Dream Chaser (Dark-Hunter #13) - Page 4
Xypher jerked her toward Jesse. "Both of you stay back."
Simone wasn't about to argue given the size of the creature headed toward them and the fact that his skin appeared to be boiling and smoking.
He was dressed in a flowing black cape that obscured everything but those creepy red eyes. He went for Xypher so fast, she could barely see it.
The two of them tore into each other.
Xypher flipped the demon, who rolled and shot a blast of fire at him. He deflected the fire, then flung his hand out as if to return it to Smokey the Demon.
It didn't work.
The demon laughed. "Poor Xypher. Having trouble?"
"At kicking your ass, Kaiaphas? Never."
The cloak vanished. In the darkness, the demon's boiling skin articulated into something that looked like leather. His face mutated into that of a gargoyle while the cotton of his clothes tinned into sleek black armor that clung close to the muscular contours of his body. Still those eyes glowed like bright embers from a fire.
Kaiaphas pulled out a short sword and twirled it around his body before he lunged at Xypher who sidestepped the blade. A silver vambrace appeared on the arm that wasn't wearing the bracelet. Xypher used it to twist the blade out of the demon's hand. But before he could capture it, Kaiaphas caught it in his left hand and stabbed at him again.
Spinning around, Xypher shoved the demon. Kaiaphas staggered, then caught himself.
Kaiaphas lauglied. "You've improved."
"Yeah, little boys grow up eventually." Xypher lacked at him, but Kaiaphas caught his leg and snatched it up.
Xypher turned a midair somersault to land on his feet. He ran at the demon and caught him about the waist. They fell back, still fighting.
Simone wanted to run, but remembered that so long as she wore the bracelet she couldn't go far without killing them both. "Find a weapon," she whispered loudly to Jesse as she started looking around for a tree limb or something she could use to help Xypher beat back the demon.
Suddenly Jesse cursed.
Simone turned to look at the combatants to see what had caused Jesse's reaction. Faster than she could blink. Kaiaphas twirled the sword in his hand and stabbed Xypher in the stomach so deep, the point of it came out his back.
Xypher gasped as blood pooled around the sword hilt and flowed over Kaiaphas' hand.
The demon laughed. "Apparently your skills didn't improve enough, eh?" He head-butted Xypher. The motion of it caused Xypher to stagger back. As he did so, the sword was jerked out of his body.
He fell to one knee on the ground while Kaiaphas lifted his sword for the coup de grace.
Simone ground her teeth as she saw her mother and younger brother dying in her mind all over again. An unfounded rage consumed her so that she could no longer think rationally.
In that moment, the demon became the focus of twenty years of hopeless frustration with a justice system that had failed her and a rage so bitter, she could taste it.
Her only thought to save Xypher, Simone grabbed the pepper spray from her coat pocket and ran at the demon. Shoving him back with all her strength, she held her breath and doused him with the spray.
Kaiaphas coughed and spat. His eyes flashing, he stalled for her.
Simons braced herself for his attack, intending to fight back with her bare hands. But before he reached her, something knocked him away.
A flash of blond hair confirmed it was Julian with a sword in his hand. He put himself between them and forced the demon away from her and Jesse.
While he engaged the demon, she ran to Xypher, who lay on the ground coveted in blood. His face was pale as he visibly shook. Blood poured over his hands without slowing.
"Shh," Simone said, pulling his hand away so that she could see the jagged wound. "I've got you, Xypher. Don't worry." She glanced over her shoulder. "Jesse, pop the trunk and bring me my medical bag."
Jesse ran to the car while she examined the wound in Xypher's stomach. It looked gruesome. And the instant she touched it, he cursed. His nostrils flared and she was sure he'd hit her.
Fortunately for her, he passed out before he could make good on that unspoken threat.
She glanced up to see Julian engaged in an impressive swordfight. They moved so fast, all she could see was the sparks that flared whenever their blades met. The sound of metal on metal was deafening and drowned everything but their grunts and insults.
Then in one fluid motion, Julian dodged the demon and shoved him sideways before he stabbed him in the ribs.
Staggering back, the demon hissed, showing a full set of jagged teeth before he dissolved into the darkness. All that was left behind was die stencil of sulfur and something that reminded her of treacle.
