Agent Dark- Vegas Read online

  Kat made room so Vesper could get a hug as well. She turned to the woman beside Daemon. “Hello. I’m Kat, and this is Vesper.”

  “Dexter has told me all about you two, and Daemon was just filling me in on his last trip to Boston.”

  “Ladies, I’m sorry. How rude of me. Kat, Vesper, I’d like you to meet Erica De Bello.”

  Kat gave Erica another look. “Ah. I’ve heard of you too.”

  Erica laughed. “I’m sure you have. It’s all lies.”

  “I can assure you that whatever you heard probably doesn’t do the truth justice,” Daemon said.

  Erica rolled her eyes. “Marry a gargoyle and suddenly you’re a somebody.”

  “You have to admit not many people can say they’re married to a gargoyle,” Kat said.

  “One as far as I know,” Daemon said. “And for sure she’s the only vampire married to a gargoyle. It is quite the abnormality.”

  Erica shrugged. “You can blame Dexter for that. He’s the one who turned me into a vamp tramp.”

  Kat raised an eyebrow.

  “Oh, don’t worry. He only did it to save my life, otherwise I don’t think he even would’ve revealed to me that he was a bloodsucker,” Erica said. “That man likes to keep his secrets.”

  Daemon laughed. “He used to. Pretty hard to do that now that he has April, and you as a business partner.”

  “He still does pretty well,” Kat said. “I don’t even know who April is, and he never talks about you. I didn’t even know he had a business other than recruiting for the MBI until recently.”

  “I’ll tell you all about it on the way to the estate. Dexter, why don’t you be a darling and get the girls’ bags?” Erica said.

  “Grab the cases in the back, I’ll grab our bags,” Vesper said.

  Once their gear was packed into the SUV, they headed out.

  “So, what do you know of us?” Erica asked as she drove.

  “Only that your late husband was Dexter’s business partner and that you helped a lot of shifters survive the Ruton Incident,” Kat said. “Well, that and the whole gargoyle thing. I’ve heard about that too.”

  Erica nodded. “That is the basics. Our company is called Shifting Humanity, and as you said, we help shifters. Mostly what we do is help relocate troubled shifters to communities that fit their social needs, find them appropriate jobs and just generally help them to adapt to living in the human world. Dexter and April take care of a lot of that. April in particular. Safe Haven is something of a sanctuary for shifters. Those who are in trouble, or just down on their luck, can come stay with us and then move on when they’re ready. We have almost two dozen shifters who are pretty much permanent residents now. They all work and participate in our community, or with the company.

  “During the Ruton Incident, as the media and government like to call it, we brought in shifters from all over the world who were being targeted by the Ruton Corporation for their views on humans. Aside from trying to create an apocalypse, the vampires were targeting any shifters or humans who were vocal about paranormals and humans co-existing. Because my late husband was a vocal supporter of paranormal human unity, he was murdered, and I became a target. Dexter decided that the best way to save me was to move a centuries-old Italian mansion to America and hope that the gargoyle would protect me. Thankfully he was right. Of course, that didn’t stop the vampires from sending in agents to try to kill me. One almost did. Dexter saved me by turning me. Since then we’ve helped as many shifters and paranormals as we can. We also still work on tracking down members of the Ruton Corporation so they can’t rebuild.”

  “Fascinating,” Vesper said.

  “Can you tell us more about the trial?” Kat asked. While she found the De Bellos’ past interesting, she was more worried about what was coming.

  “Not a lot,” Erica admitted. “Typical Dexter, he’s playing his cards close to his chest. The MBI and every other agency involved tend to have leaks. So that’s why he’s only using agents he’s recruited himself. What I can tell you is that Chuck worked for a Fae who was smuggling humans into Unreha and paranormals into America. Agents for the Council of Unreha and the FBI were the ones who put two and two together and broke up the ring. A powerful US politician and a high-ranking member of the Unreha Council were both arrested. This is a high-profile case in both worlds, and there are many in both worlds who want it to go away. So Chuck, our witness, is a wanted man. We have him at Safe Haven now. You all are here to provide support for when the bad guys try make a move to kill him.”

