by Petra Landon
“Were they able to capture her?” Raoul inquired curiously. He’d never heard of Lady Bethesda before – not that he was well versed with wizard matters. He had made it his business to not be kept informed of wizard internal affairs. The only wizards he did interact with were the local representatives in his territory. Even then, his interactions with them were kept to the minimum necessary to maintain the Pack’s relationship with them.
“They cornered her at the local Wizard Registry in Chicago. The details of the meeting are sketchy. All we know for sure is that there was a huge explosion that took out all the Guardians, Lady Bethesda, everyone at the Registry and five square blocks of the area around the Registry. There was a concerted effort by all Chosen to cover up the explosion and the damage resulting from it.”
“Ten Guardians were lost in this operation!” Raoul exclaimed softly. That certainly must be a first for the GCW. Like all adult Chosen, Raoul was aware of the explosion in Chicago but not the details of Lady Bethesda or the Guardians dispatched to bring her in for questioning.
“Yes, including the wizard known as the Oracle. It was believed that Lady Bethesda set off the explosion when she couldn’t evade capture by the Guardians. That was ten months after the formation of the CoC. We assumed that the tale had ended there until about six months ago. Reports of sightings of Lady Bethesda have been coming in to the wizards – mainly from other wizards who recognize her from before. At first, the wizards ignored it because they thought it was a rather tasteless hoax. She had perished in that explosion almost twenty-four years ago! However, new information has now come to light that has made them re-evaluate their original findings from the explosion. Lady Esmeralda, who I’ve established a good working relationship with on the Council, has approached me for assistance on this matter. She is convinced that there are still a few wizards who believe that Lady Bethesda was given a raw deal all those years ago – that she had not been given a fair opportunity to prove her innocence to the allegations made against her. I get the impression that the First Wizard is suspicious of where her wizards’ loyalties lie on this matter. She would like my help to investigate whether these rumors are true and if Lady Bethesda is still alive.”
“How can I help?” Raoul asked promptly. The Shifters had no stake in this particular fight. It made sense that the wizard representative would approach Faoladh for his assistance. Unlike the wizards, the Shifters were guaranteed to be impartial in this matter.
“I have my Shifters making inquiries on all the sightings in the last six months with the assistance of some of Lady Esmeralda’s trusted Guardians. We know that Lady Bethesda had disappeared for almost a year before she was allegedly killed in the explosion. I would like you to reconstruct her movements for those months. I think it is important that we find out why she walked away from her family without any explanation. It may help us locate her if she is indeed alive.”
Raoul contemplated the powerful Alpha thoughtfully. Faoladh had given him the back story with all the details he considered pertinent to trace Lady Bethesda’s movements. But there had been one extraneous detail that didn’t gel with the rest of the tale. He’d bet his last dollar that Faoladh had a reason for sharing that particular tidbit with him.
“You suspect that this prophecy the Oracle foretold before his death has something to do with Lady Bethesda’s disappearance” he remarked shrewdly.
“Lady Esmeralda certainly does. I think that some of the other wizards do too” Faoladh acknowledged.
“Why?” Raoul inquired baldly.
“The children alleged to have been killed by Lady Bethesda were all female. The wizards, who have the details from all those years ago, also noted that in some cases the mothers were pregnant with a different partner than the father of the child killed.”
“I see” Raoul’s eyebrow arched, clearly taken aback by this particular revelation. “Similarities with the Oracle’s prophecy.”
“Exactly!”
“How many children were alleged to have died?”
“Four deaths were confirmed. There were rumors of more but the wizards couldn’t confirm them. Not all Chosen were willing to talk to the wizards about the matter.”
“I do have a place for you to start, Raoul” Faoladh continued. “The wizards know that Lady Bethesda broke into The Vault a few weeks before the explosion in Chicago. They have video confirmation of her walking into The Vault accompanied by a man that they’ve been able to identify as a vampire.”
“She’d joined hands with the leeches?” Raoul was surprised. The Undead were not known for their co-operation with other Chosen. The Clan barely even tolerated their own kind when it came to those from other families or nests.
