Tempting Eternity

by Angela Colsin

  So Isadora fully understood Heliger's concern as he continued.

  “But Sylva thought she could find a way to combine the two that would make her magic more powerful, and began conducting tests. When I learned of them, I directed her to refrain, but she continued on in secret, and almost killed three apprentices in a laboratory explosion doing so.”

  Isadora's brows arched in surprise. “Then she was power hungry?”

  Heliger sighed, admitting, “I'm not sure if she wanted a personal gain in power, or merely sought to teach her witch coven a new type of magic that might be more effective at protecting them from the paranoia of religious humans. But after the mishap, she left Mystikkar on sabbatical, and didn't return at the time agreed upon. So I sought her out, and found her teaching her dangerous techniques to her witch coven. Even worse, she was using unwilling human sacrifices.”

  Isadora's jaw dropped in disbelief. Unwilling sacrifice was forbidden in witchcraft, and with good reason—the energy it produced was dark, perhaps even addictive. Additionally, if a witch killed enough people, that energy transformed them into something twisted and sinister.

  So it was understandable when Heliger remarked, “I was furious. After all my attempts, I hadn't gotten through to her, and my ego was to blame. As her mentor, I was to set an example, but the manner in which I conducted myself was … arrogant, inviolable. I gave her no reason to fear the misuse of magic as I appeared to be fearless.”

  Turning his orange gaze to Isadora, he concluded, “I was once pridefully narcissistic, and Sylva was my first apprentice. Her actions reflected upon me, and our confrontation over the matter grew until she swore never to stop researching in whatever manner she saw fit. So I impulsively cursed her to remain in Limbo as a specter, never to take physical form again.”

  Isadora frowned. Somehow, Heliger's countenance suggested he either regretted his actions, or wasn't certain he'd done the right thing, and she didn't know what to say. From the sound of it, the apprentice and the mentor were both determined, but their end goals clashed, making it possible a falling out would've occurred no matter how Heliger conducted himself or tried to sway Sylva.

  Sadly, regrets wouldn't alter the story. There was no way to change the past, and they had to deal with what the witch was doing now, which reminded Isadora of another question that might provide insight into her plans.

  So she wasted no time inquiring, “You cursed her to never take physical form again? I was told you cast Sylva into Limbo bodily.”

  “I did, but the moment she entered that plane, her body would've wasted away to nothing.”

  “That's what we thought. My friends also suggested it would take a sacrifice to bring her back.”

  Nodding, Heliger confirmed, “Exactly. My counter spell required a willing sacrifice to provide Sylva with the life to return. Still, no matter who volunteered, she was in Limbo for so long that physical decay would've started soon after her revival. So I have no doubts that, however she's controlling your sisters, she chose them specifically to heal her new body as often as possible.”

  That made perfect sense, particularly if Sylva had any sun fae at her disposal. Of all types, the sun fae were the most adept at healing, and could even reverse the aging process to an extent. The trouble was that doing so consumed much of a sun fae's energy—possibly to the point of death if care wasn't taken to monitor their exertion.

  As Isadora had the worrisome thought, a faint knock came to the door inside, and her mood declined even further when Heliger inquired, “Can you sense who's there?”

  Grumbling inwardly, she answered with a shake of her head. “No, so it's definitely Maddox and Mathias.”

  Standing from her seat, she thanked Heliger for the information and told him to enjoy the rest of his meal while going to greet their visitors—and took a deep breath before opening the door.

  But instead of Maddox, only Mathias stood in the hall outside, looking just as austere and … intriguing as ever.

  He'd changed clothes, now wearing a plain white button down beneath a black, leather jacket and a pair of jeans that hugged his thick thighs. Additionally, his dark hair was tied into a small ponytail at his nape, revealing a light scar that left a tiny slash through his right eyebrow.

  But the mark only enhanced his appeal, and Isadora almost grumbled over the thought, pushing it aside in asking, “You're alone?”

  “Yes. I came here while Maddox went to fetch Stephan. So they won't be long.”

