Fire Within - By Ally Shields Page 0,15
her short dark hair slightly tousled, her expression intense. Somewhere close by would be two semi-automatic pistols.
“I meant to call,” Ari said, “really. But, well, it just never happened. How is Russell? And Mike? And Benny?” Lilith’s husband Russell and their friend, Benny, were werelions; Mike was a werewolf. They were ex-mercenaries and experts in various weapons and martial arts. Ari had missed them all. Something about fighting together inevitably formed a unique bond.
“Everyone’s doing good. How’s the arm? Did they get you fixed up?”
“Yeah, it’s good as new.” A bullet wound to the arm was one of the injuries Ari had received during last year’s battle with a pack of werewolves. Just part of her job. “I was hoping you could help me with some information.” Ari forged ahead. “I need to locate a vampire named Rayden. Any idea where I should start?”
Lilith hesitated a second. “Is this about Jules’s murder?”
Ari was taken aback until she realized she should have expected it. News of the vampire’s murder would have spread like flood waters throughout the magic community. Not only was a vamp murder rare, especially with a human as the prime suspect, but his death was a rude reminder that supernatural beings weren’t really immortal. “Yep, I’m looking for answers. I understand Rayden was an ex-girlfriend.”
Lilith snorted. “Not ex, if you listen to her. She and Jules have been shagging for decades. What do you want with her? Didn’t some human confess?”
“Still have to talk to her.”
A short pause. “What are you not saying? You think she’d hire some human to do her dirty work?”
“No, not that. But I’m not sure the confession’s legit. I need to look at other possibilities.”
“Really. It won’t be Rayden. She’d have taken out the girlfriend.” When Ari didn’t comment, Lilith added, “If you still want to find her, that’s easy. Try the Second Chance Saloon. She’s there most evenings. But I wouldn’t go alone. Even for you, it’s a rough place.”
“Rough place” was a mild term for the Second Chance. Ari had been to the Olde Town vampire bar before, but only with the police or Andreas. The vampires who hung out there were the least civilized, the worst of the worst. It was kind of a biker bar for vamps. Large numbers of them. Not a safe place for humans and potentially dicey for a Guardian witch.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Lilith. Thanks for the tip.”
Ari had almost hung up, when Lilith spoke again. “You’re going anyway, aren’t you?”
“It’s my job,” she said. “Rayden might be able to tell me something helpful.”
“Can’t you take someone with you? Like Andreas?”
Ari tapped a finger on the desk. Lilith was prying for information. “No, I haven’t seen him in months,” she said curtly. She hoped Lilith got the point this was an unwelcome topic.
“Um, still like that, is it? Kind of hoped you’d worked it out, but I guess the rumors are true.”
Ari almost asked, what rumors, but caught herself in time. Lilith never had been shy about saying what was on her mind, no matter how intrusive, and she was waiting for Ari to encourage the personal conversation. When she didn’t, Lilith let it drop. Of course, Ari would now continue to wonder what Lilith had heard. After all, there wasn’t much to know. Their split had been a very public affair. She had ordered Andreas to stay away from her in front of several witnesses.
Lilith sighed. “Guess I better meet you somewhere. Can’t let you go into that place without backup.”
The offer caught Ari by surprise. She and Lilith hadn’t been that chummy, and Ari hadn’t called in all these months. “Thanks, but you don’t have to do that.”
“No, I don’t,” the lioness agreed. “But we were a team, and someone has to watch your witchy back. Say seven o’clock, outside the bar?”
* * *
Lilith lounged near the front entrance, her body illuminated by the bright, neon lights. “Ready for this?” she asked.
Ari shrugged and strode toward the door. Once inside, she paused to let her eyes adjust to the dim interior. The Second Chance Saloon fit into a large, cavernous room with a bar counter on the left wall and upwards of thirty round tables sprawled over the remaining area. It swarmed with vampires. Ari spotted a dozen or two lycanthropes and two halfling demons scattered in the crowd. The tables were packed, and clusters of Otherworld patrons stood in the aisles. Black leather and chains were standard attire. Ari’s witch senses