"I've bonded the phantom realms to the airwaves, riding that into the human psyche through their technological toys. The message is decadence," he said in a sensual whisper. "Lack of hope," he murmured, beginning to circle her."Hatred and human horrors. Their sense of survival is already being compromised with the economic plummets . . . loss of jobs, housing foreclosures, identity theft, and tightening credit restrictions, and of course the thing that drives them from their creature comforts-so-called natural disasters," he whispered, clenching his fists and motioning in the air as though he were wringing out a wet towel.
"We will ride the black horse of economic distress, showing them decadent celebrities living like kings and queens while they can barely afford to keep their lights on. They will covet and greed will spiral-they will sell their souls for the price of silver under these auspices," Nuit murmured. "It is a part of the shadows. Many humans will break under the strain. Those with dim lights within cannot fight off the toxin."
He smiled as he watched Lilith's fangs adjust to mating length. "Lucrezia's specialty is poison . . . mine, guile and empire-building." He leaned in close enough to whisper in Lilith's ear. "I let her poison the airwaves in the music and entertainment industries . . . including the news. We are bringing you dark recruits twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, globally . . . and given Lucrezia's unfortunate convalescence and the condition of her throat . . . I have been making master vampires for you, by the dozens."
A slow smile formed on Lilith's lush mouth. She caressed Nuit's jawline and nodded. "Well done, Fallon.Verywell done. Abstinence from your wife becomes you and I bet that has also improved the quality of her venom, yes?"
Fallon chuckled as his wife released a nasal-created hiss."Oui."
Lilith cast a bored gaze at Lucrezia and issued her a warning inDananu as she repaired the councilwoman's damaged jaw, throat, and torso. "You both have earned my respect and therefore this reprieve. Know that I can only do these types of healings in spaced increments, then must feed and rest. Grafting over silver is as dangerous for me as it is for you . . . and until the heir was healed, I could not waste my energy like this. However, Lucrezia, when I come to you for the old pope in your line, I expect results."
Lucrezia dropped to her knees, sobbing and nodding as the beaded veil disintegrated and new skin began to crawl up her throat and mangled jaw.
"Feed your wife and go f**k her somewhere, Fallon . . . and be ready to report topside within the next twenty-four hours. I want a strategy in place. Better yet, the Neterus' heads on a pike."
Lilith's gaze hardened as it left Nuit and she glanced at Sebastian. "Go to Lucifer and cower at his hooves that he might repair you to do our empire's bidding. The results are uncertain, as you are correct-he is in the worst mood I haveever seen him in since the original fall. But that is your only option. I refuse to waste my energy on you. Andif you survive the ordeal of my husband's healing, do be sure to bring me something equally as devastating as what Fallon has offered this council . . . raise something from the extermination pools-or I may grow bored with you and your wife."
Marlene walked into the kitchen with Shabazz. Both older Guardians stared at the young couple and an awkward silence briefly paralyzed the foursome. Damali was the first to break the tense standoff with the simple statement of good morning.
"We didn't want to interrupt," Marlene said. She glanced at Shabazz nervously. "But we're gonna have to evacuate the house soon."
Shabazz nodded. "Everything tactical in me is feeling like something's about to blow. We might have a half hour." He looked at Carlos. "You up for a full transport out-and you know where we're going?"
"Where'sAyana and Mom Delores?" Damali said, interjecting quickly. She knew Carlos didn't have a clue where he could put them down safely yet, and going into the middle of a hot-zone with a three-year-old and a civilian grandmother was out of the question.
"In a safe house in Philly.While you were still resting, Inez and Mike agreed early this morning, and Mom Delores was grateful to be leaving here when she saw the smoke. In Philly they just raised ten thousand men to stop the violence and Father Pat went there for a meeting at the cathedral basilica . . . plus we got a serious Guardian crew back east, so . . . it's all good. I spoke to him, he's cool." Carlos hesitated, worry straining his expression. "He's still weak, though, and said he had something to tell us when he could be sure his info wouldn't be hijacked out of the air."
"Yo."
Everyone in the kitchen turned quickly around to meet Yonnie's voice. He stood in the doorway, having moved so silently that it unnerved the frayed senior team.
"I should have heard you coming, man," Carlos said, as he pounded Yonnie's fist.
"All of y'all shoulda heard me coming, but your focus is elsewhere. Not good. I coulda snuck you as a daywalker . . . shit-y'all better tighten it up."
"It ain't your shift," Shabazz said, his gaze hardening with frustration.
"With the world up in smoke,do it have to be?" Yonnie leaned against the sink and folded his arms over his chest. Palpable tension coiled around him. His sinewy form seemed like he was ready to spring into action to meet Shabazz's challenge, if it went there. Defiance blazed in Yonnie's dark brown eyes and his wild Afro seemed to add to the visual affect of an indignant, young man. Wearing a wife-beater T-shirt, a pair of gray sweats, and no shoes, Yonnie looked like he'd just rolled out of bed but was ready to rumble.
Carlos rubbed the stubble on his jaw. "Aw'ight, y'all . . . look, we gotta-"
"Git the f**k outta here, is what we gotta do, man," Yonnie said, scowling. "You of all people know how the other side rolls.Can't be no dillydallying."
"We were having a team meeting with senior Guardian staff trying to determine the best course of action, Yolando," Marlene said bluntly. One hand went to her hip. "You're new, and there's a way we do things to ensure the safety of the team and any humans we decide to go near."
Yonnie pushed off the sink and materialized a toothpick in his mouth in agitation. "Sis, I might be new, but I ain't stupid-andme and C go way back."
"Call my wife sis one more time and I'mabust your new ass," Shabazz said, moving forward.
Carlos flat-palmed Shabazz in midchest."C'mon, man, that's just Yonnie when he's tripping." He glared at Yonnie. "Respect, man-Mar is housemother, you feel me?"
Yonnie held up both hands in front of his chest."My bad, Miss Marlene, but, like . . . I'm getting all kinds of funky vibes, yo. The shit is making a brother jumpy."
"He's tapped in," Damali said, diffusing the contest of wills with raw truth. She looked at the group. "He's new, just out of Hell. If anybody can feel movement"-she turned to Yonnie-"talk to us."
"See," Yonnie said, pointing at Damali and walking to the other side of the kitchen. "That's why I always liked your woman, C. She listens. She hears. Aw'ight. I'matell you what I'm picking up." He wiped his palms down his face and let out a weary breath. "Nuit has been making master bitches-'scuze my French-like there's no tomorrow. It's like brotherman is on steroids, or something. Don't even ask me how I know. Then, I'm trying to chill, flipping channels in the bedroom, 'cause if I didn't leave Val alone she was probably gonna stab me . . . and I'm listening to a report that I know a lot about. They said that coc**ne did better than the freakin' Dow Jones this year." He went over to Carlos and pounded his fist. "But we coulda told 'em that, man."
"What's any of that got to do with the plan to get out of here?" Shabazz said, growing agitated. "We already knew they'd be making new vamps and drugs ain't new, so what?"