Redux, p.1
Redux, page 1
Redux
Saige Sterling: Badass Bounty Hunter: Book Five
J.C. Diem
Copyright © 2023 J.C. DIEM
www.jcdiem.com
All rights reserved. Published by Seize The Night Publishing Agency.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, incidents and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Titles by J.C. Diem in chronological order:
Chapter One
I’D BARELY HAD A CHANCE to rest since I’d returned from the underworld three weeks ago. Rogues were murdering humans on a near nightly basis now, which meant Lord Gilden’s bounty hunters were in high demand. The body disposal teams were run off their feet to get rid of any evidence.
I didn’t bother to game with Aurora when we finished eating dinner, since Ruen usually called me with a job. Tonight was no different and my phone rang shortly after nightfall.
“I wonder what you’ll be hunting this time?” Aurora mused when I picked my phone up. “My money is on a pack of shifters.” She was drawing in a sketchpad while I watched TV.
“I bet it’s vampires,” I said, then answered the call. “Hey, Ruen. What are we hunting tonight?”
“I haven’t been given the details yet,” he said in a slightly stiff tone. Aurora’s eyebrows rose and we shared a surprised look. “We’ve been asked to meet with a prominent member of the supernatural community,” he informed me. “I’ll pick you up in half an hour. Wear something that won’t embarrass Lord Gilden.”
He hung up before I could ask him exactly who we were being summoned to. “Does he always have to be such a fanghole?” I complained.
“It’s been a few weeks since he’s been able to murder anyone,” my bestie reminded me. “He’s probably going through withdrawals.”
Neither of us laughed, because we were pretty sure she was right about that. “I’m glad he gave me extra time to pick something to wear,” I said. My sidekick usually only gave me ten minutes to get ready.
“Do you want some help?”
“It couldn’t hurt,” I replied with a smirk. Ruen’s and my ideas of suitable attire differed vastly.
My work wardrobe consisted mostly of leather and lace. I also had a variety of t-shirts and jeans for casual wear. What I lacked was clothing that could be worn to visit rich and powerful supernatural beings. Aurora helped me choose a dark blue shirt that hugged my boobs, but wasn’t sheer, or too low-cut. I paired it up with new black jeans and boots. “I feel so ordinary in this outfit,” I complained when I looked at my reflection.
“It is a bit tame for you,” Aurora agreed. “I’m sure Ruen will approve of it.”
I grimaced that I’d dressed boringly enough to get my staid partner’s tick of approval. I glanced through the window above my bed just as his black sedan pulled into the lot. He looked up and I waved at him. He didn’t bother to respond. “I’d better go before he gets his panties in a bunch,” I muttered.
Aurora snickered and returned to the couch, while I trotted over to the old trunk next to the door to grab my kill-bag. It was full of weapons that could slaughter most of the creatures I hunted. More weapons were stashed in Ruen’s trunk. I was confident I had everything I needed to take down whatever monster had been slated for death tonight.
I took the elevator downstairs, then hurried out through the back door to the parking lot. Ruen was tapping the steering wheel impatiently when I climbed in beside him. As always, he wore a black suit and a white shirt.
“Well?” I asked when he scanned my outfit. “Is this appropriate, or are you going to make me go back upstairs and change?”
“I’m pleasantly surprised that you don’t look like a prostitute for once,” he said dourly, then drove out of the lot.
Coming from him, that was high praise. I could tell he’d fed, because his cheeks weren’t quite as hollow as usual. One glass of blood was enough to last him for a couple of nights, but I knew it wouldn’t do anything to fill the void in his stomach. I knew how ravenous he was after becoming a vampire myself for five weeks in the underworld. I had more sympathy for leeches now, but it wouldn’t stop me from decapitating them when they turned rogue.
“So, who are we being summoned to?” I asked.
“Lady Galantine has requested our presence at her mansion,” Ruen replied.
My upper lip wrinkled back from my teeth at that knowledge. “Ugh, what does that snobby old cow want?”
“Have some respect for an ancient master vampire!” he snapped.
“Not likely,” I retorted. She’d been rude to me when we’d met, even if Drake had wiped her memory of it. I hadn’t forgotten her comment recently about my weight being unhealthy. “Respect needs to be earned,” I said. “It isn’t automatically doled out just because of someone’s age and wealth.”
He rolled his eyes at what he probably saw as my naivety. The bloodsucker had been around the elite of the supernatural community for three centuries. I was only twenty-two and had little experience with hoity-toity types. “I told Lord Gilden it was a bad idea to agree to Lady Galantine’s request to see us,” he muttered.
