Callie stood over to the side, her body aching from the battle with Aidan. Her emotions were strained to the breaking point as she watched Marcus slowly feeding Armand Rand with blood they'd had brought up from ASP. He'd drained six packets so far and was just beginning to act normal.
"You okay?" Shadow asked, coming up behind her and leaning close.
"I'd be better if Angel was with Marcus and you and I were in your bed," she said, leaning her head back against his shoulder.
"Me too, baby," he whispered. "You don't know how badly I want that." He kissed her hair, not caring who saw the emotions between them. "I'm not going to have to stand guard over you in the med unit so you don't bash Dr. Chanteuse with another bedpan, am I?"
"When this is all done, I'll go willingly as long as I can go home with you after."
"It's a deal. Marcus told me about your fight with Aidan. He said you kicked his ass. I wish I could have watched."
"You wouldn't have just watched and you know it," she teased, her eyes on his. She could see the emotions he felt, the love he held in his heart for her and it made her own heart soar. Now if only Angel were still here, her life would be close to perfect.
"We'll get her back, Callie," Shadow muttered against her ear, dropping his head so that his forehead rested against her hair.
Callie's eyes closed and she laughed softly. "Am I that transparent or have you developed some new power you should tell me about before I embarrass myself?" She felt his hand move to her waist and then to her stomach, gently pulling her closer until his warmth seemed to be all around her.
"I'll never tell," Brian said. "I love it when you lean against me like this."
"I love it when you hold me," she whispered, looking up at him.
Marcus cleared his throat, his face almost like a marble mask when they looked at him. "I think Armand is more stable now."
"Callie!" Armand yelled. "You've got to find Angel. You've got to find my daughter!"
"We will, Mr. Rand," Callie said, limping over to the distressed vampire. "But we're going to need your help, yours and the council's. Can you get them involved in this?"
"Hell yes, I'll get them involved in this." He shook his hands when Marcus easily tore apart the shackles he'd replaced on Armand's wrists when he'd been in the midst of the blood lust. "What do you need?"
"Armand, we need to know where Dorian could have taken Angel. Do you have any clue where he could be holing up to wait out the day?" Shadow leaned down, helping the elder vampire to his feet.
Armand began to shake his head no then stopped, his brow furrowing. "Wait, I just might know where they are." He closed his eyes, his hands still shaking as he lifted them to grab Shadow's shirt. "Dorian was on the phone. He thought I was too gone to the blood lust to really understand anything he said. He spoke of a rail-car, specially built to ward off the sun."
"A train? But to where?" Marcus asked.
"It doesn't matter. The only place that would be big enough to hold his railcar and have tracks to it close enough to the city has to be Kale Ridge Station." Shadow grinned. "He won't have time to get an engine out there before dawn."
"Then what are you waiting for," Armand growled, beginning to sound like himself again. "Get out there and save my daughter!"
"We will, but sir, we still need the council's permission to take Dorian," Callie said, straightening her shoulder even though she felt a rippling pain and a trail of heat that meant it started to bleed again.
"You'll have it by the time you need it. You have my word as one of the Council of Twelve. Now go, find my Angel. Be safe," he called as the three leapt for the door.
Marcus was down the stairs and across the floor quickly. He barreled through the agents and the cleaners that were working the scene. The club would be set afire as soon as everything that could be traced back to the supernatural world had been eradicated or taken back to ASP. Bodies would be piled as if they were rushing to get out.
The minds of those left alive would be altered. They would remember a big fire and the mad exodus to get out of the place.
The cleaners were experts in their jobs, knowing every new bit of forensic science that was possible. Smoke would be forced into the lungs of those who'd died, making it look as if they had perished due to inhalation. Smoke would also be forced into the lungs of the survivors but to a lesser extent.
The fire wouldn't be reported until it was a blazing hell, making the corpses unrecognizable. No clue would be left that this wasn't just a tragic accident that had claimed so many young lives.
If Marcus had his way, Dorian would be staked out in the center of the building, left to burn to death slowly. If he'd hurt Angel, Marcus would make sure of it.
"I'm flying," he shouted back to Shadow.
"Don't you take Dorian on by yourself," Shadow ordered, hoping the ancient warrior would listen to his words just once. "He's too strong. Marcus!"
Marcus leapt into the air, his wings beating hard. He looked back at Shadow once, sending him a cocky salute. Then he was out of sight.
Shadow hurried to where they'd left the truck, unlocking the doors quickly as Callie reached the passenger side. She climbed in, slamming her door, leaning back in the seat and breathing harshly. Shadow leaned over her, reaching for her seatbelt and fastening it for her. "I'd take you to the med unit but I don't think I could get you to stay, could I?"
She shook her head, bravely smiling even though her shoulder hurt like it was on fire and blood loss was making her pale. "I'll be fine," she said.
His eyes lingered on her face, the pale bruises that haunted under her silver eyes, her soft skin losing that rosy glow of health he loved so much. "If you die on me..." he growled, unable to finish the thought.
"I won't, baby."
