I sat at the kitchen table. The werewolf sat across from me. Two perfectly round wooden spheres lay on the table, each about the size of a small kiwi. A complex pattern of dark crossing spirals wove through the wood. We’d fished them out of the pot once the flesh had fallen of the stalkers’ bones.
The trackers were inert. No magic emissions. No electromagnetic signals. Just two harmless looking chunks of wood. But when I reached for them with my magic, I felt a spark. It curled deep inside them, vibrant and alive, waiting to be released so it could blossom.
Around us the inn was quiet. Caldenia had gone to bed, having delicately devoured enough meat to satiate three grown men. Outside the windows, a sunset burned down, one of those glorious Texas sunsets, when the color grew thick and vivid and long stripes of clouds glowed orange on a nearly purple sky. Beast lay by my feet, gnawing on a bone Sean had given her. Through the day she had upgraded his status from kill on site to suspicious to the man with delicious treats, who can’t be trusted. She would take a bone from him, but petting was still out of the question.
Sean regarded the spheres with calm interest. “Can you activate them?”
“Yes.”
“Did the trackers turn themselves off because the stalkers died?”
“I don’t think so. From the scans, they look simple: turn on, turn off.”
“So the dahaka deliberately turned them off.”
“Probably.”
Sean leaned back. “If I were him, in a place I don’t really know, I would want to know where my dogs were at all times. He turned off the trackers. He’s hiding.”
“The question is from whom. He could be hiding from someone he’s hunting.”
“Or someone is hunting him,” Sean said.
If someone was hunting a dahaka, that someone would be armed to the teeth, ruthless, and powerful. In other words, someone we would be wise to avoid.
Sean picked up one of the spheres and studied it. “You have to decide how involved you want to be.”
“I know.” If we left the dahaka to his own devices, he would kill again. I had no doubt of it. He had turned off the trackers for a reason and he would want them kept off. If we reactivated them, he would stop what he was doing and come directly here to investigate. And not just him, but his prey or his predator as well.
“I can ignore him or I can give him a target.”
“Agreed.” Sean leaned back in his chair.
As long as the dahaka concentrated on the inn, the rest of the people would be somewhat safe. I was better equipped to deal with him than pretty much anyone in the county.
Activating that tracker went against the fundamental principle of keeping an inn. The safety of the guests had to be maintained at all times.
I realized I was looking at the portrait of my parents. I wished so desperately I could ask for advice. I might as well wait for money to rain from the sky. I was alone. Nobody would offer me any guidance. I wasn’t even sure guidance would do any good. I knew the appropriate course of action: sit on your hands, guard the inn, and do nothing.
He was eating people. He could come back and start going through the neighborhood at any point on his own. But if I made the inn a target, that would also put my neighbors at risk. If we did activate the trackers, I would have to make sure to hold his attention. The decision was mine and I made it.
I looked up at Sean. “If you’re going to bail, now is the time.”
“I’m in,” he said. “No conditions, no strings attached. He doesn’t get to come to my planet and use our bones for dog toys.”
I reached over the trackers and passed my hand over them, sparking the tiny flame of magic with my power. The spiral lines on the spheres glowed with brick-red. I held my breath. The spheres came apart, the sections of wood turning like a Rubik’s cube. The trackers realigned themselves, the spirals turning into concentric circles, and lay still, emanating a steady pulse of magic.
Sean and I looked at each other.
“I guess that’s it,” he said.
“Did you expect them to explode?” I had, a little bit.
“It crossed my mind.” Sean leaned back. “There is a good chance he’ll show up tonight.”
“Would you like to spend the night here?”
“I think it would be wise. I promise not to try anything funny. Unless you want me to.”
“Let me make this perfectly clear: try something and you’ll find yourself tied to a metal table with steel cables even you can’t break.”
An evil light sparked in his eyes.
“Don’t,” I warned him.
He raised his hands, palms up. “I’ll be an angel.”
Ha-ha. Right. “What are your preferences for the room?” He would want something clean and simple. Probably with a touch of country so it felt more like home and less like Spartan barracks. I could put him into the Romantic bedroom for giggles. The look on his face when saw the canopy bed would be priceless.
