Tainted

  “See you later,” I told Lucia before jogging over to Adam. He made as if to walk away from Carl and me, but I gripped his arm. “Right, I’ve been understanding long enough. Now it’s time to tell me everything you know about angels and vampires and Jess and me and every other fucking thing. You have to know more, and there’s a big-arse vampire out there thinking of ways to torture us into submission. A day’s training won’t beat that, Adam. If you want to survive, then tell me everything you bloody well know.”

  He looked disgusted. “Do you have to be so vulgar?”

  I cocked my head. “It’s the meaning behind the word that counts, not the letters it uses, so why say…” I looked to Carl for help.

  He shrugged. “I’m out. You’ve dragged me into your disgusting, uncouth world, and now I can’t see a way past the madness.”

  “If two words mean the exact same thing, why is one okay to you and the other not? Seriously, Adam, I’m trying to keep your daughter safe, and all you’re worried about is my language?”

  He ignored Carl’s laughter and asked, “What do you want to know? What is it I have to give you people?”

  “Tell me about the angels,” I said. “The interference, why Jess and I made it away from Seth with help. Why not every child? Why us?”

  “I made a deal with an archangel. That’s the big secret. They needed a warrior. I could raise one.”

  “But why?” Carl asked. “Why would you need a deal? Why haven’t they interfered to protect every child? We don’t understand.”

  “We were losing a war that nobody even knew about,” Adam said flatly. “And I was willing to go the extra mile for the cause, so they sent me their blessing.”

  “So they somehow got Seth off your back long enough for you to cut Jess out of her mother’s womb,” I said coldly.

  He flinched. He wasn’t as cold as he made himself out to be.

  “I’m sorry that happened to you all.”

  He looked me right in the eye. “My wife was dying. The bites were horrific—black and gaping.” He turned a little green. “I don’t know how she survived. There must be something in him or in his blood that prolongs life. She should have been dead. She was just a human, so fragile. She kept begging me to save the baby, even when I told her I had lied to her about everything, when I told her who I really was.

  “So I begged for help, but they apparently thought they had helped enough. There was no saving her. And I had grown fond of her. More than fond. She was a good person, kind. It’s soothing to live with somebody who treats people with respect and care. It was strange for me to be on the receiving end of genuine affection. For a while, I thought we might escape our fate.”

  “Is it fate?” I asked. “Is it already set in stone?”

  “I think it’s fate,” he said. “I think we’re set upon these paths. Maybe we were meant to come back here all along. Jess was born here, but farther south, more rural. But it was here that everything happened.”

  “But why were both of us born here, of all places?”

  “We were your replacement, I suppose,” he said. “When your story changed, I was needed.”

  I frowned. When exactly had my story changed? I wasn’t even a decade older than Jessica. Something was missing, some vital piece of information.

  “Jess is the last,” he said. “They couldn’t send any more seraphim to earth because the vampires’ numbers kept dwindling. And when Jess was in the womb, soaking up that monster’s power, I knew I could stop it from getting worse and give her a chance to break free without being tainted. She could have been a nephal. Pure and strong and respected. But I hesitated. I didn’t want to hurt my wife. In the end, I killed her, though. I should have done it earlier, but I… it’s hard to…” He shook his head.

  “Have you talked to Jess about this?” Carl asked. “Have you told her what it was really like for you?”

  “No,” he said adamantly. “I can’t tell her these things.”

  “Don’t you think she has a right to know?” I asked. “Don’t you think she might like to hear about her mother?”

  “I can’t talk about her.” He looked miserable. “I can’t say the words, not to Jess. She sometimes reminds me of her, and I can’t bear to…” He wrapped his arms around his waist.

  “Get over it,” I snapped.

  “Ava!” Carl admonished.