Julian cocked his head as if trying to sense something. He turned in her direction at the same time Jesse brought the bag to her. She focused on stanching Xypher's blood. It wasn't easy, especially since she was starting to get light-headed herself.
"You okay?" Jesse asked.
"I'm not really sure."
Julian knelt beside her. "We need to get him out of the public eye, if you take my meaning."
She certainly did. They'd been lucky no car had driven by during their fight … or worse, that a neighbor's dog hadn't needed walking. "I couldn't agree more."
A heartbeat later, they were inside Julian's house again, in an upstairs bedroom that was decorated in greens and cream and furnished with nice Victorian antiques.
She and Julian stood to the side of the queen-size bed while Xypher lay on top of it.
Jesse popped in a second later and wrinkled his nose. "That is one grody wound. It gotta hurt."
Julian grimaced as he saw the blood pouring out of Xypher's side.
Without a word, she lipped open Xypher's shirt. She sucked her breath in and remembered one of the advantages to her job. Decedents didn't bleed like this on the examination table. She hadn't tended a living patient since she'd been an intern in college.
Julian looked over her shoulder. "How's he doing?"
"That . . . thing, whatever it was, made a mess of him. The sword went all the way through his body."
Julian grimaced. "Yeah, wounds like that seriously hurt. Had a few myself back in the day."
She decided to let that remark pass without comment while she checked the blood flow as best she could. "I really need to take him to a hospital, but having worked in the ER for four years, I know the questions they'll ask that we can't answer."
"Hang on, I'll take you to one." She opened her mouth to protest.
Julian held his hand up to silence her before she could even start. "It's a safe place, called Sanctuary. The hospital ward was set up just for situations like this. It's a place where those who aren't quite human can go to for help. It'll have everything you need, and there won't be any questions about where either one of you came from."
That made her feel much better. "Good. 'Cause unless he starts healing by himself immediately, he needs surgery . . . quickly. Or he will die."
Death was a possibility she'd like to avoid.
Julian looked down at the blood-soaked bed and winced. "I should have taken you there before I messed up the comforter. It's what I get for trying to pass as a human all the time. Sometimes I forget my own powers."
The next thing she knew, they were in what appeared to be a doctor's office. The entire interior was made of steel, except for the white-tiled floors and white walls that were lined with glass-covered shelves of medicine. There was also a padded steel examining bed next to three trays covered with surgical and examination tools. As promised, it held everything needed to tend to Xypher.
Julian stood beside her, holding Xypher in his arms. No small feat since the man was a couple of inches taller than him.
"I'm so disoriented," Simone breathed as a wave of dizziness hit her. She put her arm out against the case closest to her to get her bearings.
Ignoring her, Julian bellowed, "Carson?"
A door on her left opened to reveal a tall. Native American man who glared at them. His long black hair was pulled back into a severe ponytail and his features were sharp, reminding her of a bird of prey. "Don't yell. I have extremely sensitive hearing."
"Sorry," Julian said quickly. "But we have a situation. Carson, meet Simone. Simone, meet Carson. He's a surgeon."
"Oh, thank God," she said, grate fill there was another doctor here. "I only operate on the dead."
Carson didn't comment on that. Instead, his dark gaze went to Xypher. "And the guy bleeding would be . . . ?"
"A Dream-Hunter."
Carson's jaw dropped at Julian's answer, "They bleed on the human plane?"
"Apparently so and rather badly."
Carson gave a curt nod before he crossed the room to open a door behind them. "Bring him in here and put him on the table."
Julian didn't hesitate to obey.
Simone followed Julian into a bare operating room. Like the outer room, it was clean and sterile with steel furniture and large lamps over the surgical table. It looked like any operating room she'd ever seen and she was impressed with the quality of the state-of-the-art tools and monitors. In fact, she knew several hospitals that would kill to be this up-to-date.
While Julian placed Xypher on the table, she headed to the small room on her right where a prep sink waited so that she could scrub down.
Carson entered right behind her. "You look like you know what you're doing."
"I'm an ME and I thought you might need an assistant for surgery." She dried her hands on one of the green towels that were stacked on a table beside the sink.
He inclined his head before he began scrubbing his hands, too. "Good woman. My usual assistant is off today."
