Hunt by Numbers Read online

  I glanced up at Mama’s number. A 4 instead of a 3.

  The man’s voice came closer. “Natalia!” He took Mama by the arm and pulled her to her feet. Away from me.

  Fear filled me as the man with the shadowy face pulled Mama further away. I looked up at the space above his head. The faint glow changed into a 9. I cried out for my mother, but she didn’t come back.

  Another shadow turned into the figure of a man walking away from me. Something about it made my breathing hitch. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I gave another cry and ran toward the shadow, hands outstretched. “Baba! Baba, don’t leave!”

  The shadows pounced. They blocked my sight. Until I ran into a pair of legs. I fell to the ground. The large shadow loomed over me. A 9 glowed over his head. I screamed as the 9 reached shadowy claws toward me.

  A harsh “No!” burst from my lips as I lurched upright, the 9 and its fellow shadows vanishing back into the realm of nightmares. For a paralyzing moment I didn’t know where I was, and then a large hand wrapped around my left wrist. My mind ceased panicking long enough for me to register the sheets pooled at my waist and the glow of a 10 beside me. Mathias and I were still in the bedroom of our safe house off one of the smaller canals. The smell of the sea filtered through the arched window, and I tugged the sheets back up as I flopped down on my back.

  Mathias kept hold of me, his thumb lightly stroking across the inside of my wrist. “Are you all right?”

  “Just a bad dream.”

  “You were calling for a ‘Baba.’”

  The statement was more a question, but he didn’t press. Instead, he let me gather my thoughts. Even after everything we had been through together and everything I had done to free him from the more dangerous side of his Myrmidon heritage, it was still tempting to try to keep him at arms’ length. To not trust him with everything, which was a completely ridiculous thing to do. We were both adults, and what was the point of going through the Trials of Achilles and facing my fear of Greece if I was going to pull back now?

  Turning on my side, I snuggled into Mathias. “It’s Turkish. I was calling for my father.”

  His arm was a heavy and pleasant weight over my waist as he brushed the hair back from my face with his free hand. “You said they left you behind.”

  Instead of nodding, I buried my face in the crook of his neck. “Yes. I don’t dream of it often. But, this time I dreamed of high numbers around us. I dreamed a 9 took my mother away. Then, he came for me.”

  I sighed, fingers tapping a rhythm across his chest. Raising my chin slightly, I looked up into his face and at the 10 glowing in the darkness of our room. “I’m not sure they were Spotters.”

  Mathias made a humming sound, but didn’t give into any exclamations. Not that he would. He closed his eyes slightly and asked, “Is that possible?”

  “No. Maybe.” I made a face. “I don’t know. I’ve never met another Spotter. What little information there is about us doesn’t go into that sort of detail. But, the laws of inheritance mean at least one of them had to have been a Spotter, right?”

  “Perhaps.” Mathias paused a moment before continuing, “It depends on the species. Some like the shifters, they have the tradition of mingling their bloodlines with the High Elves under Auberon’s court in the States. I’ve met quite a few descendants of old peace marriages whose elvish heritage was so far removed that only the changing of eye color testifies to their mixed roots. The purebloods don’t have that luxury. It’s part of the reason they stay isolated even from most other paranormals unless they’re part of the Old World.”

  “They didn’t lose all of their history even with the purge that sent them to the New World,” I muttered. “Making it far easier for them to find explanations.”

  He abruptly rolled us so I was pinned under him, startling a laugh out of me. A crooked smile warmed me even as he ducked his head close enough for our breath to mingle. “I may have an idea as to where to get you answers. But, we won’t be able to approach until after night falls.”

  “Are you going to tell me what the idea is?” I asked, not really caring about the answer.

  Mathias grinned. “Not right now.”

  “You said after nightfall?”

  He nodded.

  I grinned as I reached up to clasp my hands behind his neck. “Good. We can stay in.”

  His own smile widened and he chuckled. “I like the way you think, Lauren Hope.”