  “You think they’ll attack your estate?” Vesper asked.

  Erica shrugged. “Not if they know what’s good for them. There are dozens of shifters living there, several of whom are the kind who enjoy a good fight, not to mention Dante.”

  Daemon chuckled from the back seat. “I’m not the only one who likes a fight. I seem to remember someone kicking a little ass of her own last year when those Russians tried to kidnap that girl from your place.”

  Erica grinned. “Becoming a vampire did bring out the predator in me. Training with Daemon, Jeffery, and Terra all the time had me itching for some real action.”

  “Erica here is a bit of an anomaly in the shifter world. She has the blood of two vampires in her. It gives her some unique abilities.”

  “I didn’t know that was possible,” Vesper said.

  “It is possible, just very rare,” Erica said. “I looked into it more after it happened. Because Daemon is a full-blooded vampire from Unreha, his bloodlines are much stronger than those of the vampire who attacked me. The first vampire’s blood triggered the transformation, but Daemon’s completed it. Mostly I share the same characteristics of Daemon’s bloodlines, but with a few differences. I can shift into a vampire’s winged form, and I can also shapeshift my body to look like anyone I’ve seen.”

  “You’d make a great spy,” Kat quipped.

  “Probably, but I love what I do. Helping paranormals live a better life is a rewarding life. And every once in a while, Dexter has a mission for Dante and I, so we do get our share of excitement. Being a full-time spy would mean giving up our work at Safe Haven, and that isn’t an option.”

  Kat was really starting to like Erica. She was a strong woman who did things her own way. “Sounds like a good life.”

  “Yes. I have no complaints. I’m happier as a vampire than I ever was as a human. I have a life companion who is amazing, and I have a fulfilling career that I love, and the occasional burst of excitement from the missions Dexter sends us on.”

  “Dexter must be a lot older than I thought,” Vesper said. “If you are able to take winged form, that means Dexter is very powerful. Either an elder vampire or from Unreha.”

  “What’s the difference?” Kat asked.

  “Elder vampires are the first vampires from Unreha. They are the strongest of the vampires from Earth, and they’re also the most adapted to living here. Their bodies have adapted. Their magic isn’t as strong as a vampire straight from Unreha, but they’re physically stronger and faster.”

  “Interesting, and which is Dexter?”

  “He’s somewhere in the middle. He’s an original vampire from Unreha and he’s been here on Earth for a while. However, I get the impression he is from a powerful line of Unreha vampires. Either way, he is both magical and has the strength and power of an Earth vampire.”

  “Cool,” Kat said again. “I had no idea he was so unique.”

  “All of the MBI agents that Dexter recruits are unique in some way,” Daemon said. “They are all powerful or magical beyond the norm, and have the right disposition for the job.”

  “What about Thomas?” asked Vesper. “He’s just a normal vampire, isn’t he?”

  “Define normal,” Daemon said with a laugh. “If you mean a natural-born vampire, then sure.”

  “Natural-born?” Kat asked.

  “Yes. It means his mommy and daddy bumped vampire uglies and made a baby vampire. He wasn’t bitten.”


  “Oh,” Kat said. “I didn’t know that.”

  “He’s almost as secretive as Dexter,” Daemon said with a laugh. “Being natural-born is a bit of a status thing for some vampires, because they are stronger than vampires that have been bitten and it is very rare. In vampire circles it makes him a bit like royalty, but Thomas doesn’t bring it up. He isn’t one to brag about his heritage.”

  Very interesting, thought Kat. If Thomas was royalty, he was the most down-to-earth royalty she’d ever met. “Are there many natural-born vampires around?”

  “Not many in America,” Daemon said. “Maybe a handful. Thomas is the only one I’ve encountered. Oh, and Lola Arvel. She’s one as well.”

  “And the Butlers, if you’re including mixed bloods,” Erica said. “Some vampires consider them lesser because their mother wasn’t a vampire, but their father was still an elder vampire. By all rights they should be considered vampire royalty as well.”

