Pia Does Hollywood (Elder Races, #8.6)(15)

Basket Case had not been delusional, after all. There were no people in her neighborhood.

Some people might think that meant he owed her an apology. In fact, if he considered WWPD, she would definitely say that he did, but as far as he was concerned, it was a moot point, as he had no intention of ever speaking to or seeing Basket Case again. There was just so much of the rest of his life to live, which took a far greater urgency.

Wait, there was a sound. It came from some distance away, perhaps a couple of blocks over to the right. It sounded metallic, like a trash can had been knocked over.

He broke into an easy jog, reached the end of the block and turned right. The small sound of his own footsteps overrode what he had heard, so he had to stop once or twice to listen again before moving forward.

There—more sounds came from down this street. It was virtually a replica of the street he had just left. This was all part of the same neighborhood.

On his left, a house stood with its front door open. He passed several more houses with open doors.

Who leaves their door open when they leave their house? People evacuating, or in a panic, except how could Basket Case live in this neighborhood and not be aware of an evacuation or a panic? Had she gone out the evening before, so she wasn’t home to notice this general air of abandonment?

His mind shot to the unpleasant heart of the matter. Was he really going to have to talk to her again, after all?

There. He stopped.

The noises came from behind that stucco house. Now that he was closer, it sounded louder, like there were several creatures making it. A pack of dogs, perhaps, rooting through an alleyway. If people had left in a hurry, some of them might have abandoned their pets.

He walked around the side of the house. A six-foot-high privacy fence surrounded the backyard, so in the last several feet, he gathered up speed and leaped over it.

The backyard was charming and as well kept as the rest of the neighborhood. He jogged to the back fence, gathered himself and leaped again.

As he landed in the alley, he startled a group of people.

Quite a large group of people, all Light Fae, in various modes of dress. To a one, they were streaked with blood and open wounds.

Staring, he straightened from his landing crouch as the group whipped around to glare at him. Their eyes were all black. No whites.

Some had only half their faces, the remaining flesh looking as though it had been chewed by wild beasts.

People tend to flock, and these were no exception either. Moving as one, they hurtled at him. They were incredibly, impossibly fast. There wasn’t enough room in the alley for him to shapeshift and launch. Then he thought to turn and leap back over the fence.

As he crouched to spring, the foremost of the group gathered into a huge leap and landed on his back, knocking him off balance. It was followed by two more. Then the entire group was upon him. Pain flared as one of them bit him on his arm, tearing through the skin.

Like the snick of a trigger on a gun, Dragos’s mind clicked over to Plan B:

Fight savagely and throw lots and lots of fire.

He cut loose.





Chapter Five





Tatiana’s residence reminded Pia of classic old Hollywood grandeur. The white mansion had Corinthian-style columns in the front, large receiving rooms and a large pool in the backyard surrounded by an immaculately kept garden.

The furnishings inside were classic old-world Hollywood too. Pia’s suite had a massive four-poster bed in the bedroom with a peach coverlet and sheer drapes tied back, and antique Chippendale furniture. She had a sitting room all to herself, with a wood fireplace and two divans, and her bathroom had a walk-in, marble bathtub with gold furnishings.

After unpacking and admiring the view out her windows, she texted Eva. I’m ready to go downstairs.

Within the next breath, a rap sounded on her door. Eva didn’t wait for a reply but opened it and stuck her head in. “I’m ready too.”

Unless they encountered a situation that warranted a change in plans, for now, while Pia was in the Light Fae Queen’s residence, she would have one guard with her at all times, so that Quentin, Aryal, and Eva could rotate shifts around the clock.

Pia hoped that would help to generate a relaxed atmosphere among everyone? and besides, the other two were close by if anything happened.

She stepped out in the hall and took the stairs with Eva by her side. Just like earlier at the airstrip, Bailey had evidently been waiting for them, and she moved smoothly to the bottom of the stairs to meet them.

At least Bailey wasn’t flanked by ten more guards inside the house, Pia thought wryly. Because that would be awkward.

“Are you all settled in?” Bailey asked.

“Yes, thanks,” Pia replied cheerfully. “The place is magnificent. Is it all right if we look around?”

“Sure,” Bailey told her. “I’ll come with you.”

“Are you my babysitter?” Pia asked, smiling.

The Light Fae woman returned her smile, but like before, on the tarmac, it was brief and faded again quickly. “It’s my pleasure to spend time with you.”

So she is my babysitter, Pia said to Eva. I don’t mind. I suspected there would be somebody, but I did at least expect some kind of greeting from Tatiana when I arrived.

Guess a Queen’s gotta do what a Queen’s gotta do. Eva’s mental voice sounded dubious.