  Nodding, she stood aside in silent invitation, allowing Mathias to enter before shutting the door—and once again, the situation seemed awkward.

  In the Citadel, Isadora experienced a similar sensation after being left alone with him, and was just as clueless over how to handle it now.

  Damn it all, why was this vampire having such a strange impact on her? Was it a facet of who he was? What he was? Both? Endless curiosities plagued her about his long life, such as the age when he was turned, and where he was from.

  She wouldn't even mind knowing about his sire. Were they really the first vampire ever created, or is that just something people say?

  The depth in Mathias' silver eyes made the urge to ask impossible to ignore—and yet, something was holding her back.

  Maybe his attitude was the culprit. Isadora had no compunctions about using her charm to entice living beings into answering questions, even when withdrawn or unfriendly. But such charm wouldn't work on this vampire, who hadn't shown the slightest bit of willingness to answer even a simple question, let alone have a lengthy discussion about his five thousand years of life.

  Further proof came when she related her activities with Heliger during the day, finding it difficult to hold Mathias' gaze as he listened. Why, she had no idea, but wound up staring at the closest wall pretending to recall details, and was thankful he didn't seem to notice.

  Instead, the vampire only remarked upon learning of Heliger's failure to locate Sylva, “That's not surprising. He's powerful, but there's only so many ways to track using magic, and no way to know if Sylva's even in the country.”

  Isadora hated to admit that was true. She was frustrated enough trying to figure out her inner workings regarding Mathias' presence, and didn't need the added burden of considering how difficult their current tasks would be.

  But she didn't have the chance to consider it for long before her phone rang.

  Looking down, she tugged the device from her pocket, thankful to see that Victoria was calling if only because it provided a distraction from the vampire, and quickly answered.

  “Hey Tori, did you get my message?”

  “I did, and I'm sorry it took so long to call back. I had some unrelated tasks to handle, but I'll be in Cairo soon with someone who can help us. In the meantime, I have a lead for you.”

  “Really?” Isadora waved a hand as if Victoria could see her. “Spill it!”

  “Okay, I just received word from one of my spies that Gregorio Rossi is on vacation in Cairo right now.”

  Isadora's jaw dropped, eyes widening. “You're kidding?”

  “Not at all. He's checked into a hotel only two blocks from the Spire, and my people watching the building said he returned about an hour ago and hasn't left. So I thought you might like to go have a chat with Captain Rossi personally.”

  “Aw, my friends give the best gifts,” Isadora joked with a giggle. “What's the hotel's addy?”

  Without pause, Victoria named both the establishment and the room number, then allowed Isadora to hang up with a promise to call back as soon as she had news.

  Pushing the phone into her pocket, she tried to relate the information to Mathias, but the vampire interrupted to state, “I heard every word she said. My only question is who's Gregorio Rossi?”

  “Oh, he's the captain of the S.S. Malvos, the ship Sylva used to travel to Port Said. Victoria investigated it after I disappeared a week ago and learned Rossi has supernatural connections, meaning he could know who's helping her. So I'm go
nna go charm a few answers out of him.”

  With a nod, he asked, “Are you leaving now?”

  Turning away to rummage through her witch kit for a charm, she answered, “Definitely. Why?”

  Initially, the vampire seemed hesitant, but finally mentioned, “Since Heliger's too busy to teleport, I'll take you in mist.”

  Standing from her kit, Isadora turned to face him with pursed lips. Reaching Rossi as soon as possible was ideal, yet she hesitated. The hotel wasn't far away, and though she didn't fear Mathias, there was no reason to risk a mistake, especially one so easily avoided.

  Besides, obtaining information from a mortal ship captain would be easier to accomplish without an ancient vampire striving to control himself in her presence outside the Spire, prompting her denial.

  “That's not necessary. The hotel is only two blocks away.”

  “I see,” Mathias started, asking after a brief moment of thought, “and if this human is asleep, how do you intend to get into his room?”