  “If vampires weren’t racist, they probably would be,” Daemon replied.

  “Vampires are racist?” Kat asked.

  “Yes,” said Erica. “Being among the original paranormals to live in numbers on Earth, they’ve always felt superior to humans. It is why we were attacked in the first place. The Ruton clan, or corporation if you like, wanted vampires to rule over everyone. They view it as their birthright. Obviously, this doesn’t apply to all vampires, but unfortunately there are far more who have this view than who don’t.”

  “Which is stupid,” Vesper said. “Anyone who’s traveled the world knows that paranormals have been around longer than any of those vampires. As if the Egyptians weren’t worshipping paranormals.”

  Kat smiled. Vesper had a way of putting things that was bullshit-free. She was probably right. It would be fascinating to know the true history of the world and how often magical beings from Unreha had come to Earth.

  The drive to Safe Haven went by quickly, with the conversation ranging from more interesting facts about the MBI to stories of the various missions that Daemon and Erica had been on. Kat was pretty sure she’d learned more about paranormals during the drive than she had in the academy. Erica, in her position running Shifting Humanity with Dexter, had seen all sorts of different shifters and paranormals.

  ...

  “Here we are,” Erica said as they pulled into the driveway.

  Kat looked around. They weren’t joking when they’d said the estate was an Italian mansion. The place was huge. “Impressive.”

  “I’ll give you the tour later. Let’s get inside and check on Chuck,” Erica said.

  Kat grabbed her bags and followed as the gorgeous vampire led them into the mansion.

  A dark-haired hunk greeted Erica at the door with a kiss.

  “Dante, my love, this is Kat, Vesper, and Daemon.”

  “Welcome to our home,” Dante said.

  “How are things here?” Erica asked.

  “Quiet,” Dante said. “We haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary.”

  “Good,” Erica said. “Where is Chuck now?”

  “In his room, napping,” Dante said.

  “OK,” Erica said. “I’ll show you to your rooms and then give you a tour of the place. Carrie will be making dinner soon.”

  “Daemon could I borrow you later? Dexter suggested that I talk to you about my magic. He thinks you might be able to help me control it,” Kat said.

  “Of course. After Erica has given us the tour, we can find a place to work.”

  “I have just the place,” Erica said.

  Kat followed as Erica showed them to their rooms and then gave them a tour through the rest of the mansion. It was a beautiful building, and in Kat’s mind it was a perfect blend of old-world feel with modern. It was obvious that the mansion had gone through substantial renovations when they’d moved it to the Minnesota countryside.

  As they walked around the property, Erica came to a small cabin in the wooded part of the property. It was small and very basic looking.

  “And the last stop on the tour,” Erica said as she opened the cabin door. “The playroom.”

  The playroom was just a large open room with a shelf filled with what looked like medical supplies on one wall. The rest of the room was covered with thick gymnasium-style matting. Even the ceiling was covered. The only other interesting feature was a set of stairs that went down.

  “Since we have a lot of young paranormals here that need to learn to use their special skills, we created this area,” Erica said as she led them down the stairs. “The main floor is for physical training, from sparring to yoga. The downstairs is for magic training.”

  Kat looked around in surprise as they went under the cabin. The downstairs was far larger than the cabin above.

  “This was originally going to be a bomb shelter, but when the drama with the vampires ended and it looked like the world was going back to normal, we repurposed it for magic studies. Aside from having thick steel and cement walls, it has been magically warded. You can work on your magic without fear of hurting anyone nearby. Great for new students and those trying powerful new spells or weapons.”

  “A perfect place for us to work,” Daemon said.

  Kat nodded. Unlike the gym-like feel of the main floor, the basement was more eclectic feeling. A mixture of science and magic. One corner of the room had what looked like an office behind a glass window, while the middle of the room was sparse and had a sand floor. The entire roof was glowing, but it was a magical light and not from any fixtures.

