He chuckled. "I don't know. Just started a legend... had to save face - couldn't have 'em say I was no punk." Carlos stood. "The sulfur is dying down, the prayer is wearing off, the silver's effect ain't jack right now, but the way you look in the suit is killing me. You're working it like you worked the audience... and working me along with it. You're stronger. I've just seen you do some incredibly sexy shit, and you smell - " Carlos swallowed hard and paused. "Woman... listen, it's almost past midnight. I burned a lot of energy, I'm extremely hungry, and I need to get you to your people. Hopefully your team is intact."
He watched her hesitate and he closed his eyes against the slow pull she was having on him again. "I heard your song... I remember. Trust me. I kept everything you wrote from those days, like you used to read to me on the beach. But - a lotta shit has gone down, to put it mildly. And you see how they deliver takeout down here. A vampire and a vegetarian is a stretch. So, let's go, while I've got a little noble left in me."
She nodded, and stooped to pick up her dagger. "I hope you choose well. Would have liked to see you around again."
"Damali, noble is wearing thin. Get your blade, baby. Keep it, and me, in front of you."
"We have to take the slow tunnels. My team went in there - maybe we can meet them halfway."
He stopped and turned around and stared at her for a long time, branding her image into his mind.
"If they took the slow tunnels, I doubt they made it, D. The Vampire Council is looking for you, and the registry just ran blood - a master went down, and a whole line is up for grabs. You're in a war zone. All seconds and thirds are dusted upon my command. Only weaker strains remain, and they get folded up under my turf. It's done like that, so I can pick my own lieutenants without issues, but I don't have any at present. You understand - the tunnels are crawling, the demon empires just went to war on those rogue demons that sided with Nuit, and I probably have some real old, powerful dudes on my ass looking for you to be with me."
He winked at her, appraising her and letting out a deep breath as he stood. "That's the only reason you're getting out of this room right now. I ain't that noble, survival has somethin' to do with it."
"Watch your back," she said, trying to resist the pull to him. He'd normalized and she held that image of him in her mind.
Carlos rubbed his jaw and turned away, glanced at the door, then glanced at her, and tore himself from the seductive thought - it left a warm spot where his mind had touched her.
"I can't, no, correction, I won't leave my team."
Deadlocked in a standoff, she began walking.
"I'll go in alone."
"No, you won't."
"Then watch my back," she commanded. "You might run shit down here, but you never ran me."
He smiled as he followed her. He wasn't sure why he was allowing himself to be led into a sure kill, but the rear view of her in ripped, dirty silver from this vantage point was threatening his reason.
"Look," he called behind her. "You need to get back to the main cavern in the next five or less. They're doing the Raise the Dead act above, but it's been neutralized. The portals are closed from your prayer-songs, and the head of the line is toast. However, when your team steps back into the center of that cavern, based on the ceremony timing, it's going to suck everything in it up onto stage again. You don't want to miss that elevator ride."
She peered at him and he backed away into the shadows.
"Raise your sword, baby. Send a signal; give the people hope. Show five continents that tonight, the light was what got raised from the dead. It came straight up from Hell, and was gorgeous."
"Come with us!"
"No. If I come up with you, I'm a marked man. The televisions can't pick me up - but the Vampire Council can send a hit to do me right there onstage, if they think there's been a double-cross. You understand? I have one goal, to reunite you with your team in that center cavern, then I'm gone."
"But - "
"No buts about it. I need to handle my business. You are already handling yours."
"You could have bitten me at any time - why didn't you?"
She saw two glowing orbs in the shadows disappear and the reappear with the sound of a deep inhale.
"You have five minutes of juice left in the new battery on your suit. You could have toasted me and Nuit at any time, and gotten rid of both of us. Why didn't you?"
For a moment, she said nothing.
"Yeah, I feel you, baby," he murmured, his voice smooth, controlled, sensual in the dark.
"I need to find my team."
"Yeah, you sure do."