Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)(42)
His origins were anyone’s guess.
Much like the unknown origins of Alterants, but many clearly saw Sen’s as a valuable pedigree, whereas she was considered mongrel.
When Sen spoke, his voice rolled up the stair-step seating. “By now you know we have a contagious infection being transmitted by Nightstalkers. We have to find the origin of this infection, and we believe someone or something is passing this along when they shake hands with Nightstalkers. Healers are working on our agents to slow the infection, but without more information the diagnosis is grim, because the infected ghouls are deteriorating until their spirits are trapped inside half-visible bodies.”
Evalle had to get back to Grady and make sure he stayed away from everyone. He wouldn’t like giving up his ten minutes of human form for a handshake with a powerful being, but he wouldn’t want to end up with his spirit trapped in a half-dead shell.
VIPER would order those bodies destroyed, but what did that mean for their spirits?
Continuing, Sen said, “We have incidents of the infection being passed through telepathy.” Murmuring broke out through the room until the torches on the stage flamed high and bright—Sen letting everyone know to shut up. When the room quieted, he said, “The agents affected are comatose, and it doesn’t look promising. We need to find out where this came from and if someone has unleashed this intentionally in the city. Our guess at this point is that someone might be trying to wipe out our intelligence network.”
An agent halfway down stood up, taking the floor for a question. “Any suspects at all?”
“No.” Sen crossed his arms and took everyone in with one sweep. “Unless you have a case that I’ve cleared as taking precedence, then every one of you is assigned to this problem until you hand me the person or group behind the infections. Tzader will hand out orders as soon as we finish here.”
Another agent rose to his feet, asking about what to do if they found an infected agent, human or other.
“We have a hotline monitored twenty-four-seven. Do not touch anyone or anything you suspect of infection.” When no one else posed a question, Sen looked over at Tzader before stepping a few feet away.
Tzader moved to center stage. “We have another issue brought to my attention today. We want to make sure everyone is clear on VIPER laws. One of our Beladors learned of an Achilles Beast Championship event scheduled tomorrow night in the southeast corner of Georgia.”
Warning crashed through Evalle’s chest. She clutched the edge of her seat.
She should have talked to Tzader before this.
Heat streaked up her arm.
FOURTEEN
This is not a VIPER issue as long as our laws are not broken,” Sen added from the side of the stage where he addressed agents filling the amphitheater, since Tzader technically still had the floor.
Evalle was gripping the edge of her stone seat. It sucked as a stress reliever. Her heart rate had gone into Mach speed. Where was Storm when she needed a calm-me-down spell?
Trey glanced over at her. “Problem?”
Yes, I want to shout at Tzader that we need to talk now! Instead, she whispered back in a strained voice. “Indigestion.”
He nodded and returned to listening.
She just had to figure out how to spin this ABC event to be a VIPER issue.
Casper stood behind her. “Whoa now. When I was in the Texas division, Beast Clubs were illegal. What’s changed?”
Thank you, Casper.
“Nothing.” Tzader’s gaze swept the crowd. “Beast Clubs are still illegal and within VIPER jurisdiction for sanctioning if the battles are held on any land that is not under diplomatic protection. In fact, one of our people spotted a Beast Club in progress in the area of Oakey Mountain last night. By the time agents arrived there was nothing left but torches staked around a circle.” He continued sharing the report, details Evalle knew firsthand.
Cold raced along her skin at how close she and Storm had come to being caught. But they hadn’t. She focused on keeping calm. Don’t react here. She leaned toward Trey, hoping he knew more. “That was some get. Who called in the Beast Club alert?”
“Horace Keefer,” Trey said softly. “He heard about it from a Nightstalker, but that must have been before the infection broke out. Old guy comes up with surprising intel sometimes.”
“No kidding. Poor old guy needs a hobby.”
“I think working with VIPER is the only thing keeping him going after losing his wife and son years ago.”
She nodded, listening as Tzader moved on to VIPER’s response to the report.
“We’ve sent out several trackers who are following scents, but no leads as yet. These illegal Beast Clubs have sprung up overnight, primarily here in the southeastern region, but we don’t expect them to continue once the Achilles Beast Championship is over.”
Evalle made a mental note to tell Storm about Horace having reported the Beast Club to VIPER, but she wouldn’t reach him by cell phone until she got out of this mountain. If Horace had seen her or Storm, he’d have reported to Tzader, so she might be worrying for no reason.
Down in front, Horace swung his head around, eyeing the crowd, then his gaze paused on her. He gave her his grandfatherly smile, and she returned one as warm to him.
Trey shoved to his feet. “What about this beast championship? What makes that legal?”