“Did she ask for us specifically?” I asked in surprise.
“Yes,” he said morosely. “I have no idea what task she wants us to perform. She refused to speak about it on the phone. All she said was that it’s a delicate matter and that we would be the best bounty hunters to deal with it.”
While it was gratifying that my fame was spreading, I couldn’t help but be a bit dubious. “You told me she has a lot of minions at her beck and call,” I pointed out. “Why would she need our help if she’s got a small army on her payroll?”
He shrugged uncomfortably before replying. “We’ll find out when we get there.”
We passed through the heart of Nexus and eventually entered a wealthy suburb of large mansions built on sprawling properties. I sensed vampires everywhere and figured the houses in this area were owned by rich masters. The thick drapes on the windows were open to allow light to spill out. They would be drawn shut during the day to keep out the killing rays of the sun. Unlike in the underworld, vampires could stay awake during the day here, so the masters wouldn’t be vulnerable. They would have guards on rotation to make sure their mansions were secure at all times.
A tall black stone wall came into view. I instinctively knew it marked the beginnings of Lady Galantine’s property. A four-story mansion loomed in the distance, partially hidden by the fence. It looked stern and imposing, just like it’s owner.
Ruen followed the wall to a guarded gate. Vampires were keeping watch from inside booths on both sides of the driveway. The windows were heavily tinted, which meant they could be manned during the day. Right now, their windows were open.
“Paranoid much?” I murmured as Ruen nosed his way onto the driveway. He gave me an irritated look, then braked in front of the large ornate iron gate.
“Names?” the guard next to Ruen’s door asked when he lowered his window. Both guards were dressed in black, like most bloodsuckers tended to wear. Their suits were better quality than Ruen’s and his weren’t cheap.
“Ruen and Saige Sterling,” my partner said, inadvertently making us sound like a married couple. I shuddered a little at the thought of being shackled to my dour companion for life.
“You’re cleared to enter,” the guard said after studying us both intently. “Someone will show you where to park.”
Ruen’s window slid back up and th e gate swung open. The lawns were meticulous, as were the landscaped gardens that we drove past. Lights lit up the yard to put it on display, presumably for those of us who didn’t have excellent night vision.
Another vampire was waiting for us at the end of the driveway. He pointed off to the left where parking had been allocated for guests.
My sidekick pulled into a vacant spot between two big black SUVs. We climbed out and I turned to survey the house and attached garage. The garage was easily three times the size of my mom’s bungalow. I was sure it had a collection of ridiculously expensive vehicles inside it.
The mansion was elegant and beautiful and not at all creepy as I’d expected. Made from pale sandstone, it had white shutters and thick gold drapes to block the sunlight. The massive door was painted black to match the wall that surrounded the property. We hadn’t even entered it yet and I was already a bit intimidated by the opulence.
“Keep your mouth shut and be on your best behavior,” Ruen warned me quietly, then headed for the door.
Scowling at his back, I hurried to catch up to him so I didn’t look like his lowly subordinate.
Chapter Two
RUEN DIDN’T GET A CHANCE to knock when we reached the door. A lackey opened it and stepped aside to let us in. All of the guards had been male so far. Their eyes were watchful and their faces were carefully blank, hiding their emotions.
“Follow me,” the tall, thickly set bloodsucker said as we stepped into the foyer.
I barely had time to glance around at the herringbone wooden floor and antique furniture as we were led to a parlor. Lady Galantine was seated on a delicate chaise longue. It was ice blue, with silver leaves embedded in it. The antique sofa matched the other pieces that were arranged in front of an unlit fireplace.
Our hostess sat with her ankles crossed and her knees primly pressed together. She wore a sleek dark red dress that clung to her slender form. Lady Galantine was the epitome of class, with a thin face and a nose that was a tad too long. Her dark brown hair was fashioned into a chignon. She was reading a book and was pretending she didn’t know we were there.
“Your guests have arrived, my lady,” our guide said, then bowed deeply.
Lady Galantine deigned to look up and gave us a fake smile. “You may go,” she said to her minion without looking at him. She waited for him to back out of the room and close the door before she spoke again. “I’m glad Lord Gilden was able to send two of his servants to assist me with my small problem so quickly.” Her accent was snobby and British.
I bristled at being called a servant and Ruen glared at me in warning. “It will be our pleasure to aid you, Lady Galantine,” he said diplomatically. “May I ask what you require our assistance with?”
She didn’t offer us a seat, so we had to stand there subserviently. “Three of my newest fledglings have disappeared,” she said. “I require you to locate them for me.”