  “Some of the paranormals we deal with are very much into blending science with magic. They like to monitor magical output, hence the lab in the corner. You know Judah and Henry. They, along with April, developed this room,” Erica said.

  “I’ve heard about this room. We have something similar in New York,” Daemon said. “I’ll bet this is very similar.”

  “It should be. Judah and Henry developed the programs for both locations. The technology in New York might be slightly newer, but the concepts will be the same,” Erica said.

  “Excellent. This will be useful for our lessons,” Daemon said.

  “I see you two are eager to play. Vesper, why don’t I introduce you to Chuck while these two blow shit up?”

  “How about we go talk to that hunk of a husband you have?” Vesper said with a wink.

  Kat shook her head. “Vesper, please do remember you’re talking to a vampire. She might not respond well to you flirting with her husband.”

  Erica laughed. “Nonsense. I’d find it amusing. Dante is a bit old school. He can be charming, but he gets squirmy and nervous with blatant flirting. And I’m not the jealous type... Terra, on the other hand, is a different story. I don’t suggest hitting on Henry while you’re here, Henry being the big and quiet werebear, not your MBI Henry.”

  “Got it,” Vesper said. “Tease the sexy gargoyle but not the werebear.”

  “Come on Vesper, let’s go see if we can make my husband blush while these two play.”

  As the two women left, Kat turned to Daemon. “Those two are going to be trouble together, I can feel it.”

  Daemon laughed. “I don’t know about that. I think they’re fun.”

  “Exactly my point.”

  “So what is your problem with your magic?” Daemon said.

  Kat sighed. “Other than I’m terrible at it?”

  “My understanding is that you haven’t been practicing long.”

  “A couple months. I didn’t really have any magic until my twenty-first birthday, and then boom! Changes started happening. Magical puberty.”

  Daemon smiled. “Interesting. Well, that explains why you suck at magic. Which I highly doubt, by the way.”

  “Well, it isn’t like I don’t have abilities. I can make a pretty damn decent ward or magical shield.”

  “OK. Why don’t we start with that? I’ll lob a few spells at you, you block them.”

  “Sure,” Kat said.

  “First, I’m going to fire up t
heir computers. If this lab is anything like the one in New York, it will give us some good information.”

  Kat followed Daemon into the lab section, where there was a laptop that looked suspiciously like the supercomputer laptop Judah had built for her. There was a few strange-looking devices that looked like microphones pointed towards the glass. Other than that, there was a printer and a whiteboard. The lab was very sparse. “Not much of a lab. I thought a magical laboratory would look a lot different.”

  Daemon shrugged. “I think that’s because you’re used to seeing a witch’s workplace, whose purpose is far different than this lab’s. There are sensors embedded in the walls of the structure that will feed the data to the laptop, which will analyze the data and give us feedback.” Daemon fired up the laptop and entered a few commands. “Excellent. This is the same version of the software as the New York lab. I can use this, no problem.”

  They went back out into the main area.

  “We’ll start simple,” Daemon said. “How’s your ward against guns?”

  “Go—” Kat started to say, but when Daemon drew and fired at her, she quit talking and activated her ward.

  The bullet bounced harmlessly off the ward.

  “Good response time. Can you push your ward out to protect a larger area?”

  Kat nodded and made her ward bigger.

  Daemon fired several shots; all of them hit her ward. He put his gun away. “Impressive ward. Let’s see how it does against magic.” He then raised his arm and sent a purple blast of energy at her. It struck her ward and seemed to evaporate. He fired a couple more balls in rapid succession. Each of the magical balls met the fate of the first one—they dissipated on contact with her ward. “Well, wards certainly aren’t your issue.”

  “Thanks. I picked up wards early; they seem to come naturally to me.”

  “Your ring, is it a regulator?”

  “I’m not sure what a regulator is, but the Unreha Council gave it to me, and yes, I think that is what it does. I know it seems to help make some spells easier.”

  Daemon nodded. “Take it off. Regulators are a good learning tool, but they are also a crutch. Relying on one to control your magic will only slow your learning curve.”