  Shrugging, she lifted her charm with the words, “This. It grants wishes, which is just a simple way of saying it focuses intentions. So if I try to open the door without a key, it'll unlock for me. The only drawback is that the charm builds power slowly, but I haven't used it in ages, so I know it's charged.”

  “Did you make it?”

  “Yes.”

  The vampire seemed impressed, though he still mentioned, “Wouldn't it be preferable to save the charge in favor of allowing me sneak you in through the door cracks, or a window?”

  “Maybe,” she started, walking toward the door while adding, “but you should stay and let Heliger know what's going on anyway. So don't worry, I'll be back soon.”

  At that, Isadora quickly exited the room before he tried to change her mind.

  — ELEVEN —

  Mathias had never been so conflicted in his life, all because of the fae who'd just departed the suite.

  It was obvious that Isadora would always be a painful temptation, and his only recourse was in expecting the difficulties. Even suspending his respiration to keep a clear mind instead of inhaling her scent wasn't helping when the mere sight of her was enough to rouse his physical desires.

  So he'd kept his gaze on her face instead of allowing it to wander over the curves of her body as she explained the situation with Rossi. Yet, once she'd detailed her plans to question the ship captain, it wasn't lust she stirred, but protective instincts.

  Of course, she wouldn't need assistance getting information from the captain—with her fae charm in play, Rossi wouldn't know what hit him. Still, it was a bad idea to let Isadora travel alone considering this whole situation started with her attempted murder.

  And what reason would Sylva have to kill her other than ensuring silence?

  The thought gave way to other concerns. Had the storm fae who'd stabbed Isadora returned to Sylva and related there was a chance she yet lived? If so, the witch would either set a trap in the event Isadora came looking for her sisters, or attempt to silence anyone possessing information on her whereabouts.

  Like Gregorio Rossi.

  The possibility put Mathias in a precarious position. He wanted to distance himself from Isadora if possible, but also couldn't ignore the potential danger. So he ignored Isadora's request to stay behind instead, and turned to mist the moment she left, drifting out onto the private balcony where Heliger sat.

  Finishing the rest of a meal, the magician didn't appear to notice him until Mathias spoke his name.

  “Heliger, Isadora just received word on a lead at a nearby hotel, and I'm going to ensure her protection.”

  “Very well. Where's this hotel?” the magician asked without looking up, and Mathias provided the information before departing by traveling down toward the street where he occupied a space near the entrance into the Spire to wait.

  Momentarily, Isadora exited and started in the hotel's direction, and her inability to sense his presence made it easy to follow, though he worried she'd spot him in mist and halt her progression. So he stayed a good distance behind and thinned out as much as possible, moving along walls as she weaved through passing pedestrians—and many stopped to stare as if entranced.

  It was an amusing sight, particularly since the fae paid no one a second glance. She was likely accustomed to such attention, and continued without stopping, rounding a corner between two buildings near the end of the street as a shortcut.

  The hotel was visible from the point where she emerged, and Isadora reached it only moments before Mathias, briefly disappearing from sight after walking through the doors. But her scent was easy to follow, and he found the fae accessing an elevator inside while the receptionist stared in awe.

  As for the hotel, it was a four star establishment with crystal chandeliers gracing the lobby amongst numerous marble columns. Captain Rossi must've done well for himself to afford such a luxurious accommodation, but Mathias was just grateful he'd chosen a place with an accessible stairwell.

  Rather than joining Isadora on the elevator where she'd notice him, he moved to the appropriate floor, arriving just moments before the number light blinked and the doors slid open.

  Staying close to the ceiling, Mathias watched the fae exit and adjourn to the room Victoria mentioned. There, she tested the knob to find it locked, then fished the charm from her pocket to try a second time with the magic item clutched in her left hand.

  This time, the door opened.

  Grinning, Isadora tossed her charm up in the air and caught it in one hand as if to say Yep, I'm good, and Mathias was amused by her pride. The fae was talented to make a charm that worked so easily, and as he seeped through the cracks in the door after she entered, he wondered if she'd get answers from Rossi as quickly.

