Underborn laughed. "Mr. Slade, you are practically brimming with piss and vinegar. Let us both hope it translates into a winning solution." He handed me a slip of paper with symbols scrawled on it. "Give this to Shelton and Smith. They'll know what to do with it."
"Okay." I almost thanked him and mentally kicked myself. This was the guy who'd put me and my dad through all the crap in the first place. Just to test me! Jackass.
"Another suggestion, Mr. Slade. Your speed and strength will only get you so far. It is time for you to explore your arcane abilities. Harry Shelton would be suitable to the task of orienting you and placing you in a respected school once you are done with Edenfield High."
"Vampire recruiters aren't the only problem I have at my school, Underborn. Coach Burgundy and his pals still have a leash around my neck."
"Ah yes, their threats against your classmates. Their little old boys club is actually worse than you can imagine. Coach Burgundy, Principal Perkins, Sherriff Skinner, and Police Chief Amerson all graduated from Edenfield High back when Decatur was a sleepy little hamlet in the suburbs of Atlanta. They've been in power for this long because they're ruthless. However, I would be more than happy to help. Would you like—"
"No!" I shouted. "I won't have you murdering anyone, even if it's lowlifes like Burgundy and his pals. I'll take care of them myself."
Underborn's eyebrow arched. "I wasn't offering to kill anyone."
"Then what were you offering?"
"Their vulnerable spots. Children, wives, addresses. With very little effort, you could turn this around. Make them—how do you kids say it nowadays? Ah yes, make them your bitches."
"You're insane." I gave him my best look of wide-eyed disbelief. "I'm not stooping to your level." I had to admit, though, a part of me relished the idea of turning the tables on those rednecks.
He shrugged. "Very well. However, once you realize the fight ahead will require a little dirt on your hands, perhaps you'll see things my way."
"Not likely." But a part of me doubted my own words. To save my father, I'd had to put my girlfriend in danger. I'd had to ignore my missing mother and sister who were likely being held against their will by the Conroys. My demon side carried with it not just strength and sexual super powers, but an infernal rage which could transform me into a mindless killer. Was it really only a matter of time before I started down the dark slope Underborn had traveled? Before I decided it was okay to kill someone to protect my own interests? I'd wanted to kill the vampires who'd kidnapped my father at the time. But having met Felicia, I realized they were a brainwashed bunch. Killing them wasn't the answer. Taking Maximus out of the equation might be.
"Is there anything else?" Underborn said, rising from his chair.
"Remove all the bounties on his father too," Elyssa said, steel in her voice. "Wipe the slate clean, or I'll be sure my father finds out about you."
A sly grin crossed his face. "Excellent, bargaining Miss Borathen. The moment Mr. Slade has fulfilled our agreement, the bounties on his father will be rescinded."
I was really happy Elyssa had remembered that rather large detail—I'd practically forgotten about it. But I didn't like how happy it made Underborn after she'd threatened him. "Aren't you worried she'll tell her father?"
"If she does, I'm sure I'll find out about it. However, I doubt he'll believe the story, and even if he does, Thomas Borathen has little time to worry about me. In case you hadn't noticed, the Conclave is weakening. Internal strife and turmoil threaten to tear the delicate threads knitting it together. The Red Syndicate fighting Maximus's rogue organization on one hand and dealing with the Arcane Council on the other after one of their schools was attacked by vampires. The spawn and Templars are at each other's throats due to Thunder Rock, and even the spawn have internal conflicts thanks to your dear father Daevadius Slade and his rejection of Kassallandra Assad."
"Things are that bad?" Elyssa said, her eyes filled with shock.
"Indeed, Miss Borathen. Whoever is pulling the strings is masterful." He seemed more awestruck than worried, however, and I had the feeling he'd be more than happy to be on the other side.
What surprised me the most about everything he told me was how little I cared. So what if vampires and assassins and even my dear old demon spawn relatives were having issues? The world would be better off without them. "Dude, you've got issues." I took Elyssa's hand and headed for the door.
"Remember, Mr. Slade, your decisions may impact us all."
I looked back at him. "As long as you don't flunk me out of English class, I don't really care."
He stood and walked to the door, opened it. "Safe travels, Miss Borathen, Mr. Slade." With his other hand he held out the red folder he'd brought to the table. "Read this in your spare time. If nothing else, you may find it entertaining."
I stared at it for a moment. "It's not poisoned or anything is it?"