He shrugged. “I don’t need much. A bed. A bathroom would be nice. As long as it’s clean.”
I glared at him. How to insult an innkeeper in five words or less…
“What?”
“No, it’s filthy, but I doubt rotten food and dead hookers under the bed would bother you.”
“I’ve slept in worse.”
I rose. “Come with me.”
I led him up the stairs to second bedroom on the right and opened the door. A spacious square bedroom stretched in front of us. Very light knotty alder wood paneling covered the walls and ceiling, giving an illusion of a rustic log cabin. A large, simple bed with a polished headboard that still managed to pretend it was roughly cut from a random block of wood sat against one wall, supporting a soft mattress with white sheets, a small army of pillows and a sage colored bedspread. Two side tables, a dresser, and a bookcase, all matching the headboard in style but clearly not part of the same set completed the room.
“Nice,” Sean said.
“The bathroom is on your right.” I nodded.
He walked through into the bathroom that was almost as large as the bedroom, looked at the garden tub, the shower, and stopped by the small windows.
“That’s a huge bathroom,” he said.
Bathrooms were my pet peeve. “At least it’s clean.”
He turned. His eyes narrowed. “We’re on the south-east side of the house. I can see the road.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve spent a lot of time studying your house from the outside.”
“Aha.” Where was he heading?
“I know for a fact that there are three arched windows side by side with a small balcony in place where this bathroom is.” Sean pointed to two small rectangular windows situated one under the other to flood the tub with light.
“If you would you like a large arched window so people can view you in all of your naked glory while you bathe, that can be arranged.”
“Dina,” he growled.
“People say that physics has laws,” I told him, walking to the bedroom door. “I prefer to view them as a set of flexible guidelines.”
Sean followed me out. A flat screen TV slowly materialized on the wall across from the bed. The ceiling spat a remote and Sean caught it by reflex.
“Thank you for staying, Sean,” I told him. “I’m glad that you’re here. You know where the kitchen is, so if you get hungry in the middle of the night, you’re welcome to the food. Please let me know if there is anything else.”
He opened his mouth, closed it, as if he’d changed his mind, and said, “Sure.”
I stepped out and closed the door. I needed to take a good long shower and wash all the smoke out of my hair.
Two hours later, I was in bed, catching up on my reading and trying to ignore the fact that Sean was three rooms away, when I heard a car roll up and stop by the inn. I checked the window. Two Hummers parked on our street. The doors opened and the vehicles disgorged large men in trench coats.
Hmm. And who would you be?
The last man out leaned in to the vehicle and took out something long wrapped in a cloth. With my luck, it would be a missile launcher.
As he straightened, his coat shifted. Long dark hair spilled out.
Not a government agency. Last I checked, neither FBI nor CIA permitted their operatives to have long flowing locks.
The man handed his burden over to another, pulled a couple more out, and closed the car door. As if obeying some invisible signal, the men stopped and bowed their heads, their hands together, arms bent at the elbow, as if holding their hands in prayer. I squinted. Fingers of their hands together, palms apart, thumbs and pinkies touching and held horizontally. The Holy Pyramid. Got you.
I grabbed my bra and pulled the keeper robe out of the closet. They would want to talk and they were sticklers for formality, and I didn’t have time to actually get dressed.
Ten seconds later I went down the hall, dressed in a long grey robe with a cowl, broom in hand. Sean was already out of his room and dressed.
“Who are they?”
“The Cosmic Holy Anocracy. I don’t know which House.”
“That doesn’t tell me anything. And why are you dressed like a monk?”
“I need to get you a primer to read.” I went down the stairs. “If we’re lucky, it’s just men-at-arms. If they have a knight with them, things could get complicated.”
“How complicated?” Sean asked.
“Very.”
The magic pinged, letting me know someone stood at the edge of my territory. They didn’t cross onto the grounds. They just let me know they were there. A good sign.
I reached the door.
“Dina,” Sean said. “I need to know what we’re dealing with.”
“Vampires,” I told him. “Please let me do the talking.”
I feel like I’ve hit the lottery! Thank you thank you thank you! I’ve been sick, too (Gald yall are feeling better!) and I finally got a clear head today. Kate samples and a new chapter!!