  Rolling my eyes, I tugged him closer. “Oh do shut up.” Then to make sure he did, I kissed him. Much better than dodging around the city. So much better.

  * * *

  Chapter Two

  Mathias

  The Rialto Bridge shone beneath the lights strung along the backs of the shops framing either side of the bridge’s sloping arch. Most of the light emanated from the portico in the center connecting the exteriors of the ramps with the inner path between the two lines of shops. It was past midnight and the dragon prince had called for a curfew so even the Grand Canal of Venice was nearly silent. The Rialto Bride itself was deserted.

  I kept Lauren on my left as we approached. Despite my assurances that the absence of Weard’s hunters was a good thing, there was a lingering possibility that the dragon prince could object to our presence as well, if we caught her eye. I glanced at Lauren. She had donned a head scarf once again, this one a dark blue, wearing it loosely tucked inside her leather jacket. Something told me that of the two of us, I was more in danger of catching the dragon prince’s attention. I would simply have to avoid doing so.

  We climbed up the stairs with careful steps, making as little noise as possible. The shops lining either side of the interior of the bridge were completely dark, shades pulled down in the windows, and closed up. I kept one ear open for any hint of an ambush out of habit.

  However, I heard nothing, saw nothing, until we drew closer to the pinnacle of the bridge and the light of the portico spilled its golden glow over the ground. I stopped just in front of the portico moving Lauren and myself into the protection of the shadows. Feeling her gaze on me, I raised a finger to my lips. She gave a slight nod and pressed in close.

  A bell tolled once as we waited, and then I heard the sound of someone moving with less stealth. A shadow extended from the portico. I stepped into the light.

  I watched in amusement as Vittore Bruno cursed at me as he jumped and dropped his cigarettes everywhere. He glared at me. “You. Look what you’ve done.”

  “Those will kill you.” Tugging on the edges of my coat, I smirked. “You’re welcome, and did you not see me coming?”

  Vittore sniffed and looked down his aquiline nose at me as he pulled a pipe out of his satchel. “I’m a seer not a mind reader. And, I haven’t had any visions concerning you. Imagine having visions every time a person you crossed paths with happens to think of you.” He waved the stem of the pipe at me as he added, thin brows sinking toward his nose, “And I should thank you to leave. I don’t want you here disrupting this beautiful night. Not like the last time.”

  “Now let’s try to remember clearly, shall we? Our last meeting was one of mutual accord.” I paused, recalling how I had caught the seer on a nighttime stroll in the past. “You remain a creature of habit, Vittore. A habit you would not be enjoying now had I not extended such generosity in the past. You could show some courtesy.”

  Vittore cursed at me again and clamped his lips around the stem of his pipe. Approaching the seer had been a risk since the dragon prince and her consort now employed him. Yet when I had explained my idea to Lauren, she had been willing to try. I watched Vittore puff at his pipe, the herbs glowing faintly in the cup, as I listened to the sound of voices carrying faintly across the waters. They were far enough away that I was not worried. As long as we kept our own conversation quiet.

  “Cease fussing so much and, maybe, I shall finish my business with you quicker.”

  The seer blew out a ring of smoke. His brown eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Why are you here tonight
, Mathias?”

  “I’m calling in a favor.” I heard Lauren’s barely audible footsteps behind me, and I stepped to the side. “We need your help with a question.”

  I looked down at Lauren as she came up beside me, a long strand of dark hair resting against her lightly tanned skin. I gave her a slight smile. My attention swung back to Vittore, however, as the pipe fell to the stones beneath our feet with a clatter. The seer’s eyes were unfocused, and his jaw slackened before he raised a shaking hand and drew in a deep breath. His voice came out in a booming shout, “The protector and the destroyer.”

  I stepped toward him, but it was already too late. I could hear shouts carrying from across the waters. Guards meant to enforce curfew had heard Vittore. I muttered a curse under my breath but there was no time to waste. “Vittore, what are you seeing?”

  The seer’s unfocused eyes seemed to fix on me for a moment as he pointed toward me. “The protector.” Then, his attention drifted to Lauren. “The destroyer!”

