I growled. “What kind of friend are you? Especially after I helped you out last night?”
“Christ, Georgina. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d take it so personally.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “It’s not just that. It’s…I don’t know. It’s this whole business with Duane. I was thinking about what Jerome told me…”
Hugh waited, giving me time to gather my thoughts, sensing I was about to unleash something. My mind pondered the night’s unfolding as I studied the imp’s large shape beside me. He could be as silly as the vampires sometimes; I didn’t know if I could speak seriously to him.
“Hugh…how do you know if a demon is lying?”
There was a pause, then he emitted a soft laugh, recognizing the old joke. “His lips are moving.” We leaned against my counter, and he studied me from his greater height. “Why? Do you think Jerome’s lying to us?”
“Yes, I do.” Another pause followed.
“Tell me then.”
“Jerome told me to be careful, said I could be mistaken for a vampire.”
“He told me the same thing.”
“But Peter said vampire hunters can’t kill us.”
“You ever had a stake driven through your heart? It might not kill you, but I bet you wouldn’t like it.”
“Fair enough. But Jerome claimed vampire hunters find other vampires by following their prey. That’s bullshit. Cody and Peter are the exception. You know how most vampires are—they don’t hang out with other vampires. Following one generally won’t lead to another.”
“Yeah, but he said this one was a newbie.”
“Jerome didn’t say that. That was Peter’s theory based on the stake.”
Hugh gave a conciliatory grunt. “Okay. So what do you think is going on?”
“I don’t know. I just know these stories are contradicting each other. And Carter seemed awfully involved, like he was in on some secret with Jerome. Why should Carter even care? His side should technically approve of someone picking off our people.”
“He’s an angel. Isn’t he supposed to love everyone, even the damned? Especially when said damned are his drinking buddies.”
“I don’t know. There’s more here than we’re being told…and Jerome seemed so adamant about me being careful. You too, apparently.”
He stayed quiet a few moments before finally saying, “You’re a pretty girl, Georgina.”
I started. So much for serious talk. “Did you drink more than that beer?”
“I forget, though,” he continued, ignoring my question, “that you’re also a smart one. I work around shallow women so much—suburban housewives wanting smoother skin and bigger breasts—who have no other concerns but their appearances. It’s easy to get caught up in the stereotypes and forget that you have a brain in there too, behind your beautiful face. You see things differently than the rest of us—more clearly, I guess. Sort of a bigger picture kind of thinking. Maybe it’s your age—no offense.”
“You did drink too much. Besides, I’m not smart enough to figure out what Jerome isn’t telling us unless…there aren’t really succubus or imp hunters out there, are there?”
“Have you ever heard of one?”
“No.”
“Neither have I. But I have heard of vampire hunters—independent of pop culture.” Hugh reached for his cigarettes and changed his mind, remembering I didn’t like smoking in my apartment. “I don’t think anyone’s going to put a stake through us anytime soon, if that’s what’s bothering you.”
“But you do agree we’re being left out of the loop?”
“What else do you expect from Jerome?”
“I think…I think I’m going to go see Erik.”
“Is he still alive?”
“Last I knew.”
“That’s a good idea. He knows more about us than we do.”
“I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“Nah. I think I’d rather stay ignorant.”
“Fine. Where are you off to now?”
“I’ve got to go put in some after-hours time with one of the new secretaries, if you catch my meaning.” He grinned, dare I say, impishly. “Twenty years old, with breasts that defy gravity. I should know. I helped install them.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, despite the grim atmosphere. Hugh, like the rest of us, had a day job when not furthering the cause of evil and chaos. In his case, the line between occupations was a little thin: he was a plastic surgeon.
“I can’t compete with that.”
“Not true. Science can’t duplicate your breasts.”
“Praise from a true connoisseur. Have fun.”
“I will. Watch your back, sweetie.”
“You too.”
He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead and left. I stood there, alone at last, staring idly at my door and wondering what all this meant. Jerome’s warning probably had been overkill, I decided. As Hugh had said, no one had ever heard of imp or succubus hunters.
Still, I clicked my deadbolt and fastened the chain on my door before going to bed. Immortal I might be, but reckless I was not. Well, at least not when it counted.
Chapter 6
I woke up the next day, determined to go see Erik and get the truth about vampire hunters. Then, as I was brushing my teeth, I remembered yesterday’s other crisis.
Seth Mortensen.
Swearing, I finished up in the bathroom, earning a disapproving look from Aubrey for my profanity. There was no telling how long this tour thing with him might take. I might have to wait until tomorrow to see Erik, and by then, this vampire hunter or whatever could have struck again.
I set out for Emerald City, wearing the most nonattractive outfit I could muster: jeans and a turtleneck, with my hair pulled severely back. Paige, all smiles, approached me as I waited for Seth in the café. “You should show him Foster’s and Puget Sound Books while you’re out,” she told me conspiratorially.
Still waking up, I took a sip of the mocha Bruce had just made me and tried to reason out her logic. Foster’s and Puget Sound Books were competitors of ours, though not major ones. “Those places are dives.”
“Exactly.” She grinned at me with her even white teeth. “Show him those, and he’ll be convinced