  “No, seriously. It isn’t just about him. That kid has grown up wondering if anyone ever truly cared for her. She could do with some good news. She could hear all the wonderful things about her mother. I never had that, Adam, and I’m telling you now, it would have helped, especially when I was a teenager. I was lost. I had no idea who I was. You could give her this big gift and let her know exactly where she comes from.” I glared at him. “Better yet, let her know how much her own father cares about her.”

  He stared at me for a few seconds before turning on his heel and stalking off.

  “That was a bit harsh,” Carl said glumly.

  “He’s a total diva,” I said. “He’s all up in his own misery, so far into it that he can’t see Jessica’s. It’s that kind of thing that will drive her into Seth’s arms.”

  He made a weird sound through his nose. “That’s not going to happen with all of us around.”

  I tried my best not to look in Lucia’s direction.

  ~ * ~

  Later, Shay arrived with news. He parked at the mouth of the cul-de-sac. Peter, Carl, Lorcan, Val, and I walked out to meet him.

  “We’ve been questioning people, but we’re not getting any big leads, so we’re going to do a press conference to warn everyone about what’s been going on. Like you keep saying, Ava, it was the secrets that tore down the old government.”

  “That’s great.” I leaned against his car.

  He gave me a charming smile. “I’m glad you said that because we want you in on it.”

  I glared at him as the others laughed. “No.”

  “People want to see you,” he said. “You started all of this.”

  “I’m not a performing seal.”

  “Every night that goes by puts us at more risk. We need to call out this vampire before he turns half the country against us. The vampires are threatening to rebel. And yes, they have pitiful numbers right now and have to answer to Daimhín first, which isn’t the smartest move they’ve ever made, but what if they gather supporters again? We have enough enemies. The supporters of people like Fionnuala will be happy to look elsewhere for leadership. If we don’t nip this in the bud then—”

  I held up my hand. “Laying it on a bit thick, aren’t you?”

  “I keep warning him,” Peter said. “He never listens.”

  “Okay, so what do we have?” Lorcan asked. “How can we draw him out?”

  “Ava has to do it,” Val said. “He wants the tainted. If she stands against him, it will sway opinion.”

  “But not necessarily for the better,” I retorted. Then, I sighed. “Fine. We’ll do the thing. But remember last time. And the time before that. I’m not good with cameras or people. Or questions.”

  Carl patted me on the head. “You’ll be fine, shortcake.”

  I elbowed him in the ribs. “One of you is coming with me. The rest stay here and watch out for more Seth tricks. Do not let Jess outside. Or Adam. Or Parker. Just… keep everyone inside until we get back.”

  Shay gave me a charming, slightly smug smile. “Thanks, Ava.”

  I growled in response. I hated being played.

  ~ * ~

  Lorcan came with me in the end. Val wanted to, but her responsibilities weighed too heavily on her shoulders. I thought it was time Lorcan made some public appearances anyway. With his newly shorn hair, he looked more human than fae, making him seem accessible to most of the population.

  “This politics gig must be like a family business,” I said on the way to the press conference. Night was falling, and the air was chilly, but that wasn’t why I kept shivering.

  “Must be,”
Lorcan said. “I wonder if magic was, too.”

  “That would be cool to find out,” I said.

  Lorcan shrugged. “I’ve already asked Leah. She can’t find any… witchery about us.”

  “She hasn’t seen you two cloak yourselves.”

  “What’s that like?” Shay asked.

  “You’ll likely see sometime,” Lorcan said. “Ava has a habit of getting us into trouble and keeping us there.”

  I glared at him. “You all brought your trouble right over to me.”

  He smiled. “And we’re very sorry about it.”

  I thought about kicking the smart-arse, but we had already arrived.

  “The theatre again?” I made a face. The place creeped me out.

  “Phoenix’s idea. He likes the setting,” Shay said. He sounded as though he complained about the choice of venue, too.

  Inside, the place was in an uproar as people ran around trying to set up cameras to cover the entire stage. The smaller table had been replaced with a long one.

