Industrial Magic
Page 89

The smell hit me first, triggering memories of a stint volunteering in a homeless shelter. Inhaling through my mouth, I looked around. I was in a front hall. Peeling wallpaper hung from the walls, mingling with strips of flypaper polka-dotted with mummified bug bodies. I cast a light spell and shone it along the hallway floor. The carpet had long since been torn up, leaving bare underlay. As I moved forward, I pushed the trash out of the way with my foot. Though there were no needles, there was enough broken glass and rat droppings to make me glad Id changed out of my open-toed sandals before leaving Miami.
From the hall, I had three destination choices: upstairs, the living room, or the door at the end, which presumably led into the kitchen. I cast a sensing spell from the foot of the stairs. It might not work on vampires, but in a place like this, the living were of equal concern. When the spell came back negative, I headed for the living room. No sign of a vampire there, or anything large enough to hide one. Same with the combined dining/kitchen area. Even the closets were bare, all doors and shelves having been stripped off, presumably to feed the fire pit in the middle of the living-room floor.
As I headed for the stairs, something whispered across the upstairs floor. The sound was too soft for footstepsunless the feet belonged to the large furry rodents whod left their calling cards in the debris below. I walked halfway up the stairs and launched my sensing spell. It came back negative. Now that I thought about it, that was strange. Recent rat droppings meant recent rats, and my spell should have picked them up. I suspected I knew the reason for the sudden out-flux. Rats dont just flee a sinking shipthey flee stronger predators, too.
I prepped a knock-back spell and climbed to the top landing. The house was still and silent. Too still. Too silent. The preternatural stillness reminded me of earlier that day, when Id thought the killer had been stalking me in the parking lot.
From the top of the stairs, I could see into all four rooms. I wanted to be at the front of the house, which narrowed my choices to two, one of which was the bathroomtoo small for what I had in mind. I peeked in the front bedroom, making sure it was empty, then stepped inside and cast a perimeter spell across the doorway. Problem was, Id never tried this spell with a vampire, so I couldnt rely on it now. When this was over, Id have to test my whole array of sensory spells on Cassandra. Not that shed ever offer herself up as a guinea pig, but there were ways around that.
Next I readied a fresh knock-back spell. Readying a spell means to start the incantation, so it can be launched with a few final words. Spells are wonderful weapons, but on a speed-of-use scale, they rank down there with bows and arrows. If the arrow isnt already in the bow when you get jumped, youre in trouble. The other problem, though, is that you cant pausemid-incantation indefinitely. Lucas and I had once spent a weekend experimenting with this, and concluded that you could ready a spell for about two minutes. After that, you had to prep it again. This being my first practical application of that research, I was re-readying my spell every sixty seconds, just to be sure.
I crossed to the front window. It was boarded up, but someone had pried loose the middle board to let in sunshine. I stood sideways, so I could see both the window and the doorway, then I redirected my light spell behind me, for backlighting.
Once my eyes adjusted to the darkness of the street below, I could make out Cassandras figure walking down the empty road, Pradas clicking impatiently against the asphalt, Dolce & Gabbana coat snapping behind her. How many people were huddled behind other windows along this street, drawn there by our earlier noise and now watching as this impeccably dressed, attractive forty-year-old woman strode unaccompanied down their street? Talk about an easy mark. Yet no one came out. Maybe they didnt dare.
Judging by Cassandras angle and purposeful stride, she was heading here, presumably having found nothing farther down. That meant my hunch about Johns whereabouts was probably correct, and it meant I had to move fast.
I turned my back to the door and adjusted my light-ball until I could see the reflection of the door in the window glass. Then I took out my cell phone. I readied a new spell, called our apartment, and started talking before the machine picked up.
Hey, its me. Im still in New Orleans. Cassandra got a lead on a vamp and shes following him now. He was supposed to be at this bar, but he ducked out the back door. Can you believe that? Mr. Im-an-Evil-Vampire running out the back. I paused, then laughed. No kidding. Vamps, huh?
Through the reflection in the window I saw a shape cross the doorway. I prepped a fresh spell and continued talking into the answering machine.
I bet he is, I said as the shape crept closer. Probably hiding in some cubbyhole hoping the rats dont get him. Guys like this, its a wonder they havent died out
I cast the rest of the binding spell, then whirled to see a man frozen in mid-lunge. Slender, early thirties, black hair slicked back into a ponytail, white linen shirt, flowing knee-length black leather coat, and matching leather pants. Mascara, maybe. Eyeliner, definitely.
John, I presume, I said. Forgot that vampires really do cast a reflection, didnt you?
His brown eyes darkened with fury. Below, the front door clicked shut.
Up here, I called. I found him.
Cassandras heels clicked double-time up the stairs. As she rounded the corner, she looked almost concerned. Then she saw John and slowed.