A Legacy of the Damned: Daughter of Astaroth

Chapter 61 - High Horse

"What do you mean, you lost it?" I screech then lower my voice when I realize how loud I am and where I am. In case you're wondering, I'm in the woods behind the Gauthier Mansion. I'm also on the phone with Joshua King.

I took off from the mansion because I could sense that the Grimoire was no longer on the premise the moment I got out of the room. I couldn't sense it anywhere near the mansion so I decided that it made no sense for me to stay.

In my wake, I left an unconscious Nephilim guard and a passed-out human man dressed as a server...or rather partly dressed as a server now because I took his pants, back in the mansion.

I took them both out with Cortid strikes on the side of their necks. It's easy, I think all girls should know the trick- just deliver a quick hit on the phrenic and the vagus nerves on the neck, and they'll be out like a light.

The large Nephilim guard had fallen to the ground like a sack of potatoes. "Sorry, dude," I whispered to the unconscious man. I pulled him inside and closed the door because I figured that would buy me a little time.

As for the human server, I took him down because I recognized his face at the entrance when I was in the car with Katherine earlier this evening....and also because I needed a pair of pants. The man was dressed in a valet uniform then and when I saw him again in the kitchen, he's dressed as a server. Unless the man had an identical twin who worked as a valet, then he's a suspect.

He's a slight man, a lot smaller than the Nephilim guard. I dragged him into the staff washroom at the back after I rendered him unconscious. Then I tied him up with his belt, took his pants and his cellphone before I slinked off in the shadow through the back because the front of the mansion was too brightly lit and too heavily guarded.

My foot catches a tree root and I almost faceplanted on the hard ground before I grab a tree trunk to right myself. "What do you mean you lost it?" I repeat, resuming my conversation with Joshua King after I find my footing. "Did the book suddenly grow legs and walked away by itself?" I ask and I hear him snorts. It's not funny!

Ten million dollars. That's the amount of money we've agreed upon for him to steal the Grimoire from Pappalardo's dirty paws. Another cool fifteen if he manages to penetrate Astaroth's lair and get another Grimoire. I've transferred a quarter of the agreed amount to his account and the rest will be paid upon the delivery of the goods. I've dealt with Joshua King a number of times in the past and he's usually very reliable.

I'm gripping the phone so tightly that it's in danger of snapping in half ever since he told me that he'd "lost" the Grimoire that he stole from Pappalardo. "Joshua King, you'd better be kidding me!" I yell, unable to hold in my temper.

"Look, baby girl, someone stole it from me tonight, okay?" replies Joshua. He sounds so casual about it that it makes me grind my molars. I'm severely pissed. I'm so furious that I can hardly talk...or walk.

"No, it's not okay!" I finally spit out. "What do you mean stole it from you? You're the freaking thief!" I'm screaming now and I'm shaking. I can tell that my eyes are two red flames. I pause to take a deep calming breath. My voice might carry in the vastness of the woods back to the mansion and I can't afford to be found now.

I take another deep breath and when I open my mouth again, my voice is very quiet but full of venom. "Don't cross me, Joshua King. You'd better find a way to get it back and deliver it to me or there will be consequences. You know you don't want me as your enemy." I don't know yet how I'm going to make him pay if he crossed me, but I will make him pay dearly and Joshua King knows me enough not to toy with me or take my threat lightly.

"I'll get it back," he promises me, sounding more serious. "I'll get it back and deliver it to you in 72 hours."

"Within 24 hours," I counter. Despite losing the Grimoire, I have to give it to him- Joshua King is a king of thieves. Within a few hours of getting the assignment, he managed to steal it from Pappalardo.