Julian came to the doorway. His clothes were covered in blood. "If neither of you needs me, I'm heading back to my house to do damage control on the bed . . . and pray none of my neighbors saw the major battle we had in the street with our friendly neighborhood demon."
Carson snorted. "Please, no more getting caught on videotape and God save us from Webcams. I swear I hate this modem age."
Simone ignored his caustic comment as she met Julian's gaze. "Good luck and thank you for all your help."
Julian smiled at her, then vanished while Carson wheeled a table of instruments back toward the other room.
"Don't we need a mask and scrubs?" Simone asked him.
He shook his head. "I wash my hands out of habit. Basically your friend here should be immune to the typical genus that can kill a human. What will infect him would be things we couldn't protect against anyway."
"Oh." Simone moved to the opposite side of the table and helped to remove her temporary pressure bandage from Xypher's side. She was a bit surprised that Carson didn't remove Xypher's jeans, but he seemed content to leave him partially dressed.
Since she'd never operated on anyone, never mind someone who wasn't exactly human, she kept her backseat surgeon under wraps. Obviously the man knew what he was doing or Julian wouldn't have brought them here. Not to mention, no one would have paid for all this equipment unless they knew how to use it.
Right?
She hoped so. Stepping back, she watched as Carson opened him up and started working on the wound. She cringed at the damage done. His arteries and tissue were a nightmare.
Poor man … or whatever he was.
A twinge of guilt went through her as she considered the way he'd put himself between the demon and her. He'd taken the brunt of the fight-just like he'd done in the alley so that she wouldn't be harmed.
In spite of all his gruff bluster, he had heart and at least a basic code of decency. That realization softened her toward him. He actually wasn't that bad. And as she stared at him, a part of her was warmed by his consideration.
Carson reached for a clamp on the stainless steel tray. "What was he cut with?"
"A short sword."
He shook his head. "It looks more like a chain saw got him. Look at the damage here." He held the skin back so that she could get a full view.
Simone reached for another clamp to hand him since Xypher was bleeding so badly. Carson was right. It was awful. "I don't know if this helps or matters, but the man wielding the sword was some kind of demon."
"Do you know from what pantheon?"
This had to be the most screwed-up conversation she'd ever had. There weren't many people you could tell about a demon appealing in the street and then attacking you who would accept it with such a simple question. It should be interrupted with laughter.
And lots of alcohol.
"Uh, no. But Xypher called him Kaiaphas."
Carson cursed.
Simone looked up at the unexpected anger the name caused. "You know him?"
"Part Greek, part Sumerian, all pissed off. It's a wonder any of you survived. But the real question is, why did he attack you guys? It's not his normal style."
"What do you mean?"
"Kaiaphas is a doleodai. A bound demon. He can't act on his own, he has to be commanded by someone."
That was an interesting tidbit. Simone wanted to laugh at the absurdity of everything that had happened to her since lunch. "How on earth did I get caught up in this? All I wanted to do was check out a simple crime scene and go home. No … I take that back. All I wanted was to have a ham and cheese sandwich with an old friend. Now I've been dragged into the middle of some Greek-god conflict and it's not even, dinnertime yet. I can't wait to see what happens next."
Carson smiled, "I've had those days." "Sure you have."
"No, really. You should follow me around and document all the weirdness I get dragged into."
"Such as?"
He took the clamp from her hand. "Well, there was the time Marvin, our former mascot monkey, ran from his owner. Wren-he's a tiger that can take human form-and went upstairs to sleep with the dragon. Turns out our resident dragon is allergic to monkeys-who knew or could imagine that? Max broke out with a rash in areas I still cringe over, and if you mention the word 'monkey' to him to this day, he shoots fire at you. Then there was the time when . . . oh, I better not tell that. If Dev catches wind of it, he'll rip my heart out and eat it."
Simone stepped back at everything he was telling her. No … it couldn't be.
Could it?
"You have lycanthropes here?"
Pausing, he glanced up at her. "Aren't you a Squire?"
"No."
He sucked his breath in sharply and twisted his face up into a mask of aggravation. Growling, he reached for sutures. "You didn't know about any of what I just said until it came pouring out of my mouth, did you?"
