"What's that?"

"A generator and processor."

"What the heck do you need that for?"

"For magical energy and complex spell computations, obviously."

"In a magic staff?"

He rolled his eyes. "Do you honestly think I could make every physics calculation myself? I preprogram my best spells on a tablet and transfer them into my staff or wand processor. The generator can lay down some serious juice if I need to put on the hurt. I call these little things MPUs, or magic processing units."

"Then how did Merlin and those guys do it in the old days?"

"What the original gangstas did is nothing compared to what we can do now."

"So your little wand doesn't have enough power, I guess." I pointed at the black rod in his hand. "Maybe if you put a big glittery star on the end it would work better."

"Ha, ha," he said as he shoved the generator into his coat pocket. He examined the wand for a moment then handed it to me. "See if you can turn it on."

I rolled it around. "I don't see a power switch."

"There isn't one, kid. Hold it by the thick end and imagine it being on."

I wasn't sure how to imagine it being on. I held it out and waved it around. Nothing happened, but something tingled in my hand. I thrust it in front of me. Still nothing, except it felt like ants were crawling on my hand.

"Guess I was wrong," said Shelton and took it back.

"I think the generator is going bad. I could feel the electrical current in my hand."

His forehead wrinkled. "You felt something?"

"Like ants all over my hand."

"Holy cow," he said. "You are a strange one. Nobody but a human with the ability in them should feel anything coming from the wand."

"Well, my mother is a sorceress."

He let out a low whistle. "Hot damn, you're right." He bit his bottom lip and narrowed his eyes in thought. After a moment, he motioned me to follow him and walked toward the street. "I'm going to suggest something you probably won't want to hear."

I clenched my fists but went with him. "I'm going to save my dad."

"Maybe you should appeal to the Arcane Council as the son of Alice Conroy for help. You have a blood claim. They have to listen."

"I thought sorcerers didn't like spawn and besides, what about the bounty?"

"Since you share a bloodline with a sorceress and your father, they may be forced by law to step in. There is precedent."

Becoming embroiled in a political fiasco did not sound like a valid option. Not while my dad was being feasted upon by vampires. Just the thought twisted my stomach in agony.

"I might as well ask the Slades for help," I said.

"Terrible idea," Shelton said. "First of all, they disowned your father, and second of all, they'd find out about you and probably kidnap you for themselves."

"And the Conroys wouldn't do that?" I asked, almost adding, "Like they did with my sister?" Thankfully, I stopped myself. Shelton apparently didn't know about her and I intended to keep it that way.

"They couldn't. We have a code of ethics."

"Ethics? That's a laugh." I stopped at the end of the alley and watched people from the shadows as they went about their lives, oblivious to vampires, spawn, or sorcerers. I sighed. "Look, just point me in the right direction. Who took my dad?"

"Think this over, kiddo. If you go rushing in there without help, you'll end up like your dad. Imagine those fanged creatures sucking on your neck for years, decades even. They'd keep you alive for a perpetual dessert."

I shuddered. "You could help me." I could only think of one other person who might help, but the thought of asking her frightened me almost as much as the idea of going in alone.

"Hey, kid, I'm grateful to you for saving my life, but I won't rush willy-nilly into a vampire stronghold without backup. If you're not going to listen to me, you're on your own."

"How do I find the vampires?"

He pulled out a smartphone. "Give me your email address and I'll shoot you over what I know."

It seemed so bizarre giving my email address to a sorcerer, of all people, but I did. "Just don't add me on Facebook."

He met that remark with a wry grin. "You got spirit and a whole lot of teenage denial. Good luck."

I made it back to my car, receiving a few surprised looks from pedestrians along the way. Soot and stinky black vampire blood covered my skin and clothes. I didn't have time to shower and change. I had to go to my last best hope. If she turned me down, I would have to go in alone.

Chapter 27

I drove out of town toward Scottdale and the old industrial park where I'd run into the moggy. I was certain the decrepit buildings hid Stacey's lair and she, unfortunately, was the only person who might be able to help me.

According to Shelton's email, the vampires who took Dad were members of the Red Syndicate, the organization to which supposedly every vampire worldwide owed allegiance. He believed the local Atlanta group numbered around a couple hundred, give or take. Either way, I wouldn't stand a chance on their home turf without help.