  “I hate this,” I murmured. “Lorcan, please don’t leave me.”

  He laughed and held my hand. Phoenix approached us. He glanced at our clasped hands before greeting us. I pulled my hand free and looked the other way while the father and son chatted. I felt awkward, so I moved to find a seat. I chose a chair at the end of the row, figuring it would offer the fastest escape should the need arise.

  Willow caught up with me before I could sit. “So nice to see you again,” she said. “And we’re going to be live on air. Isn’t that exciting?”

  “Shit,” I muttered. “They can’t edit me out then.”

  She gave me a confused look and walked away to take a seat on the far end of the table.

  Callista came over, looking as beautiful as ever. “Relax,” she said, smiling down at me. “You’ll be fine. No nerves, okay?”

  Nerves weren’t my problem. Finding a way to call out Seth without making him come to kill me was my problem. I had no idea how to deal with ancients. I often embarrassed and ridiculed them accidentally—and sometimes on purpose—but I was trying really hard to silence that perverse side of my nature.

  I pouted until Lorcan came to sit next to me. Phoenix and Shay sat in the centre, Callista between them.

  “What’s the deal with you and my dad?” Lorcan asked.

  I didn’t know how to answer that question, so I did what any mature adult would do. I deflected. “You’re calling him Dad now?”

  He shrugged. “I like the sound of it sometimes. I don’t do it to his face, though.” He smiled. “He piss you off or something? You were all awkward back there.”

  “No. Just keeping out of the way.”

  “Out of the way of what?”

  “Father and son bonding.” I faced front. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to concentrate really hard on not throwing up.”

  Predictably, Daimhín and the succubus were the last to arrive. When they took their seats, a young fae was charged with the job of prepping us on what we were supposed to say.

  “I didn’t realise there was a script,” I muttered.

  “There’s always a script,” Mac growled. “Nobody gets to say what they want.”

  I smirked. “Sounds like a challenge.”

  The press conference began. It was majorly boring at first. Then the journalists started in.

  “Why was there such an urgency to hold a conference tonight?” a young female reporter asked. “Is there something going on? More threats of war or—”

  Phoenix cleared his throat. “There have been updates. We’ve heard the assassins who formerly worked for Fionnuala and then Reuben have re-banded, possibly under new leadership. Some have left their associates and are trying to live productive lives, however. It’s a positive sign for the future.”

  “And why is Ava Delaney here?” an older male reporter asked. “What will she be speaking about tonight?”

  Shay stood. “There’s a new, or rather old, threat in the country. As Ava is involved, we asked her here to tell her side. But before that, we should congratulate her and Daimhín for playing strong roles in helping us find and rescue the missing teenage girls we managed to reunite with their families this week.”

  “Is that a sign of what’s to come?” somebody asked. “Are supernaturals taking our children? Why hadn’t anyone looked for the children before? How did this get so far without anyone noticing?”

  Shay kept his cool. “It’s a sign that we’re already working together, supernaturals and humans, to solve crimes. These girls were teenagers, some of them adults, in fact. We’ll be looking into the problems behind the lack of searches, and we’ll definitely work on how consistent the force is working together throughout the country.”

  “What about the rumours of one of the new units being burned alive? Is it true that this was caused by another supernatural within the partnership? Are we sponsoring these new agents only for them to turn on each other?”

  “No,” Shay said sharply. “That’s not what happened.”

  Phoenix took over. “There were casualties brought upon us by the new threat. We’ll let Ava Delaney take over from here. I’m sure she has a lot to say.”

  I got to my feet slowly. “Um, first of all, I can’t take any credit in the rescue of the missing teenagers. One of the vampire volunteers and a homeless man provided enough clues to, um, Valeria Brannigan Investigations, a new private investigation service, to come up with enough evidence for Shay’s agents to, um, check out. Oh, and Valeria Brannigan Investigations consists of a human and a supernatural working together, so… go team.” My arm jerked out of its own accord in a weak version of a fist-pump. “Proof that works.”