Like you, I LOVE this story line. But where are the “Kate snippets”? I keep searching the site….
The deleted scenes that were posted.
They’re on the main site:
http://www.ilona-andrews.com/category/snippet-writing
YEA!!! I can not tell you how this has made my day! My husband was sick last night (caught the stomach bug from the baby) and tending to him and the baby made for a long, long night. This was a wonderful break in what has been a long, long day!
Oh!!Welcome back!!!
Now i can stop hitting the refresh button every hour!!!
)
Thank you for all the Twists and turns!!!
Never a bore time reading your stuff…
And when we expect a late night meeting in the kitchen.. we have vampires… ha!!
Thank you very much for post this today. You deserved a much longer break after all the work on Magic Rises, so this is even more appreciated.
Yes, it’s true you both deserve so much more rest after wrapping up Magic Rises. Still, I think rest can at times be overrated. I’m among those who understand your drive to get back in the saddle. Inundate us–if you must–we’ll understand.
Yeah! I can’t wait to see what happens next. This serial reading is so much fun. I’m so glad your back I hope you are well rested and enjoying the new year.
oh, hooray! I’ve been jonesing for another episode. You guys rock for doing this on top of everything else you do!!
Cool! I wasn’t expecting this. Glad the Innkeeper is off hiatus. Hopefully this means Kate edits are going well.
awesome. Thank you very much a nice way to end the work week.
Thanks for the wonderful Friday treat!! Y’all rock!
That was great and well worth the wait.
Awesome! Thanks.
THANK YOU! Great way to end my work week!!!
I love you guys.
giving us, your readers, pretty, pretty words. Thank you!
YES! My favorite line that actually made me laugh:
“People say that physics has laws,” I told him, walking to the bedroom door. “I prefer to view them as a set of flexible guidelines.”
yay! hope you had a good holiday break! great installment
Thank you!
Thank you so much for putting this up – it was nice ending for a perfectly crappy day & this give me much needed smile along with some laughs.
Great to see it installments back – like someone else said now don’t need to hit refresh all the time. Think have become addicted to your style of writing
Finally! Not that I’ve been checking, or hoping, or sighing, or longing or anything. Thanks for reversing the order of the installments on the web page. Better.
Must have been my browser, because now (a day later) the installments are back in chronological order?
Just discovered this story yesterday thank you for the new piece today
Thank you. Made my day
Yippee! I loved it! Hooray for Innkeeper! I have been stalking your website every day hoping for more Innkeeper. Keep up the great work.
Thank you so very much!
OH thank you …. it’s doesn’t convey the depth of my appreciation for this but it is simple and to the point.
Vampires — oh boy!
I second this!
I’ve been missing these!
LOVE IT!!! Thank you so much!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Even Felix my cat thanks you!!
TYPO
Through the day she had upgraded his status from kill on site to suspicious to the man with delicious treats, who can’t be trusted.
This should be “kill on sight”.
Thanks for the wonderful snippet!
TYPO:
“We’d fished them out of the pot once the flesh had fallen of the stalkers’ bones.” Should be OFF the stalkers’ bones.
~~~~~~~~
Many thanks for the new installment. I’d also like to say that the pictures you include are a great addition to the story. When I first see them, I immediately wonder how they’re going to tie in. Needless to say, I’m always surprised.
Maybe not typo? I wanted to ask, cause it seemed good either way. “Kill on site,” meaning kill if Sean comes onto the inn property but leave him alone if he stays off inn property, or “kill on sight”, meaning exactly that no matter where Sean is.
Thank you, Gordon and Ilona, for your wonderful stories. I have often wondered how you got the energy for the tales and the blog on top of being householders. The mind kind of boggles.
You’re back – Yea!
The line about beast’s attitude was my favorite, right up until holy egyptian (because of the pyramid) vampires showed up.
You know as much as I really appreciate the free serial format, I really think youneed to talk to your agent about getting a contract for this series. Of course on the other hand I don’t really want to distract you from writting more Kate books.
Need more Kate!
Hoorah, thanks muchly.
Love it! Just when I wasn’t expecting vampires, they show up. Lol! At least they are some what holy right?
Thank you. I know you have many things to do and I appreciate you continuing this very fun story. What a happy Friday treat!
haha! What a surprise! Loved that.