  “You’ve mixed us up,” I stated in a hushed tone. “What are you seeing?”

  Vittore’s expression changed once more. His gaze cleared and sharpened as he looked between us. “What is your species, woman?”

  “Too late for questions,” I interrupted, stepping between them. “You called the watch down on us.”

  Vittore cursed, but I ignored him as I quickly turned to Lauren. “Stand to the side, close to Vittore, and say nothing.”

  The squad of soldiers was so close now that I knew Lauren could hear them. She nodded. “Try not to get in too much trouble.”

  I smirked at her. “Don’t worry. I have you to get me out of it.”

  A fleeting smile appeared before she slipped to the far end of the portico where it emerged onto the exterior stairs. She was clever as always as she put Vittore between us, slipping out then going still as the seer continued frowning at me. At least, he didn’t say anything as the soldiers raced up the inner stairs to the portico. I kept my hands down and slightly out from my body. “Gentlemen, is there a problem?”

  Eight soldiers, three dragon-born and the others most likely dragons proper. Cool instinct whispered that I could incapacitate them all. I ignored it with ease, however. Getting into a fight with the dragon prince of Venice would put a target on our backs of greater accuracy than what Weard was currently capable.

  As eight more soldiers ran up from behind, I turned back to the ones in front of me and offered a rueful smile. “I don’t suppose you would be willing to send me off with a warning, chaps?”

  Two of the dragon-born leveled crossbows at me whose bolts dripped with a liquid of some type. Tranquilizer meant to bring down even the most powerful paranormals no doubt. Whether they were the kind that worked on Myrmidons, I didn’t know. I also wasn’t particularly interested in finding out. I cleared my throat. “I take it that’s a no then?”

  One of the dragons stepped closer, her eyes fiery orange and the reptilian slit pupils contracting, as she looked me over. “You are a hunter of Weard.”

  “I prefer to say I’m retired.”

  Her lips curled into a disdainful smile as she retorted, “Our prince has closed Venice to your kind, hunter. You will face her for your trespass into her territory.”

  Knowing there was no other way, I bowed my head. “Of course. Please, lead the way.”

  As the soldiers closed in around me, I resisted looking for Lauren. We had set up a plan in case something like this happened. She knew what to do. I just hoped she didn’t go after Vittore for this misstep.

  * * *

  Lauren

  The sound of the soldiers retreating with Mathias faded slightly as they left the far end of the bridge. I caught a glimpse of his 10 blazing in the darkness and hemmed in on all sides by 8s. He had been far too cavalier about being taken into custody by the dragon prince. They thought he was still bound to Weard! There was an unofficial war brewing between the company and the rest of the paranormal world, especially with the dragon princes. What was he thinking?

  That he was a 10, and therefore invincible. I closed my eyes in frustration. This was another reason I spent my life avoiding high numbers before Mathias and I crossed paths. High numbers by virtue of their strength and power among paranormals, forget the norms, had a terrible tendency to see themselves as untouchable by mere mortal things such as death or maiming. Risk takers mixed with enough pride and self-assurance to make a saint lose her patience.

  When we first arrived in Venice, Mathias had created a plan in case something happened and we were separated in the crowds due to a hunter showing up. That plan called for me to grab our go bags and catch a ride at the outskirts of Venice over to a safe house on the main land. If Mathias didn’t make it there by sundown, I was to travel on to a second safe house in Naples to wait for him. If we had been separated by Weard’s hunters.

  Leaving Mathias to face the wrath of a dragon prince was completely different. As much as the little voice in my head jabbered with panic at the thought of facing another royal dragon, I couldn’t just blindly proceed hoping that Mathias would make it out all right. I heard the seer cursing under his breath in Italian and moved before sense could send me slipping off into the night. The seer startled, dropping his pipe again, as I rushed him. He was stockier and taller than me, but not enough to tower.

  “You.” His eyes narrowed. “What are you?”

  “I’m no one.”