  The reporters gave each other stunned glances. I had warned everyone I wasn’t good at public speaking. I cleared my throat, standing on my toes to look more authoritative as I desperately tried to remember what I was supposed to say. Lorcan’s undisguised mirth didn’t help.

  “Um.” I looked at Phoenix.

  He was staring at me. I needed to count really badly. Please, not in front of the cameras. For an instant, I wished Carl and Peter were with me. But they were home, relying on me not to screw up.

  I rubbed the back of my neck and tried not to look anyone in the eye. “So, um, as some of you probably know, I’m not like most people. My father was human, my mother was an angel, and the very first vampire killed them both. Before she died, my mother escaped and gave birth to me. I was tainted because of the first vampire’s bite. If I hadn’t been, I would have been a nephal, one of heaven’s warriors on earth, apparently.” I cleared my throat again. “And I’m not the only one. A girl… came to me for help. She’s like me, and the first vampire is after her. He’s here, in Ireland, and we’ve discovered that his blood is the base for the formula that creates the beasts.”

  I shifted uncomfortably. Then I decided that since I had already embarrassed myself, I might as well just throw everything out there. It couldn’t get much worse. “The first vampire is called Seth, and he’s currently recruiting followers. Some of them were responsible for the kidnappings, by the way, so maybe we should be thanking Seth, too.” I saluted the camera. “Thanks, Seth. It was really great the way your evil deeds led us to freeing those girls.”

  Some of the journalists laughed nervously.

  I moved out from behind the table. “The deal is this: the first vampire is causing friction, and that’s bad enough, but if we kill him, then no more beasts. Ever. He’s the only one who can create them. He’s the only one we need to kill. It’s true that he was responsible for the deaths of one of the new agent pairings. Layne Corcoran and Anthony May made an excellent team. They were a credit to their unit and our new way of life. I guess Seth isn’t a fan of good teams. He’s scared, and he’s making threats. He wants to create his very own army and trample us under his feet. I say this: not gonna happen. If he wants to take me or the girl under my care, then he had better come for us himself because we will not be cowed by hi
s threats.”

  “If he was watching right now,” a reporter called out, “what would you say to him?”

  I looked directly into a camera. “I’m not scared of you, Mr. Ancient Vampire, and I have plenty of reasons to want you dead. I’m not hunting you anymore, you little fucking coward. If you want me, come get me, and then we’ll see what the tainted are made of. Keep running around the streets, making your little threats and causing petty crime all you like, but know this. We see you. And we’ll see you dead.”

  I stared triumphantly into the camera. I had done it. I had my moment. I had called out the very first vampire. I let myself feel a moment of victory.

  And then I saw the beasts.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Silence.

  Then screams.

  “You had to open your big mouth,” Lorcan said, getting to his feet.

  “You armed?” I asked.

  “Of course.”

  Zion ran onto the stage and leapt onto the table in front of Daimhín. Both of them bared their fangs, eagerly losing themselves to that animalistic nature the vampire queen usually tried so hard to control.

  Callista and Layla were surrounded by the males, even James who looked as though he had never even been in a fistfight before. Typical. Shay was on the phone. I caught his eye and held up my dagger. He patted his hip in answer.

  Phoenix was looking at me, a weird gleam in his eyes. I bit my lip, trying to hold in my grin. Fighting the enemy brought out something different in both of us.

  I climbed onto the table to stand beside Zion. His red eyes shined as he acknowledged my presence, and I had no doubt that we were on the same team. I took one last glance at Shay.

  “Call Peter!” I shouted. “Warn them to watch out!”

  The beasts had entered through the two doors at the back of the theatre. They slid across the seats, more contained than I had ever seen them. I thought it was a pity we had no werewolves in attendance. The journalists, cameramen, witnesses, and everyone else were piling onto the stage, desperately trying to get out of the beasts’ way.