I finally caved when I saw your FB post with the latest installment and started from the beginning. Loved the whole thing. Can’t wait for more!
Thank you, this added a nice distraction to the end of what has been a long week. I’m a stay at home mom right now as we figured out that it was costing us $500 a month for me to work with two toddlers that was only going to get worse with another on the way in six weeks. We found out Monday that the oldest of the littles needs to have hernia surgery so mom really needed a little bright spot. So lucky with all my kids that they are healthy but anything like that makes you worry. I really needed a get away and re-reading the previous parts with the new piece was so nice. Thank you.
Thank you!
OMG OMG OMG OMG !!!
Like TOTAL AWESOMESAUCE!!!
Absitively Posilutely MADE MY NIGHT!!
now I will go back and re read the series a couple of times to get the whole story to flow together!!!
Yay! Can’t wait to see this version of vampires.
Vampires that are knights? Cool! Yet, also very weird. This should be interesting.
You said it.
I love it, I love it, still love it and vampiers in the mix only makes it better.
I LOVE this story! I can’t get enough of it!!!
Thank You! Gracias! Merci! Danke! Shukran! Trija! Maholo! Salamat! Arigato! Kulo! Dziekuje! Spasibo! Just can’t say thanks enough for he new installment. You guys are the best!!!!
Thank you so much!
Bliss!
So happy Clean Sweep is back.!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Sweet!!! I’m so glad we get to enjoy reading this serial again! I hope it’s as fun for you to write as it is for us to read!
P.S. The knights look awesomely Monty Pithon- I kept waiting for a caption of “Bring me a shrubbery!”
ergh- Monty Python…
FUNNY!
What a marvelous New Year’s gift. I am in love with this story! Thank you!
It was such a nice surprise to see another installment! Love it!
TYPO:
Through the day she had upgraded his status from kill on site. Should it be ‘kill on sight’?
YAY!!!
So glad y’all are back thanks for everything.
what can I say but… WOW !!!
Who do we need to bribe, threaten or just plain nag to have this serial turn into a full fledged book (even a series like Kate’s) ????
WOW I’m so glad your back, I didn’t realize how much I had missed this story until I got to read more tonight. YIPEE what a great installment, can’t wait till the next one.
OMG, OMG, OMG! So awesomecool! I have been stalking your site, waiting for the latest installment… squeee!!! Now I am kind of bummed because I have used it all up.
I did love the new Kate out-takes, and thank you for those. I guess I am just spoiled; I want more Inkeeper *and* more Kate snippets – cut or not!. Hope you had an awesome break – so glad you are back!
I love this series – innovative entertaining well written!
Thank you very much!
YES YES YES! YOU’RE BACK! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
That was great. And I have to say how much I loved “delicately devoured” construction. Priceless…
Vampires- new players in story, Can’t wait to read next chapter!
Hurray!!!! Welcome back and thank you very much indeed for making me happy once again
Happy New Year, welcome back, and mega thanks!!
Vampire knights? Ooh, I lurve all the twists and turns in this series. Also interested in your take vs Lynn Viehl’s Darkyn.
Vampires! Oh yay – did not see that coming for some reason.
I love it when he got that spark – please let there be more of that!
On an aside; where has my normal avatar gone? Just wondering if it’s you or me.
You know some days just drag,,, I hate pity parties, but chemotherapy often beats me down.
Clean Sweep is a breath of fresh air, thank you.
Thank you!
Yep, yep good stuff. Made me late to my Zumba class. Now that’s saying something! This story is great for my brain chemistry. Sounds like I’m not alone!
Thank you!!! So happy that you were able to find the time to do another installment. I hope that means things are going well for you. Thank you again.
It just keeps getting better and better. Thank you for the gift!
I love you I love you I love you!!!!!!!
You just made my day! Thank you so much!
Thank you so much! I love this new addition – can’t wait to see what the vampires have to say…lol
“The Cosmic Holy Anocracy”
And just when I think my opinion of your awesomeness can’t get any higher… and then it DOES!
Yeahh….. Glorious yeah… Made my day…. Worth the wait… Thanks…
Thank you so very much. I had some very bad news this morning and this was just what I needed to help me cope. At least I don’t need to worry about vampires!