"Nope."
He cursed again. "I can't believe I just did that. I assumed since you knew about Xypher and the demon, and Julian manifested you in here, that you knew everything about our world."
No, but she was getting a quick introduction that was becoming scarier by the minute. In all her conversations with Tate, he'd never once mentioned lycanthropes.
"Appears I do now," she said, trying to make Carson feel better about his slipup, "Daily Inquisitor, here I come . . . better yet, the local nut farm."
"Yeah, and I just broke nine hundred rules. What say we keep all of this between us?"
"Believe me, baby, I ain't talking. I value what little sanity1 have left, and the last thing I want is to be in the middle of what I'm in the middle of. Point me to the exit and Alice is out of the rabbit hole, back on earth, and happy to develop Alzheimer's over this entire incident. In fact, I'm not even sure I'm here. I'm thinking a Daimon konked me on the head and this is all one big hallucination brought on by severe blood loss."
"You ramble like that a lot?"
"Yes. I find it grounds me."
He laughed as he worked on Xypher.
Simone paused as she realized something. "We didn't give him anything to keep him knocked out. Shouldn't we do that?"
"Nah. It wouldn't do any good. Dream-Hunters are immune to those lands of drugs."
"Really?"
He nodded, leaning closer for a better look at what he was doing. "They're gods. Normal human medicine doesn't work on them."
"Then why are we operating?"
"Because he's bleeding and unconscious . . . I've never seen a Dream-Hunter bleed before, especially not like this. But I figure if he bleeds, he could bleed out and die."
On one hand that made sense, but on another . . . "Gods can't die, right?"
"Sure they can. It just takes a lot and usually an immortal weapon of some land, which I'm going to lay odds was in the hands of Kaiaphas when he attacked." He glanced up at her with a pointed stare. "Demons don't usually attack a god or anyone else unless they think they're going to kill them. It tends to piss off the target who then looks up ways to torture and kill the demon. Then it just gets messy as they go at each other. As a rule, the demon usually loses, especially when it's a god who's been angered, so demons tend to be a bit more circumspect than the usual predator. When they strike it's usually quick and fatal."
Simone let out a tiled breath at the simple truth of that statement. She looked down at Xypher as he lay in a deceptively peaceful repose. His body was honed and lethal A perfect specimen of male beauty.
Asleep like this, he looked like an angel, but then given his acerbic personality she could just imagine the list of people who might want him dead.
Including herself.
But to the point of calling out a demon to destroy him? That was harsh.
Poor Xypher.
She didn't speak any more while Carson cleaned, cauterized, and then stitched Xypher closed. By the time they were finished, Xypher was still unconscious, but sweating profusely. She put her hand to his whiskered cheek that was firm and, just as she suspected, feverish.
Feeling for him, she went to the sink to wash up and then wet a cloth with cold water. Hope-fully this would help. She took the cloth to him and laid it across his brow and was struck again by his good looks. He really was an incredibly handsome man. But since he was a god, that was probably to be expected.
All she really knew about him was that he was a jerk . . . and that he'd twice saved her life.
She looked up at Carson who was in the washroom as she remembered the term Xypher had used to describe himself. "What exactly are Skotos?"
Carson dried his hands on a small hand towel before he walked back over to her. "Where did you hear that term?"
She held her hand out to Xypher. "He told me that's what he was."
Carson nodded. "In ancient Greece, they had sleep gods. Centuries ago, one of them thought it would be funny to play in the dreams of Zeus The big guy didn't have a sense of humor about it so he ordered everyone possessing even a drop of their blood to either be killed or stripped of all emotions."
She remembered Julian pointing out that he was surprised that Xypher still had his emotions. "That was harsh."
"Yeah, well, Zeus isn't exactly known for his compassion." There was a note in his voice that said he had his own axe to grind with the god long.
Carson indicated Xypher with a tilt of his head. "After Zeus's curse, the Oneroi, or dream gods, were relegated to monitoring human sleep, and it was quickly discovered that while they were in a dream state, Zeus's ban didn't work. They could feel again. Terrified of being punished, the dream gods started policing themselves and making sure that they kept a check on their brethren, Even so, some of them started craving to emotions to the extent that they lost control of their appetite for it. Before long, they became dangerous to themselves and others."
