protect a child from being claimed as its intended meal. It took Diego and his group, plus another dozen hunters they’d called in to take the damn thing down, and they still lost three of their own. But the Fates never wavered, keeping a mystical shield around the little girl. They told Diego to do what he had to, and that they’d keep the child safe.
And they did. How, he didn’t know, and there were some things he knew he was better off not asking.
“Well, I never.”
“You liar. You have, and if you enjoyed it, you did it several times. My concern was your human patrons. If the vampires knew where we were going, they could have stalked and killed your clients, and that wouldn’t do your reputation any good.”
“Sweetie, our clients were perfectly safe. Trust us on this one. It’syou we’re worried about. Whatever this flux is around you, we can’t penetrate it. We’ll keep trying, though. We think there’s something important there. Deeply hidden. Dark.”
“His name is Cristobal,” Diego informed her. “He’s the bastard who turned me, and now he’s back.”
“So the fiend has a name,” she wheezed.
“Did… did you just call him a fiend? How seventeenth century.”
“You would know,” she shot back. “And he is a fiend. Turning humans without regard to their lives is an abomination.”
Ranna had said the same thing. Maybe they were on to something. He’d have to consider that at some point.
“Anyway, what we were coming to talk to you about is?—”
“We’re already trying to locate them. If we get anything, we’ll call you right away. We’re hopeful we can prevent more deaths.”
“I don’t understand why he’s doing this. I mean, yeah, he’s crazy and all, but even for him, it’s way out there.”
“Not as much as you might think,” Charla replied. “This Cristobal is also tied up in your future, but in ways we can’t determine. He could well hold the key to whatever is happening or about to happen.”
“I wish you could pin him down.”
“We do too. You know our powers don’t work like that, though.”
Actually, he didn’t. He’d seen the Fates pull off some incredible things, but then be stymied by something simple.
“I’d appreciate it if you could keep me updated. Of course, I’ll pay you for your assistance.”
She clucked her tongue. “You’re a guardian of humanity, and as such, you get our help for free.” A voice sounded from the background, which made Charla snicker. “Though Annabelle said if you wanted to come serve us tea in your briefs, we would be happy to accept.”
“My briefs?” Diego chuckled. “Not naked?”
Charla gasped. “Sir, we are old ladies. Are youtryingto give us heart attacks?”
From the corner of his eye, Diego could see Martin struggling to control himself. He had tears streaming down his contorted face,and he was near hyperventilating. Charla and the others were a riot, and even Diego had to work to maintain a serious facade around them. He was having a hard time remembering how he acted before Shay showed up and proved to Diego he wasn’t alone. He had a team. No, he had friends who were willing to stand by his side. A family of his very own.
“Thank you for everything, Charla. You’ve all been amazing, and I can’t imagine my life without you all in it.”
She snickered. “You forget, sweetheart. We’re the Fates. Even if you didn’t say how you felt, we always knew. Now, I have a Shiatsu in thirty minutes, so I have to get off the phone.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “If you’d rather come here and serve tea in your shorts to just me, we can work with that.”