TYPO:
The look on his face when (HE) saw the canopy bed would be priceless.
Awesome! It’s amazing how fun your writings are! Thanks again and please keep it coming.
THANK YOU! Made my day to see the update!
I am Just amazed at how effortlessly your writing flows. It is so smooth & addicting.
I’m so glad you have returned to writing this serial-now I have a new addiction.
Thanks a lot! Great surprise in my inbox, I really love this serie.
I just wanted to say thank you for the new installment; I am loving clean sweep and am really glad to see it back. Thank you.
Thank you. It’s been one of those days and I needed the distaction!
Yippee Skippee! What a nice surprise! Thanks!
Wonderful.
I am so enjoying this
Thank you.
My response when I saw more Inkeeper Chronicles:
“Ooo! Ohmygosh! This is a good day; this is a VERY good day!”
All while picking up my computer, running to the other side of the room, and plopping down on my bed to start reading ^.^
Thank-you very much!
Thanks so much!! This was an awesome early birthday present!!
So many authors lack creative ideas about “creatures” (vamps & werewolves). That you have 2 such creative interpretations is awesome. Thank you!
Great installment! I like it. It’s so good. Thank you.
I’ve just read all the installments and I think I will go crazy waiting for the next one! Thank you so much!
It’s fantastic!
Yay! so glad clean sweep is back! I always look forward to new chapters- it makes my day just a little bit better. Thank you!
I miss this story. Thank You. Love you guys.
Thank you.
TYPO
“I led him up the stairs to second bedroom on the right and opened the door. A….”
Needs ‘the’ between ‘to’ and ‘second’.
Nice to see you back – looking forward to Magic Rises too.
When I first read the line about kiwi I was very excited to think someone in the Northern Hemisphere knows what a kiwi is. Then I realised that I think that’s what North America calls the fruit Kiwifruit a.k.a. Chinese Gooseberry, rather than the bird Kiwi – ‘cos I guess even a very small bird Kiwi would still be a bit big for what you have in mind. Hope I’m on the right wavelength.
Hey, mayby it pleas you that I know what both of kiwi is. And I´m not even from english speaking country. I found it out when I was smal kid. It made me laugh. They look same enough.
Yep, I had to reread, thinking that 2 kiwis would never just sit on the table!!
TYPO : “status from kill on site to” – should it not be kill on sight?
Awesome series – you guys have a way with words and storytelling that sucks me in from the word go.
Thank you for posting so soom.
Thank you! Never expected vampires – made my day
So glad to read more about the Inn …. what a totally cool idea!
Good Stuff. Thank You!
Oh My !! Just yesterday I dropped you a note begging and pleading on bended knee for a wee bit of Cleansweep to salve my poor soul, and everyone elses who has been following this wonderful tale. Lo and Behold – prayers and solicitations answered – IN Spades, or Vamps, whatever- A wonderful treat…
Tx U Tx U Tx U
This makes me realize I’ve really missed Dina and Sean!
so good!!!!
Thank you for finding the time to share this!
Ooooooooooooooooh Vampires
I have to think are they going to be sexy vampires
or
Creepy vampires
Authors go either way
At first I thought how about sexy and creepy, but then I realized that creepy is never, ever sexy.
Thank you so much. I love this series.
Thank you! I’ve had some hectic days without an opportunity to check your site, so it was a real treat to come back and find this! Much appreciated!
thank you. I love the characters. I hope you two make this a series!
Yippee! Had run out of all my books while recuping from spine srgery and now I have a new chapter to gloat over. Hope you got some rest and welcome back!!
Thank you guys! this rocks!
just finished reading the last instalment great work
if you turn this into a paid series of books I will certainly buy and read
keep up the good work looking forward to the next instalment
by the way is there a way to choose the little pick that shows up with each comment mine looks like I am angry …..not intentional lol
Thank you! Amazing, as per usual! Hope you guys are feeling better and taking a much deserved break!
thank you
Yay! Thank you for continuing this! I’m looking forward to seeing your new version of vampires in this story.
