Kate Daniels 02 - Magic Burns

reeve was closing in for a kill. Two reeves had attacked my apartment within minutes of each other, but the third didn’t show up until much later. It was delayed. I took a stab in the dark. “So how quickly did this weird undead dispose of your patrol?”
    If Ghastek was surprised, he didn’t show it. “Under ten seconds.”
    â€œThat’s a bit sad, don’t you think?”
    â€œIt was a young vampire. We just got him.”
    Excuses, excuses. “I fail to see how it concerns me.”
    â€œWe traced the power signature to your apartment. Which is in a state of advanced disrepair, from what could be seen through the window. Although it does appear to have a new door. I take it the old one was destroyed?”
    â€œIn a very dramatic way.”
    The vampire paused. Here we go.
    â€œThe People would like to obtain this specimen.”
    Knock yourself out. Ghastek was arguably the best Master of the Dead in the city. He had the best journeymen and the best vampires. The look on Ghastek’s face, once he wasted several of those prized bloodsuckers trying to capture a reeve only to have it turn into sludge, would be priceless.
    â€œYour smile has a disturbing edge to it,” Ghastek observed.
    I kept smiling. “I can’t help it.”
    â€œSince the incident took place in your apartment, the People would like to request your assistance in this matter. What do you know, Kate?”
    â€œI know very little,” I warned.
    â€œShare it with me anyway.”
    The People really wanted a reeve. Perhaps piloting good old vampires just didn’t do it for them anymore. “What’s in it for me?”
    â€œMonetary compensation.”
    The day I took People’s money would be the day I gave up on being a human. “Not interested. Any other offers?”
    The vampire stared at me, his mouth slack as Ghastek assessed his options. I took a couple of forms from my desk, put them into the vamp’s mouth, and pulled them up by their edges.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Ghastek asked.
    â€œMy hole puncher broke.”
    â€œYou have no respect for the undead.”
    I sighed, examining the ragged tears in the forms. “It’s a personal failing. Have you thought of anything, or can I be on my way?”
    â€œI will owe you a favor,” Ghastek said. “Now or in the future, at your request, I will perform a task of your choosing, provided it doesn’t require me to cause direct harm to myself or my crew.”
    I considered. It was a hefty offer. In the hands of an experienced Master of the Dead, a vampire was a weapon like no other, and Ghastek wasn’t just experienced, he was talented. A favor from him could come in handy. And even if he got his greedy mittens on a reeve, he would put it through its paces, trying to determine the extent of its powers. The moment it suffered a serious injury, it would turn into sludge. What was the downside?
    â€œMaxine?”
    â€œYes, dear?”
    â€œGhastek promised me a favor for my assistance. Do we have any paperwork that would put this arrangement into written form?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œYou’re going to have me sign a contract?”
    â€œYep.”
    The vampire emitted a series of strangled creaks, and I realized it was trying to reproduce Ghastek’s laugh.
    Â 
    DEREK WANDERED INTO THE OFFICE AND LEANED against the wall, his arms crossed.
    â€œYour associate is still alive,” Ghastek said, reading through the forms. “Remarkable.”
    â€œHe’s hardy.”
    The fact that Ghastek’s signature looked exactly the way it did when he signed the document in person was a greater testament to his control than any wall crawling or claw waving. I had to admire the degree of his competency. He still made my skin crawl.
    â€œI’m all ears,” he said once Maxine took the paperwork back to her desk.
    â€œTwo days ago a coven of amateur witches disappeared from their meeting place at the bottom of the Honeycomb Gap. I visited the place on unrelated business and discovered a bottomless pit and lots of residual necromantic magic. Lots of blood. No bodies.”
    â€œGo on.”
    â€œI picked up the daughter of one of the witches.”
    â€œThe child that ran into your office a few minutes ago,” he said. “I didn’t mean to startle her.”
    â€œYes.” I didn’t particularly feel like explaining that Julie had