I climbed out of the Jetta and stood in the cool night air, letting a gentle breeze carry nearby scents to me. I reached out, feeling for a hint of Stacey's presence, but found nothing. That didn't mean much since my range didn't seem to extend very far. Otherwise, I would have sensed the vampires who attacked me and Dad before they'd ambushed us. I dashed between two crumbling red-brick warehouses. Sprinted up the wall to my left and then leapt from wall to wall until I propelled myself to the roof. I crouched, listening for the sound of feline pads stalking my way or the unmistakable odor of a moggy.

Still nothing.

I waited for an hour, moving from building to building as stealthily as I could, keeping a constant vigil on the other rooftops. If I hadn't been so frightened of running into another moggy, it might have been fun. Instead, I almost crapped myself at every innocent noise. Finally, I heard movement and ducked low as a figure leapt over the lip of the roof across from me and landed lightly on its feet. Silhouetted against the moon was the hourglass figure of a curvy female. Most likely Stacey, but I didn't want to take any chances. She stood upwind of me which was good. I figured if I had a good sense of smell, hers would be even better.

She made a gentle mewling noise. I heard the padding of dozens of feet and froze. Had I possibly missed another moggy? Cats burst from every direction, all running and meowing like crazy, nearly giving me a heart attack. Stacey laid out packages on the roof and the thankfully normal-sized cats dug in. It was fresh meat, but what kind I couldn't tell. I hoped it wasn't human flesh. I gagged at the thought of those strays chowing down on ground man-burger.

Stacey stooped and petted the cats as they fondly rubbed against their mistress. She spoke to each of them and called them by name. I stood and sprinted to the edge of the roof, then leapt the gap. She jumped back, planted her feet, and faced me, hissing and baring hands with feline claws.

"Whoa, there, tiger," I said, backing away when I landed. She gave a start of recognition and lowered her hands. "Girl, you give a whole new definition to crazy cat lady."

"You scared me half to death, darling," she purred.

"You're not a scaredy-cat are you?" I'm here all week, folks.

She laughed and walked toward me as her claws retracted into normal-looking fingernails. "How did you find me?"

I decided not to go into details about following her. She might get angry considering someone had killed her moggy thanks to me. "I know who and what I am," I said, bypassing the question entirely. "I know what you are."

She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. "And you are here because?"

"Vampires kidnapped my father. I need help getting him back."

"I cannot help you," she said, her eyes widening in fear. "I am but one lonely soul."

"One lonely soul, my demonic rear end. I know what you're capable of. My dad told me. You can make an army out of these cats."

"I refuse to send these innocent creatures to their deaths," she said, her voice rising. "Do you think I'm a bloody monster?"

I didn't answer. I didn't know what to say.

Large tears welled in her eyes. "You do think I am a monster, Justin." She sniffled. "How very unkind!"

I took her gently by the shoulders. "No I don't. I just didn't realize how you felt about your pets."

She pushed me away. "They are not my pets. They are my companions."

Very crazy cat woman, I decided. I sat on an air vent and dropped my head into my hands. I didn't know what to do.

Stacey came behind me and stroked my hair. It felt oddly relaxing, like I was being scratched behind the ears. "I am sorry about your father," she said after a moment. "I have not known family for a very long time." She sighed. "It would be lovely to have a companion. Someone to hunt with and to enjoy my feline friends."

"Is that why you wanted me?"

"Indeed. You are very close to my kind in nature even if you cannot shift."

"I like cats," I said, "but you and I would never get along."

"Oh, I see," she said with a hint of jealousy in her voice. "You are still quite taken by the female dhampyr."

"Elyssa," I said, unable to keep the pain from my voice. "I'm sorry, Stacey. It just wasn't meant to be. You need a guy who can, um, love cats as much as you do." And what guy would ever admit to that?

"There are so few of my kind left," she said sadly. "I would love to have children someday."

"Stacey, do you eat people?"

"Absolutely not." She made a gagging sound. "Who would want to eat humans considering the vile rubbish they consume?"

"But you do feed on human energy."