“What kind of stones?” Vars wondered if it was time to lay all his cards on the table.
“I’ll show you. Haven’t even buried them yet, but I will need to before the next new moon.”
Beast gave him a silent nod when Knight went over to the wall and opened a hidden compartment in the wood by pressing on it. He retrieved a small, rattling sack, but when he poured the contents onto the table, Vars’s chest heated up.
He pressed his hand against his breastbone, suddenly breathless. “Take them back,” he whispered, twisting his lips at the discomfort caused by the proximity of those... things. Jet-black and matte, smooth like beach cobbles, they were like a scorpion about to strike Vars straight in the heart. And it wasn’t just his body that reacted with revulsion. His mind flared up, sending him straight back toward the black void of nothingness. It was as if he were a powerful magnet, and another one was far too close.
Shudders overcame his body, and before he knew it, sweat covered his back. The surreal sensations disappeared with the click of the wooden compartment.
Knight slowly returned to his place at the table. “What do you know about them?”
Vars patted his chest, still slightly dizzy. “There is one like that inside of me. Magpie gave it to me.”
Beast slammed his fist against the table so hard it rattled. “Well fuck me! What else do you know about that?”
Vars spread his arms. “Not much, just that they mark territory.”
Gray leaned closer with a small frown. “I always thought Magpie looked unreal. As if he didn’t belong in our world, as if he was an old soul in this perfect body. And now this? Do you think a creature like Baal gave him the power over life which keeps him young too?”
Vars frowned. “I wish he were less cryptic, but I also know he won’t tell us anything until he thinks we should know.” Magpie had always been different, a greedy man who loved fashion, expensive food, and sex. Could it be that he wasn’t a human with demonic powers but a demon himself? Vars didn’t want to throw these suspicions out there just yet.
Beast shook his head, and the way his entire body stiffened didn’t escape anyone's attention. He didn’t have to ask for silence, but everyone still shut up. Slowly, he moved his gaze around the table, meeting the eyes of each member before settling it on Vars. “This club was established for freedom, but we all ended up on the leash of a monster from hell. We can’t move from here, we have to throw more parties than I personally care for, and now we’re gonna help him gain yet more territory?”
“We’re in deep shit,” Knight said grimly.
Beast went on, “Knight has to do as he’s told, or the energy the demon wants to claim will be extracted from his soul. I have to make sure the clubhouse is always full of wild orgies, fights, and music, or Laurent will be taken back to his time. Those invisible chains are fucking heavy. Are we all of the same mind?” He looked around, and this time Vars nodded as well.
“But how do you break a pact with that creature and come out alive?” he asked.
Beast rubbed his forehead. “That’s what we need to find an answer to. We’ve been thinking about it for a while now, but it always comes down to Baal’s powers. Whatever we do, if he can move in time, we’re screwed. He could go back and change the turn of events every fucking time. Who knows, maybe even the present in which we are now is only an effect of his manipulation in the past—”
A knock on the door had Beast growl like a rabid dog, but he yelled for the intruder to enter.
Jake poked his head in, and Vars found himself salivating despite the threat hanging over all their heads. His chest was still heavy with the weight of the stone, but holding Jake’s head against it in the morning had made it all more bearable.
“What is it?” Knight asked, seeing that Beast was breathing hard to keep his voice steady.
Jake cleared his throat, briefly sweeping his gaze over Vars. “I was thinking... is this church, or just a meeting? Something I could help you guys with?” he asked with hope lighting up his eyes.
He had no clue what he was getting into by prospecting for the Kings.
“It is church,” Beast said firmly, then immediately scowled when he realized his mistake.
Jake frowned. “Oh... I thought... since Vars is here...”
“We had a few questions for him, son. Nothing you should be concerning your head with,” Rev said dismissively.
Jake sent Vars a glare that was nothing like the sweet eyes he’d been making at Vars during sunrise. “How is that fair? Isn’t he a prospect too?”