Thane nodded again, making it clear he accepted that, but he didn't. Dahlia wasn't new, so why was the Bishop pushing so hard to convince Thane that she was? Or was he simply trying to convince himself?
"So what do you need from your hunters?" he asked.
A flick of the Bishop's hand dismissed that. "I think this has just become the responsibility of the priests. If this creature is truly as strong as you say, mere hunters will never stand a chance. You can't manipulate the Words of God. You said it yourself: she drained you to fuel herself. That's not something we can allow to happen. No, our hunters simply aren't devoted enough to deal with this."
"They killed five priests," Thane countered. "None of the hunters were lost. I heard Harrison has a broken leg, but he's still alive! Bishop, we're trained to deal with these things. Let us help!"
"You can help when we find them again," the Bishop assured him. "Put that woman out of your mind, confess your weaknesses and mistakes that allowed her to get away, and focus on the next hunt you're assigned."
"Yes, sir," Thane mumbled.
But something about this wasn't right. The man hadn't asked as many questions as Thane had expected. He wasn't angry about this new type of demon. He didn't honestly seem surprised. In truth, he seemed more worried about what Thane thought of the creature than the abilities the creature might have.
"So, are we classifying her as a succubus or a vampire, Bishop?" Thane asked. "For my report, I mean."
"A vampire," the man decided. "She drank blood. Most likely, that scrape on your lip was bleeding, and she was drinking from it instead of kissing you." The man's mouth curled into a smile, as though he'd just discovered his answer. "I'm sure that in the heat of the moment, you wouldn't have noticed. The lust these things put off is dangerous, and you can't be blamed for being distracted by it, Hunter."
Thane wanted to growl that he hadn't been. Was she beautiful? Yes. Had it distracted him? Not at all. He'd been the only one to even keep up with her. But he wasn't dumb enough to contradict this man. Not after he'd let her get away.
"You're probably right, sir," he mumbled.
"So go file your report. If I have more questions, I'll summon you again." The Bishop flicked a ring covered hand, dismissing him.
Thane got up slowly, his body protesting the abuse. Tipping his head in respect, he turned for the door and just left. Clearly, he'd said enough right to keep from being punished for the events of the night, but he hadn't said enough right to get any answers. Every fiber in his body said that something was going on. Something big.
Something that had to do with Dahlia.
Chapter Nine
THANE
Thane staggered into the hunter's operational area in the middle of the next shift's team leader updating them on the events of the night before. The guys Thane usually worked with were all gone, clearly having headed home as soon as they were allowed. He didn't blame them. If he could've, he would've been right there with them.
For a moment, he debated sucking back a cup of coffee and making the twenty-minute drive. He could do it. He had before. The bigger problem was having the priesthood think he was trying to run away from what had happened. Crashing in the bunk area would make it look like he was confident that he'd done nothing wrong, and hopefully it would convince the Bishop that Thane was nothing at all to worry about.
But Brandon stopped him just before Thane reached the door to the bunks. "Thane?" he asked.
"Yeah?" Thane replied, turning back at the sound of the team leader's voice.
"Both of the demons got away?"
"Sounds like it," Thane admitted. "The one I was chasing jumped out a fourth-floor window. Fifth, maybe? I honestly don't remember. From the sounds of it, the other one tore through four hunters, killed a priest, and vanished."
"Those aren't new vamps," one of the guys said.
Thane could only shrug. "Whatever they are, they're out there, and we're going to need to stop them eventually."
Another guy jerked his chin in Thane's direction. "Heard you made out with one."
"The supposed thrall," Thane admitted, already sick of repeating this story. "My ward was completely silent until she touched it. Bishop thinks it's proof the Devil's gaining power."
"Or that you've lost your faith?" the guy countered.
"Fuck you," Thane grumbled. "If that was the case, the Asian girl wouldn't have set it off. The cross worked with one and not the other. You figure it out, because I can't."
Then he yanked open the door and stepped through it. Behind him, he could hear Brandon, the team leader, talking to his men.
"He fought one alone. The man's exhausted. Give him a little space, guys."