"Like an addiction …"
"Exactly." He set the towel aside. "The dream gods who lose control and begin craving emotions are called Skoti or Skotos in the singular."
Personally, she liked the idea of it being toe jam better, But at least now she understood what he really was. "Xypher also said he was dead."
"Well, the theory goes that if the Skoti become too addicted, they'll be executed and sent to Tartarus for eternal punishment."
So that explained it. He'd been killed and then brought back. She wondered how that would be possible. Had he made a deal or something else?
It was scary to even contemplate.
Simone frowned as she noticed writing in a foreign script running down the length of Xypher's arm. Curious, she took the arm in her hands, amazed by the steely feel of his skin, as she studied the flowing letters. "Can you read this?"
Carson came to stand beside her. "No, sorry. It looks like Greek and I only know French, Cajun, English, some Creole, and gibberish,"
She ran her hand over the dark red lettering, trying not to think about how strong the arm felt under her fingers. Why would he have it put here and what did it mean?
Releasing his arm, she looked Up at Carson. "Do you know anything about Xypher himself?"
"No. Never saw or heard of him until you guys brought him here. There are several thousand Dream-Hunters and most of them shy away from the human plane, preferring to hide out in dreams." Carson paused. "You want to leave him here so you can go home?"
She looked down at her bracelet. "I wish I could, but I can't. Aphrodite said that so long as we both wear these"-she held it up to his view- "we're bound together. If we get too far apart we die."
"That sucks."
"Tell me about it."
He indicated the door behind him. "I have a more comfortable room for the two of you then. It'll give you a comfortable place to sit while he sleeps."
Simone cringed at the very thought of flashing out again. "Please don't disintegrate me. I'm feeling nauseated from the back and forthing, and am getting a whole new respect for Kirk and Spock."
He laughed. "I understand." He clicked the brake off the gurney with the toe of his boot. "I'll wheel him over."
"A thousand blessings to you."
He paused to call for someone named Dev before he led her into an adjacent room that was furnished with antiques. The best of which was a long-size bed that had a bright red velvet spread. There were heavy drapes that made it very dark and yet strangely homey.
"Nice place," she said, running her hand over the top of a beautiful dies sing table.
"Only the best for Mama."
"Mama?"
"Nicolette Peltier. She owns the place and everyone here calls her 'Mama.' "
Simone smiled, "That's so sweet. She must be really caring."
"She can be. She can also be a bear at times."
"Uh, yeah."
A handsome man in his mid-twenties with long curly blond hair pushed open the door. "Whatcha need. Doc?"
Carson indicated Xypher. "Help moving him. I don't want to jostle his side."
A stern frown creased Dev's brow as he saw Xypher on the gurney. "Who is he?"
"Dream-Hunter."
Dev looked stunned. "They bleed?"
"Looks like."
"Dang," Dev said under Hid breath before he helped Carson to lift Xypher from the gurney onto the bed. Once Xypher was situated, Dev glanced at her, then wheeled the gurney away without another word.
Simone wasn't sure what to make of him. "He's standoffish, isn't he?"
"Most of us are. Our survival hinges on secrecy." "Which I have breached." He nodded.
Simone wanted to let him know that she would never do anything to hurt them. Besides, who would believe her if she said there was a family of lyncanthropes calling New Orleans home? "Your secret really is safe with me, Carson. Believe me, keeping things to myself is a full-time occupation of mine. If the police department can trust me, so can you."
"I know. Otherwise we'd just kill you and devour your body parts."
She wasn't sure if he was kidding or not, but something about him said he was dead serious.
He indicated the door behind him with his thumb. "If you need anything, I'll be outside at my desk. Just make yourself at home." He indicated a door to her left with a jerk of his chin. "The bathroom is in here."
"Thanks."
He closed the door.
Simone let out a long bream as exhaustion hit her. She was alone in a strange home-something she wasn't used to. "Where are you, Jesse? I don't like being alone." Their years of friendship had made solitude a rare thing. She was so used to him that when he was gone, she felt it like a physical ache.
Feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed, she moved to the bed to cover Xypher with the spread. He didn't look quite so fierce now, but there was still an aura to him that said he was lethal. She dropped her gaze to his hands and the scars that marred his knuckles. They were old and healed over, vet she could tell that they weren't caused by a single injury. They'd been opened up and scared by many fights . . .
Yeah, there were times when her job told her way too much about a person. Not to mention there were numerous other scars marring his chest and arms. Strangely enough, the only scar on his face was a faint one at his right temple.
"Who are you, Xypher?"
"Sim?"
She smiled at the sound of Jesse's voice. He reappeared right beside her. "Where have you been?"
"You guys left me," he said defensively. "Do you know how hard it is to trace a human through the ectoplasmic plane? No, you don't. And trust me, you don't want to learn. I'm just glad I found you this time and not the weird woman feeding Jell-O to her schnauzer."
Now, there was an image . . . "Ooookay. Sorry about that."
"You should be!" He narrowed his eyes on Xypher. "He doesn't look good. Is he going to live?"
"I think so."
"I would say damn shame except that until we find a way to free you, you'd die, too."
"Glad you remembered that small fact." She frowned as she looked at him and remembered his earlier tirade. "Ectoplasmic plane? What the devil is that?"
"It's jargon from those of us who are corporeally challenged. It's the great beyond where we bounce into each other like floundering atoms. It's really land of gross-which is why I hang out with you. But only because you're less gross than they are."
Simone gaped at him and his criticism. "I beg your pardon. I'm not gross."
"Grody to the max. Gag me with a spoon. I've seen you in the mornings. You're not exactly well coiffed."
She rolled her eyes at the old eighties expressions. "I really hate you."
"Sure you do." He grinned like the Cheshire cat. "It explains why you were so worried about me."
He was way too astute at times. Simone huffed playfully at him before she turned back to Xypher.
It was a pity she knew so little about him and it made her wonder about his past. What had made him fight all the battles that had left such horrific scars on an otherwise beautiful body? "You think he has a reason to be so hostile?"
"Not really. I personally think he thrives on being an asshole. You know, there are a lot of those in the world."
It was true. She'd certainly met more than her fail' share of them, too, and yet . . . There seemed to be something more, A person didn't hate to the extent that Xypher appeared to without having the ability to love to the same degree.
And his need to kill to the exclusion of all else spoke of extreme betrayal. The only person she'd ever really wanted to kill was whoever had taken her mother's life…
"There can never be hatred without love."
Jesse frowned. "What?"
"It's something my mother used to say."
He screwed his face Up. "Oh, man, no … don't you dare."
"Dare what?"
"Get that weepy-eyed look like you're sympathizing with him." He made an irritated noise in the back of his throat. "You are such a bleeding heart- Hello? This is the man who has you bound to him while he's trying to descend into hell to kill someone. He doesn't care about your sensibilities. Don't you dare care about his."
Simone waved his tirade off. "Oh, husk, you grump. I don't even know him."
"And you better keep it that way."
She knew Jesse was right Even so, there was a part of her that was drawn to Xypher even against her common sense. She wasn't even sure why. He just seemed lost somehow.
Oh, yeah, Mr. Badass temper was lost. . . Right. She was losing it. "Have you heard from Gloria?" she asked Jesse, trying to distract herself.
He shook his head. "Not even a groan. I'm thinking the Daimons ate her."
Simone hated the very thought. No one deserved such a fate. "I hope not. She seemed really nice."
"I hear you." Jesse floated back toward the curtains. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," Simone called.
Carson entered the room carrying a small handsaw.
Simone took a step back, curious about his intentions. "What are you doing?"
He indicated her bracelet with the up of the saw. "I was wondering if this might work to get that bracelet off."
She smiled in relief. For a second, she was afraid he was going to make good on his threat to silence her. "You are my favorite person on the planet right now. Yes, please fry it."
Carson laughed as he moved to take her wrist into his hand. He paused a minute to examine the bracelet. "It looks like regular gold."
"Aphrodite said it was Atlantean. Something made by the gods." He drew his breath in sharply. "Oh …" He pulled back. "Is that bad?"
"Maybe. I don't know enough about them to even guess what trying to cut this off might do to you. For all I know, I could end the world."
She pulled her arm out of his grasp. "Please don't. There was a cliffhanger ending on Dexter last week and