Demon Moon

muttered, “Ouch. My ear.”
    “Sorry, love.” He watched Dalkiel’s form until the demon disappeared amidst the grid of skyscrapers downtown, then swore again and swiped his blade through the air. He’d had him.
    A subtle psychic pressure had him tipping his face back; overhead, a phalanx of fledglings arrowed silently after Dalkiel.
    “Were those Guardians I just saw?” She sounded slightly awed.
    “Yes.” He turned back to the gazebo; Michael was there, likely healing the amputations. “Did you see him run from me?”
    “Better yet: I recorded it. You can’t really see him until he comes out, but the sound is there; it’ll make lovely propaganda. Though it’ll also appear as if he ran from the others, not from you.”
    “That’s quite all right, so long as you appreciate how fearsome I was.” The tension of battle released, his hands began to shake with need. He was starving. If he didn’t go now, he’d begin sucking the blood from his shirtsleeves. “Can you drive with a standard transmission?”
    “Yes. Kind of. Just don’t ask me to go up Telegraph Hill.”
    She’d likely lurch all the way home and burn out the clutch. No matter. “Take Sir Pup, and I’ll meet with you at our house.” He could be there long before she could drive the distance, even taking the time to speak with Michael.
    “Oh, thank god. I’ll leave now.”
    “So keen?” His body roared to life with pleasure, with anticipation.
    “Lilith’s on her way here.”
    “Leave quickly, then.” They’d face the consequences of this together…tomorrow. “Keep your radio on until you are in the car and have engaged the spell’s protection.”
    Stepping into the gazebo, he met Michael’s eyes. The Guardian looked the ancient warrior with his ridiculous toga and impressive black wings, but he’d been the Healer that night.
    Both Paul and Varney were standing. In response to Colin’s observation that hazard pay might be necessary for Polidori’s employees, Varney danced a light-footed jig. Fia slanted Colin a grateful look before wrapping her arms around Paul’s neck.
    Satisfied that nothing more needed to be done, Colin continued on through, heading for the stairs. “You’ve a mess to clean up in here,” he told the Doyen.
    “Of your creation,” Michael said. “Do not impede us again.”
    “Impede?” With a disbelieving laugh, Colin stopped and swung around. “I’ve served your fledglings a venom-weakened demon on a silver platter.”
    “We cannot protect you if you hinder us.”
    “You can’t? Or you won’t?”
    Savi must have known Michael would hear her through Colin’s earpiece; Michael’s mouth tightened, as if her question reminded him that he could not interfere with Savi’s will—and she had been the one to hinder them.
    “Cannot.”
    “As comforting as it is to know you won’t abandon us, you’ll do well to learn to protect the community despite us. For it’s become quite clear that we lack—” Colin paused, searching for the word.
    “Underworld izzat,” Savi supplied. “Demons wouldn’t care for personal honor, but vampires’ lives must be given value in a currency the demons understand.”
    Colin nodded. “Yes, izzat —and that lack is more detrimental than the lack of protection. We are neither human nor a threat; but we must be one, or the demons and nosferatu will continue to kill us with impunity.”
    “Demons and nosferatu will never assign any value to a vampire.”
    Colin shrugged. “Then the honor will be for ourselves, so that we know we do not have to accede to the demands of pain and fear. That is how you can best help us; by allowing us to be a threat, and assisting us if we fail.” His jaw firmed as he studied the Guardian’s expressionless features. “When did you last ascribe value to a vampire? Do you slay this demon for killing us, or simply because he is a demon?”
    Michael sighed. “There is no difference.”
    Perhaps not to him. Colin had made this clear to the vampires, but now he had to explain it to the Doyen as well? Lilith and Hugh understood it. The vampires would follow the Rules, but they’d bow neither to the demons nor the Guardians.
    “If there is no difference, then you should begin amending those Scrolls. A redefinition of ‘vampire’ seems in order.”

    The house blazed with lights when Savi pulled into the drive. Most of her concentration had been on making it there without stalling the engine at each stop and shift of the