Beso de la Muerte (Kiss of Death) Author: Tracy Vettier-Chevalier *Disclaimer in Chapter One. Chapter Three: After five hours on a plane, even the midget airport in Acapulco,Mexico was a welcome change. Normally, I hate airports. Okay, so I only started hating them when Edward, my bestest assassin buddy, called in a favor and I was exposed to too much Western decor while simultaneously almost being killed several times, but I still hate airports
. I walked through the terminal with my suit jacket unbuttoned and the Browning visible. I didn't have a clue about the gun laws in Mexico, but I had a carry permit, and wasn't in the mood to get hassled. Usually, that meant I'd keep the jacket buttoned so that no one saw the gun, but have you ever been in Acapulco during the summer with a buttoned suit jacket on? Two words: Heat stroke.
So the gun was visible. Jean-Claude was too smart to comment on it, but once again, Richard saved him the trouble. "Anita, is that really necessary?" He asked, giving me his best stern teacher look. Mrs. Pringle's was better. Then again, she'd had fifty or so years to practice it.
To my credit, I didn't say anything rude to him. In fact, I didn't say anything at all. Okay, so I glared. Sue me.
Richard had a kicked puppy look on his face when I snatched my suitcase off of the conveyor belt at the baggage claim and walked off, leaving him to either catch up, or stand there and wait for World War III. He caught up. Jean-Claude was walking beside me, his steps more of a rolling glide than an actual walk. I was feeling like a klutz with my suitcase banging into the back of my knee every other step I took, but I'd be damned if I was going to ask either of them to carry it for me. One, I could carry my own damn suitcase. I'm female, not helpless. Two, the suitcase had just about every gun I owned in it. If something jumped out and tried to eat me, I wanted access to the guns. Paranoid, who me?
Jean-Claude took the lead when we walked outside, gesturing for Richard and I to stay put. If I'd had a clue where the hell I was, I would have ignored him. But, since we could have been on the far side of the moon for all I knew, I stayed put. Who says I haven't learned anything? Richard was looking at me oddly, and being the patient person I am, I snapped. "What?"
He just shook his head. "You've changed."
I fought the urge to roll my eyes."Everyone changes,Richard. It's called life."
He shook his head again. "No. This is different. You seem...harder."
"Did Jean-Claude tell you what happened in Albuquerque?" I asked.
"No," Richard said,looking confused.
"Edward called in his favor," I said.
"For killing his backup?" He asked.
I nodded.
"Shit. What was so bad that Death needed backup?" Richard looked horrified, and I hadn't even told him yet. Funny how anything to do with Edward automatically spooks him now. He used to think Edward was a pussycat. "A vampire that thought it was a god. It skinned people and used the skins as clothing for its servants. The people it didn't want, it tore apart. I managed to keep one of its zombies from eating a nursery full of babies at the hospital, but it almost killed me, from more than ten miles away,Richard. And then I got to meet it up close and personal, when it wanted to sacrifice me," I told him.
He didn't seem to know what to make of all of that. "What are you trying to say,Anita?"
"I'm still alive, so quit bitching." I made it a statement.
Richard sighed and turned away from me, watching the people walk in and out of the airport. I couldn't see his face, but I had a sneaking suspicion that he looked a lot like the Big Bad Wolf eyeing Little Red Riding Hood as he watched the crowd. I don't think he ever caught on to the hungry look he got when he watched a crowd. I'd seen it a lot. Usually I was on the receiving end of that look, from one beastie or another.
After a few more minutes, I started scanning the crowd. Where the fuck was Jean-Claude?
I put my suitcase down on the pavement and sat on it, my right hand casually on my hip, as close to my gun as I could get without holding a sign that said 'arrest me, I'm armed'.
A moment later, Jean-Claude sauntered out of the crowd, toward us. He didn't look too happy. Joy. Now what?
<The Master of the City wants to meet you, ma petite.> I jumped like I'd been stung at hearing his voice in my head.
Richard had an odd look on his face. Made me wonder if he'd heard the same thing I had.
When Jean-Claude was close enough that I wouldn't have to yell to talk to him, I stood up and stalked over him, standing close enough that our bodies almost touched. Sometimes, it made me want to jump his bones, now, I was just pissed.
"Next time you have something to tell me, say it. But stay the fuck out of my head, or I'll bust your ass just on principle," I hissed into his face. Jean-Claude raised an eyebrow,looking slightly amused. "Very well, ma petite. The Master wishes to meet you. He has acknowledged you as he would another Master, so you have the right to refuse. But, it could cause complications."
"Complications? What kind of fucking vacation is this?" I asked.
"Such language, ma petite. If it were a vampire and his servant in our city, we would request audience as well. No Master worth his position would let strange people into his territory without meeting them to see what their intentions were. And you are too well known now for anyone not to request to meet with you," Jean-Claude said softly.
We were close enough that if I stood on tiptoe, I could have kissed him. Or bit him. Biting was more his thing though. I took a step back, so he wasn't in my personal space. "Fine. I'll go see him, whoever he is. But after that, I want to spend the rest of this trip on the beach."
"Of course, ma petite." Jean-Claude smiled
. I shook my head and went to get my suitcase off of the sidewalk before someone took off with it. This trip was a seriously fucked up idea, I thought, and I hadn't even gotten out of the airport yet. Shit.