“It would seem so. My Shifters have been able to identify the leech in question as belonging to one of the older and powerful Italian families.”
“Was anything taken from The Vault?” Raoul inquired. The Vault was an underground high security bank for powerful magic artifacts that the Chosen deemed too dangerous to be allowed to fall into wrong hands where it could potentially be used to devastating effect. The wizards had traditionally been in charge of guarding The Vault and its contents. If Lady Bethesda had succeeded in breaking in, it was likely that she’d had some inside help. No wonder the First Wizard was anxious to keep this particular investigation away from wizard hands.
“No, that’s what makes this so mysterious. She went to an awful lot of trouble to break into the place and then walked away with nothing. The strange thing is that she could’ve easily damaged the security camera on the premises but she didn’t. It almost seems like she wanted them to know about the break-in. The wizards have her on tape walking in to a particular section of The Vault before walking out a half hour later. Nothing was missing from that section. According to Lady Esmeralda, they’ve checked and double checked for they are just as puzzled about her motives.”
“I’d like a copy of the surveillance tape from the security camera” Raoul requested.
“I’ll inform Esmeralda” Faoladh responded agreeably. “Anything else you want from the wizards?”
An image of the young witchling he had extended Pack protection to flashed through Raoul’s mind. She’d been able to sense the magic in the warehouse where Hawk had fought the mercenaries before his capture, from the blood spilt from Chosen. Perhaps she could help detect what Lady Bethesda had been up to in The Vault by sensing for traces of spent magic. It was certainly worth a try.
“I’d like to visit The Vault after I’ve watched the surveillance tape.”
“That can be arranged” Faoladh replied thoughtfully. “Although I rather think that admission will be limited and you’re likely to be accompanied by some Guardian chaperones during your visit. The wizards are leery about giving other Chosen access to the artifacts that they guard in The Vault.”
“I’m guessing that they’ve somehow neglected to broadcast Lady Bethesda’s break-in to the other Chosen” Raoul commented sarcastically.
“Yes” Faoladh agreed with a grin. “They were forced to inform me when they asked for my assistance, with the caveat that I only disseminate the information on a need-to-know basis.”
“What a surprise!”
Faoladh laughed out loud. Raoul’s feelings about the Spell Casters was well known amongst the Shifters though Faoladh was one of the very few who knew where it stemmed from.
“I guess you’re looking to retrace Lady Bethesda’s route in The Vault” he remarked.
Raoul nodded. “It might give us an idea of why she was there. It’s certainly not easy breaking into the place. She had to have a very good reason for making the attempt.”
“I’ll ask Esmeralda to make the arrangements for two Shifters to visit The Vault.”
“I will also have a wizard in my party.”
“A wizard” Faoladh exclaimed, taken aback by the news.
“We have one working with the Pack who might prove insightful” Raoul said evenly.
“A po
werful one?” Faoladh asked curiously.
“Level 2.”
“Hmm, the wizards might kick up a fuss over it but I can handle them if you think his presence would help your investigation.”
“Her presence will” Raoul said firmly.
Faoladh studied Raoul’s inscrutable expression carefully.
“Pack business, Raoul?” he inquired gently. He made it a point to never interfere in Pack business except when it came to his own which he ran with an iron fist.
Raoul nodded without offering any further explanation. He wasn’t at liberty to expose the witchling’s secrets to Faoladh. And to be frank, he wasn’t sure that he wanted to. Faoladh was as ambitious as they came and not above exploiting her powers if he thought that it would benefit his Pack or the Shifters in general. The witchling, for all her power, was a babe in woods when it came to the older Chosen who could run circles around her with his mind games. Though he would never admit it aloud, Raoul did feel his protective instincts come to the fore when it came to the young witchling, much like he felt as an Alpha towards his weaker Shifters who couldn’t protect themselves adequately.
“In that case, consider it done, my friend.”