Thank you for the new word to look up! (Anocracy). I had no idea there was such a classification. And thank you for the new installment. I am enjoying all of these people, and hoping Caldenia (which I insist on pronouncing Caldonia, Caldonia! in my head) makes a surprise bloodthirsty entrance and an opportune moment.
Thanks so much for the late Christmas present! This is a wonderful story. The best writers (a title that obviously includes you and Gordon) are full of creative turns and twists. Please keep it up!!
Thank you for the post. I knew it would be well worth the wait
YAY! Thank you so much! This is a fantastic start to this story!
THANK YOU!!!!!! This has made my day!!!!! I love where this is going!!!
Thank you. Please post another one soon. These are my breaks in a college life.
PLEASE NEVER GO THIS LONG WITHOUT POSTING AGAIN.
Whee! What an awesome way to start the day!
I am absolutely loving this story!! Can’t wait for more!!
TYPO
“If you would you like a large arched window so people can view you in all of your naked glory while you bathe, that can be arranged.”
The beginning of this sentence doesn’t make sense to me.
Love the over all so far.
I’ve just a very long night up with a teething child and thought id check to see if there were any updates on clean sweep. I can not express my happiness that there were. It made my day and I went to work after two hours sleep with a smile on my face. So I guess I just wanted you guys no how much I appreciate your tales.
Thank you for being so generous with your time and your talent by sharing this captivating story with us.
Ahhh thank you benevolent authoress!
So glad this is back
uwaaaaaaaa……….. vampires…. i’ve been waiting for this update!!!! thank you so much
WOW, thank you so much. I’ve really missed this story and wondered if you would come back to it. I hope you add another chapter or two soon. What a place to stop. Vampires and we’re left hanging. Not nice. nope not nice at all. Thanks I love this story. Will be setting on the edge of my set waiting for the next installment. Love you guys, can’t wait for Magic Rises to be released either I love your books, all of them.
Thanks so much for the new part! I’ve missed this quite a bit. Glad to hear you’re feeling better and that Magic Rises was handed in and gotten back with no major rewrites required. Happy writing! Though I do hope you get some more downtime to relax and unwind.
Thank you very much! Loved it, as always
-Sigh-
Can’t wait for the next part…thnx!
I just found this story, and I must say that it’s been 4 days since your last post….Ummmm….addicts here….If you need sustenance or toilets cleaned, just call. I will work so I can get my next fix. You don’t want to set an out of control Inntweeker on suburban WA state do you?
Vampires..!?
dear beloved author – I like you very much but WHERE is the REST????
(…waiting impatiently^^)
please make up for December and post more – I find myself addicted to this series ;]]
Kasia, we are totally allowed to take time off for the holidays.
Okay, maybe somebody could clear this up for me, are they eating the stalkers, or Beasts ribs?
I’m pretty sure they are eatting regular pork ribs. The idea being that the delicious aroma would cover the smell of the stench of of boiling down the beasts to get the trackers
love it love it thanks for the new episode!
Cant you see a movie out of this? I can Definitely see a movie out of this!
Hurrah for a new entry! I love how this is ramping up. I also love the site redesign for the Clean Sweep page. Looks great!
Where, please, did the beautiful picture of the knights’ armor come from?
I’ve been out sick nearing two weeks now due to the flu and am back in the land of the living to see a new update to Clean Sweep! Can’t wait to see how the next installment will play out and what seems to be a political word battle of formalities that will ensue!
I missed your posts, and I was totally waiting for this. <3 I feel like it's been raining gold or something, because Clean Sweep + Kate deleted snippet = awesomesauce.
Can't wait to see what your vampires here are like. At least I know they won't sparkle. Hehe
Oh I have missed you!!! I hope you enjoyed your holidays! Thank you for this installment (and the Kate snippet was fabulous the other day too!!) Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!!
Yay, a snippet before bed- thank you!
Thanks for posting more chapters…..I really appreciate it! This was so awesome!!
Thanks
TYPO!
In the first paragraph, it reads:
“….once the flesh had fallen of the stalkers’ bones……”
Should prob’ly say “off” the stalkers’ bones…..or even “off of”, but hey, whaddaeyeno?
Great story, by the way….
This is so so good!
Hahaha, the photos of the knights were a riot within the story
thank you!