  Inside was a moderately sized accommodation comprising a sleeping area with two, single beds, a balcony, and an open doorway leading into a bathroom. On the bed closest to the main entrance was a sleeping, middle aged man with white hair and a bushy, silver beard, propped up by several thick pillows.

  The captain didn't initially awaken when the fae climbed onto the mattress next to him, but if the empty beer bottles on the nightstand were any indication, he'd need coaxing which Isadora accomplished by nudging his shoulder.

  “Gregorio?”

  Finally, Rossi's eyes opened to lock on her face, and the fae gifted him with the sweetest smile Mathias had ever seen.

  It was a smile the human returned before asking in Italian, “Who are you?”

  Mathias's Italian was rusty, but Isadora seemed to be fluent because she replied without pause, “I'm just a friend who wants to ask a few questions about some cargo you delivered to Port Said a week ago.”

  As she spoke, the fae lifted her legs over Rossi's lap, causing the human's eyes to light up as if delighted to have her there.

  And Mathias seethed with jealousy despite knowing her ploy.

  She was using her fae charm to get information, though it was questionable how far she'd go. She wouldn't sleep with him, would she?

  Mathias had heard the fae were impotent unless mated, and if so, the chance seemed slim. Still, the mere thought of her in bed with this human suffused him with rage so profound he almost materialized to terrorize Rossi into answering instead of allowing her to continue.

  But somehow, he resisted, listening as the captain inquired, “What cargo is that, signora?”

  “It's kind of complicated,” Isadora started, casting a sad frown in his direction to inspire sympathy. “You see, I'm not sure who you were shipping it for, or why, but perhaps the name Sylva Abbott rings a bell.”

  Rossi's expression grew thoughtful, as if too drunk to remember—or reluctant to answer. Maybe both.

  Either way, he finally remarked, “I'm sorry, signora dolce, I was paid to stay silent over that matter.”

  At least he knows something, Mathias thought, realizing Rossi wouldn't have even admitted his agreement to remain silent if Isadora wasn't coaxing him—and she w
asn't done.

  “Oh?” the fae started, stroking her fingers through his beard. “Then you don't know where she's gone?”

  As if infatuated, the human drew his fingers across her cheek and returned, “No. A man named Derick Rowden paid me to organize discreet transportation out of Port Said, and I heard talk of a temple, but that's all.”

  “A temple? Do you know where?”

  Rossi shrugged, staring at Isadora as if more interested in admiring her than talking. Still, he admitted, “I only know it was somewhere in southern Egypt, and I could get into trouble just telling you that much.”

  As he spoke, the human cupped her cheek, adding, “But you're far too beautiful to deny.”

  In response, the fae giggled as if flattered—and Mathias nearly growled. Watching her charm this human was intolerable, and things only got worse when she kissed him in gratitude.

  “Thank you so much, Gregorio,” she started, pressing her lips to his before whispering, “you can go back to sleep now.”

  As if exerting an influence over the man, she stroked his hair and watched as his eyes slid shut and head tilted to the side. Snickering in the process, the fae brought his head to rest against the pillow before climbing off his lap, then stood and dusted her hands together as if to say all in a night's work!

  “Was that really necessary?”

  Resuming his normal form near the bathroom door, Mathias watched Isadora jump and spin around to face him with wide eyes. But her shocked expression quickly grew annoyed in asking, “How long have you been there?”

  “The entire time,” he admitted shamelessly. “I told Heliger where you went, then followed you from the Spire.”

  Pursing her lips, Isadora stepped away from the sleeping human, obviously intent on leaving the room. But she stopped several times to cast an annoyed look in his direction, her lips parting as if to speak, though nothing came out.

  It wasn't until she opened the door that she finally quipped, “You're unbearable, vampire.”

  Smirking at her theatrics, Mathias followed, inquiring, “Why? Because I wanted to ensure your safety?”