The next night, Tasia was summoned to her third meeting with the Alpha Protector. When a young Shifter brought her the summons, she changed sleepily out of her night attire into a pair of jeans and a tee before following him up the stairs. Tonight, it had been Hawk waiting for her at the restaurant to escort her back to the Lair and not her usual discreet Shifter bodyguards. Hawk had stopped by her studio and she had packed a case of clothes and other essentials to bring back to her current abode at the Lair. Sara had escaped the brawl in the Cafe with a broken rib and some bruises although the Shifter doctor had assured Duncan that she’d be healed within the week. She was recuperating in a room at the Lair and Tasia had spent every available minute keeping her friend company. Hawk had joined the two girls when he could. The Alpha had put him in charge of hunting down the mercenaries and it kept him busy.
Tasia followed the Shifter into the Pack Room on the fourth floor. Like her first time in this room, it seemed full of Shifters. However, unlike her first time, no one paid any attention to Tasia. Small knots of people were scattered around the room in discussion. Most Shifters ignored Tasia and her escort except for Hawk who waved at her across the room with a grin. Tasia was ushered through the Pack Room into another room about one-fifth the size of the gigantic chamber. This must be the second shielded room reserved exclusively for the Alpha’s use, she realized. This room had none of the cozy feeling of the majestic Pack Room with its vast collection of books and hushed atmosphere. This was stark and business-like, furnished minimally and lacking any personal touches. A gigantic desk with matching chair dominated one end of the room while a small sitting area with a couch and two chairs around a small center table provided a more informal space at the far end of the room.
The Alpha sat behind the enormous desk, poring over a stack of papers. He wore a button down light blue shirt with the cuffs rolled up over his powerful forearms. The knot of his tie lay loosened and a dark gray jacket was slung behind his chair. Tasia found herself staring at him for he looked very different. She’d only ever seen him in jeans and casual tees. Even the t-shirt had come off in her aid on one memorable occasion. He looked almost normal, she mused in sudden bemusement. Not the usual short-fused, enigmatic and scary Shifter that she tended to give a wide berth to.
He glanced up from the papers on his desk to catch her staring at him. The tawny eyebrows arched up, the gold eyes holding a trace of sardonic amusement. Tasia flushed, looking hurriedly away from those perceptive eyes. After a short moment of silence, he gestured her to a chair across the desk from him before turning his attention back to the papers on his desk. Tasia fought not to fidget as she watched him peruse the document, sign it and place it back on his desk before leaning back in his chair to focus on her. She attempted to read his expression. As usual his strangely cold eyes were inscrutable. At least he didn’t seem angry, she thought in some relief. She didn’t really feel up to another round with him tonight.
“I’d like your assistance with something” he opened abruptly.
“Of course” Tasia replied, her astonishment obvious. “Anything I can do.”
“You have the ability to sense leftover residue from magic that has been spent” he stated very precisely.
Tasia nodded mutely, her curiosity aroused by his cryptic statement.
“Could you sense it even if the magic was spent a long time ago?”
“How long ago?”
“Twenty-four years, give or take a few months.”
Tasia contemplated him in bemusement.
“I’m not sure” her response was hesitant. “I’ve never come across anything that old but I could certainly give it a shot.”
“Good. We’ll be flying out the day after tomorrow.”
“I’ll have you back in town by night fall” he reassured her as an expression of alarm flashed across Tasia’s face.
“I can’t just fly off with you” Tasia blurted out in confusion.
“Why not?” he demanded peremptorily. “I’m not asking you out on a date here, witchling! This is Pack business” he added sardonically.
“I didn’t think that you were” Tasia managed to stammer out. Consternation at his misunderstanding the reason for her hesitation held Tasia speechless for a moment before the sardonic gold eyes recalled her to her senses. “I can’t take off without adequate notice at work” she explained.
“The Pack will, of course, compensate you for your time” he told her dispassionately.
“It’s not that. I’ve worked very hard to get these jobs and I cannot afford to jeopardize them” Tasia said slowly.
“Jobs?” he inquired after a short pause.