Ruen flicked a look at me that reflected his puzzlement. I just shrugged, since he’d told me to keep my mouth shut. “I’m not sure I understand, my lady,” he said. “As their master, you should be able to sense where they are.”
“I’m aware of that,” she snapped and rose to her feet. Even in four-inch red stilettoes, she was shorter than me. I’d worn boots with a two-inch heel, which was shorter than the heels I usually wore. I felt smug that I could look down at her, even though her hair made her technically six inches taller than I was.
She stalked over to a window that overlooked the front yard. Her dress was short enough to put her skinny thighs on display. I grudgingly had to admit that most men would find her attractive, if they were into bony women. It was hard to say how old she’d been when she’d been turned. If I had to guess, I’d say early forties.
Staring at the brightly lit driveway for a minute, she turned to face us again. “I lost my connection to my fledglings last night.”
“Someone must have killed them,” Ruen figured.
Lady Galantine shook her head in denial. “I would have felt it if they’d died.”
“What happened to them, then?” I asked.
She glared at me for daring to speak, then focused on Ruen. “I believe a rival stole them from me and I want them back.”
“Do you have any suspects, my lady?”
“Several,” she said darkly. “But I can’t accuse them openly. You’ll need to track my fledglings down discreetly.”
“Lord Gilden has magic users on his staff,” Ruen said. “We should be able to locate your servants if we can obtain samples of their hair.”
She wrinkled her nose in distaste, but seemed resigned that we’d have to use a witch or a wizard for assistance. “Do whatever you must, but don’t tell them who hired you. Once you’ve located my fledglings, you will rescue them and bring them here.”
“It could cause diplomatic problems if we have to rescue them from another powerful master, my lady,” Ruen pointed out.
“Kill them if you have to,” she said in a hard tone. “Get this done tonight,” she ordered us, then turned her back in dismissal. “One of my servants will escort you to my fledglings’ bedroom,” she added without turning around.
Ruen grabbed me by the arm when I opened my mouth to make a cutting remark about her attitude. He held his fist up threateningly and scowled at me horribly. It was an empty threat, since he was restricted from hurting anyone when he was in our dimension.
The vampire who’d led us to the parlor opened the door to let us out. We followed him down a long hallway to a staircase. We climbed up to the third floor and I sensed it was teeming with the undead. Ruen frowned when he overheard whispered conversations. I’d grill him about it later. For now, I strode along at his side to a bedroom at the end of the hallway.
Our escort opened the door and gestured for us to enter, then crossed his arms to wait. Ruen entered first and I followed him inside. Three single beds were crammed into the bedroom. Clothes were squashed into a closet that had been left open. Instead of being black, the beautiful dresses came in a variety of colors.
Ruen slapped my hand when I reached out to touch one of the dresses. “We aren’t here to fondle the fabric, Ms. Sterling,” he snapped.
I rolled my eyes at him and crossed to a dresser. A quick look inside told me the girls were all the same size. “They must share their clothes,” I murmured. The shoes lined up in the closet were all the same size as well.
Ruen ignored me and began searching the beds for strands of hair.
“This might help,” I said, holding up a hairbrush that rested on the dresser. Blonde, dark brown and red strands were mixed in together.
“Give it to me,” my sidekick said in annoyance and snatched it out of my hand. He clearly had something up his butt tonight, but I couldn’t query him about what was wrong. It would have to wait until we’d left the grand estate.
“Are you done?” our guide asked stonily when we exited from the bedroom.
“We have what we need,” Ruen confirmed, tucking the brush into his pocket.
The vampire led us back to the front door and let us out. I waited until we were a few blocks away from the property before speaking. “What the hell is up with you tonight?” I demanded.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said curtly.
“You’re acting like you haven’t fed in a week,” I said with a frown. “I know you can’t be starving, because you drank blood before you picked me up.”
He cut a look at me and clamped his lips shut. It was obvious he wasn’t going to fill me in, so I subsided into sulky silence.
Ruen drove to the twenty-story skyscraper where he lived and worked. He pulled into the spot reserved for him in the underground parking area. Instead of taking the elevator to the nineteenth floor where Drake’s office was, we stopped at the tenth floor.
I felt magic even before the door slid open. Spells were being cast in the offices on this floor. I didn’t know what the witches and wizards were doing, since the doors were closed and there were no windows to peer through.
My partner took a few hallways and stopped at a door. None of them had names or numbers on them. He knocked and a muffled response came from inside. Opening the door, Ruen shoved me inside first, then entered behind me.
Chapter Three