He chuckled. "Of course not."
I took it, shaking my head slowly. "An assassin English teacher. That's just wrong, man."
"I'll hold on to it," Elyssa said, and slipped it under her arm.
Phissilinth appeared from nowhere. "Shall I see them away, sir?"
"Please do," Underborn said.
Phissilinth nodded. "Very good, sir."
I glared at the small man. "Hey, that's not code for 'kill them' is it?"
"No, sir, I can assure you it is not."
We followed the small man back through the maze of hallways until we reached the door he had used his magic key on earlier. He stopped and looked at us. "Is there anything else you require before you return?"
"Yeah, I want you and Underborn to give up killing people and start a charity going door-to-door and selling cookies to raise money for orphans."
An amused grin formed on the small man's lips. "You may think we kill for money, sir. I assure you, we are not as bad as you think."
"If you're even half as bad as I think, then you're scum in my book." I smiled. "No offense."
"None taken, sir." With that, he twisted the key in the lock and opened the door.
An alley lit by tiny blinking lights waited on the other side.
I stuck my head out the door to make sure we weren't about to drop into a pit of spikes and tentatively tapped my foot on the cobblestones. After assuring myself nothing dangerous waited, we stepped through. The little man shut the door behind us and we were alone.
"Unbelievable," I said. "What a manipulative jackass. He's insane." I looked up at the blinking lights overhead and realized they were tiny lightning bugs. Their little abdomens glowed much brighter than the ones I remembered, casting a yellowish glow illuminating the place bright as street lamps.
"Underborn didn't tell us everything," Elyssa said as we walked toward the park. "He has other reasons for using you. I just wish I knew what they were."
I slashed a hand through the air. "Whatever his reasons, I don't care. Once I'm done with the recruiters, Maximus can rot in hell."
She squeezed my hand. "I wish he would."
We made our way to the Grotto's exit. Nightliss appeared from an alley and trotted up to us.
"Where have you been, little girl?" I asked, picking her up and stroking under her chin. She meowed a couple times but mostly purred. I was just glad she was okay. Otherwise, Stacey would probably kill me.
As we walked through streets lit by thousands of lightning bugs, I noticed crowds gathering at the pubs along the way, and a line of people waiting outside some of the fancier clubs and restaurants. A young vampire grinned at Elyssa as we walked past, his long teeth glistening. A pack of lycan teens howled with laughter as they rolled past at breakneck speeds on strange skateboard-like contraptions with large rubbery wheels.
I even saw a huge flying carpet as one soared low overhead, loaded down with goggling tourists.
"Are those noms on the carpet?" I asked.
"That might have been the Arcane Council's indoctrination tour—the one they give to noms who find out about the Overworld," Elyssa said.
It was almost too much to take in. Despite the weight of the world on my shoulders, the temptation to stop and smell the supernatural roses tugged on my sleeves a time or two. Once I'd cleared the death mark from Dad, maybe I'd bring Elyssa back here for a romantic night out. Heck, I might even trade some dollars for tinsel to make it look like I knew what I was doing.
When we reached the parking garage, I saw the young stable boy—or whatever his official title was—shoveling a huge mound of poo where the elephant had been earlier. He gave us a cheery wave as we passed by.
"Poor kid has a supernaturally cheerful attitude," I said. "Or maybe they drug him."
Elyssa laughed.
"Sir, don't forget your purchases," the boy hollered.
I snapped my fingers. "Ah, yes. Almost forgot." I walked to a nearby table where a number of packages sat, many of them identical. "How do I know which is mine?" As if in answer, what looked like a holographic image of my face popped up above the paper bag from the prank shop.
"That's how," Elyssa said with a smile. "Now you have to say the code words."
I tried to take the bag but it wouldn't budge from the table. "You're really enjoying this aren't you?"
Her grin widened and she stifled a laugh. "No. Not at all."
"Ha, ha. Justin is a dork." The bag came free. "I ought to bend you over my knee for that one."
"Ooh, is that a promise?" She winked.
A blaze of heat ran up my tender bits. "God, I hope so."
We went to the car and took off. Thankfully, this drive was heart-attack-free. I texted Shelton while we were parking outside his hideout so he could open the stairwell and let us inside. Smith waited just outside the door to the grungy room hiding the secret entrance. His shoulders were slumped and his gaze seemed captivated by the brick wall across the alley from him.