“I have two.”
Raoul scrutinized the young girl before him carefully. For the first time, he took note of the air of fragility about her. She’d had a tough week and she was still recovering from the night at the leech nest. He was well aware of how bad things had gotten that night - she didn’t even know the half of what he’d had to do to save her life. No matter how quickly her magic allowed her to heal, it had to have left its mark on her. Working two jobs couldn’t have made the healing any easier.
“When are you done?” he asked her.
“At eleven.”
“That’s too late” he said bluntly. “Can you get someone to cover for you for the evening?”
“I can try.” Tasia hesitated. “But it will be difficult on such short notice.”
“I understand and I’ll take that into account the next time I ask for your assistance. Unfortunately, I can’t change the schedule this time around. Arrangements have already been made and the matter is important.”
He paused to gaze at her silently. Tasia sighed softly.
“I’ll see what I can do. My first gig finishes at six. I can’t get anyone to cover that one” she chimed in hastily as he opened his mouth to object.
Raoul contemplated the imploring gray eyes that gazed back at him. It would be tight but they’d have to make it work somehow.
“Okay. Make sure you leave promptly at six. Your usual Shifter escorts will drive you directly to the airport. We’ll only make it back here by early morning so you’ll have to get your rest on the plane.”
Thus it was that Tasia found herself on a private jet two days later, on her way to New York City. Shifters didn’t like to fly commercial – confined spaces for prolonged periods in proximity with others made them claustrophobic. The rich Packs who could afford it had their own private planes or chartered them when they had need of one. The Northern California Pack was one of the wealthier Packs in the United States, Hawk had informed her. One of the reasons was that the Alpha had turned out to be a canny businessman who surrounded himself with smart financial advisors that had steered the Pack to make very lucrative investments in the booming tech and fina
nce sectors thriving in the Bay Area. The Pack financed and ran numerous thriving businesses all over their territories in northern California. Tasia had learnt that individual Shifters earned salaries and benefits when they worked for Pack owned businesses like any other job but the profits and assets of these businesses belonged to the Pack. In short, the Pack was registered and behaved like a large corporation with the Alpha Protector as the CEO. No Shifter went hungry or homeless or in want of medical attention, infrequent though the need was. The Pack took care of its own – it helped Shifters finance college educations, fake identities, find jobs, get references and relocate to another Pack if they wanted to. Tasia had spent a frustrating morning endeavoring to pay for her Lair accommodations at one of the administrative offices on the first floor. A middle-aged female Shifter had refused payment to tell her firmly that orders had come from the Alpha for Tasia to get Pack benefits and that included all the perks of the Lair.
This evening, the Alpha was accompanied by Duncan, Hawk, Luis Beltran and the beautiful green-eyed woman from her first evening in the Pack Room who Tasia now knew was called Elisabetta De Luca. The woman had ignored Tasia when she’d boarded the plane but the other Shifters had greeted her politely. Hawk had made a beeline to join her on the couch for the almost six-hour flight. An hour later, after Tasia had changed into comfortable jeans in the spacious restroom, a young Shifter set out some refreshments. Tasia recognized him - she’d seen him at the Lair. Hawk explained that the pilot and co-pilot were also Pack. Like the Alpha had stated so succinctly - Shifters were paranoid. They tended to surround themselves with Pack for they were the only creatures that they could truly trust. It was a wonder that they trusted her enough to let her stay at the Lair, Tasia realized. Of course, she had also entrusted a few secrets of her own to the Alpha and his entourage!
Tasia, who was ravenous, couldn’t help hide her disappointment at the stacks of cold meats and bread laid out for them. She had to content herself with eating some bread and cheese. Duncan, silently watchful as was his wont, made note of her disappointment before approaching Hawk, engaged in updating the Alpha with the latest in the search for the rogues. It hadn’t escaped Duncan’s notice that Hawk had struck up an unlikely friendship with the young wizard. Hawk was not merely protective of her because she’d once helped him out of a jam but seemed to genuinely enjoy her company.