  His eyes grew glazed and unfocused as his voice deepened, but thankfully no shouting this time. “No, you are the destroyer.”

  I shook my head. “I am not that. If anything, I’m harmless.”

  The seer shook his head. “Harmless? Child, you hold the means to unlocking the destruction of our entire world. Paranormal and norm will fall to their knees in fear of you.”

  I opened my mouth to protest, but the words choked in my throat. I looked around, fearing another patrol heard him. Fear of me? That was . . . insane. I was a Spotter. I could expose the dangerous paranormals in a single glance, enough for people to have attempted to wipe out my kind, yes. But, no one trembled in fear at a Spotter. That was something more suited to Mathias as a Myrmidon and a 10.

  The seer’s gaze focused on me, and the words seemed more his own now as he suddenly scowled. “I know your face. You are Lauren Hope. The one who has given Weard the desperation it needed to spur itself into a war with both dragon princes and the Fae courts.”

  My breathing hitched, then steadied as I shook my head. I stepped closer to him, lowering my voice to just above a whisper. “I was not the cause. I am a Spotter. We do not start wars.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “Yes,” I hissed. Tugging at my head scarf, I resisted pushing it back as my eyes darted in the direction the soldiers had taken Mathias. “You called those soldiers down on Mathias when you owed him your existence in the care of the dragon prince. Why did you say nothing?”

  The seer’s eyelid twitched before he responded tartly, “Your presence surprised me. I was not prepared for the seeing to take me. He should have known better than to bring you here, Destroyer.”

  The vise of old familiar panic squeezed around my heart and itched at my back. Seers were the most terrifying of the low numbers. They could give me away as a Spotter to the wrong people, and I tried to stay away from them. Of course, now that Weard had confirmed my existence, it likely didn’t matter that a seer knew I was a Spotter.

  I took a steadying breath and forced the feeling, the need for escape away. I had to focus. “I am not this destroyer. You are wrong. Mathias told me what he did for you. He protected you from an assassination attempt, brought you to Italy so you could find shelter with family in Venice. You only have the ability to be employed by the dragon prince because of his help. He said you promised him a favor by virtue of the Order of Delphi. Your honor as a seer binds you to that promise or you risk losing your ability to see, to interpret the gift of knowledge in any way to prevent tragedy.”

 
; Anger burned in the man’s eyes, but I forced myself to keep speaking. “Unless you want to become one of Cassandra’s descendants, you must pay back your debt. True?”

  His lips pursed in clear displeasure at the mention of ill-fated Cassandra of Troy whose seeings had been cursed to be ignored by all, but he gave a short jerk of his chin in the affirmative. Sticking his pipe back into his mouth, he muttered around it. “The rule of three applies. Three questions, three answers. No more, no less. Choose wisely, Destroyer.”

  The demand to know why he called me that rose to the tip of my tongue, then froze. No. I couldn’t get distracted. Besides seers had a terrible habit of falling on their gift of knowledge and turning it into a double-edged sword. The chief problem with foreknowledge was it predisposed one to self-fulfillment. And, I had enough trouble with strange dreams and a Myrmidon in the hands of a royal dragon.

  “Well? Have you no questions, Destroyer?”

  I glanced around, relieved that no one was closing in on us. Still I kept my voice low as I asked, “Where have they taken Mathias?”

  “To the Doge’s Palace to face the dragon prince.”

  “What is she going to do to him?”

  The man shrugged. He grit the stem of his pipe between his teeth with enough force that it was a miracle nothing broke. “She is angry with Weard. Mathias, protector he may be, but he works for Weard. She will make an example of him.

  I had to find a way to reach him first. I almost left then, but there was one more question to be asked and answered. I hesitated only a moment before asking the question that had brought us to this disastrous meeting in the first place. “What must I do to uncover my past?”

  At first he scowled at me. Then, his gaze grew unfocused as his voice deepened once more. “The Destroyer must travel to the seven hills. There she will find the one called Raz Yakov. He will set her path before her feet.”