by Sara Stone
Judson studied the map for a long time before looking at Ulric. Ulric walked over to check where the crystal had punctured the map. His eyebrows shot up as he started to shake his head no.
"What? What's going on?" I asked, taking a full steadying breath before getting to my feet and looking at the map. The healing had kicked in, refreshing me of all my fatigue.
"We can't go there. It's suicide!" Ulric said, walking away from the map turning his back on us.
"We don't have a choice," Judson said calmly. Ulric's reaction told me he was anything but.
I looked at the map, wondering what the big deal was. The hole was in the next town over, in an empty location. The spell hadn't worked after all. All that work for the dumb rock to show us nothing.
"I don't get it. It didn't show us anything."
"It showed us too much." Ulric snapped.
"Would you care to enlighten me?" I asked, looking between the two of them.
"That's where the regional vampire council member lives." Judson shrugged. The only thing showing his tension were the jaw muscles twitching on the side of his face as he clenched and unclenched his teeth.
"Those crazy dead things have a council? They were crazed beings!"
"They were the low men on the totem pole. Mercenaries for hire, if sanctioned by their master. There are council members, as there are for witches, to make sure everyone stays in line. Aldon Goroff is the head of the council and has been for an awfully long time. He is nothing like those we encountered tonight," Ulric said, his face holding a slight tinge of respect. It took me a minute to realize that part of my fear was coming from him. If he was afraid, then I should be terrified.
"We need to go speak with him. With only a few hours left of the dark, we should do it now," Judson said, leaning against the chair. So, the myth was right then, vampires didn't mix with the daylight. That, at least, was comforting. After all this, I could sleep as soon as the sun came up.
"What if he is the one who called? Or what if this whole thing is a trap? Whoever was on the phone knew we were looking, so they had to know where it would lead to," I said, worry filling my thoughts. I was no PI, so the fact that I had deduced as much meant the guys were already one step ahead.
"We don't have a choice," Judson said again, with growing irritation.
"It's a bad idea!" I had a feeling that wherever this led us, we would end up in a bigger mess.
"That's why you aren't coming," Judson said, leaving no room for discussion.
"I'm not letting you two go without me," I said, jutting out my chin in stubbornness. I didn't like the thought of going at all, but I couldn't sit around while they ventured into a viper den. I'm thinking that a viper den would be less dangerous than going to a vampire council after slaughtering many of his beings.
We had just spent a few hours fighting them off, and here they wanted to go looking for more trouble. If they were going to a place where there was for sure a big group of them, they would need my help. Not that I was confident that whatever I had pulled off outside would happen again. I was worried that between that and depleting my strength with the location spell, I wouldn't have it in me.
"You need to stay here, you have little to no control over your powers, and we don't need to start a war with the council member by some magical mishap of yours," Judson said as Ulric nodded in agreement.
"Wow, thanks so much for your encouragement, guys. I appreciate it. Here I am wanting to have your back, and you have no confidence in me." My feelings had genuinely been smashed. Ulric had just seemed so proud of me, but now made it clear that it had been just a fleeting moment. I had pulled a crazy stunt with fighting off the vampires. I had no idea if I could pull it off again, so the logical side of me understood their reluctance to take me. They could have at least pretended they wanted to spare my feelings. Rose had made me the coven leader for a reason. I had been able to do those things for a reason.
I glared while they packed up the map and said their goodnights before walking out to his truck. I sat there mumbling to myself about ungrateful friends and men being sexist. I was positive that neither one of them was actually sexist, but they had smashed my confidence and my feelings in one swoop. I grabbed a granola bar and munched on it angrily as I waited for his truck to start up. Then the thought hit me. If they didn't take me, I would take me.
I rushed out to my car with my purse clutched in my hand. My poor car looked twenty years older with the craters in the hood. I shook my head as I contemplated how much it would cost to fix it. How would I go about explaining it? I pulled out of my driveway with my lights off to make sure they had made it down the street before I started to stalk them to the next town over. I knew the way, but not where they were going exactly.
I followed them at a reasonable distance most of the way, hoping they didn't spot me in their mirrors. It was kind of hard to miss a white car with fist marks in it. I let what few cars were on the road between us for as long as I could. The road was desolate, except for a few night owls headed off to their graveyard shifts. I had to try to control my nerves as I was practically bouncing in my seat. The scenery around here left something to be desired in the day, at this time of night it felt very isolated and dreary. The road had massive cottonwood trees framing both sides, but beyond that was just open farmland dotted with houses here and there, framed with woods leading to the edge of the mountain range. I felt like I was a detective staking out the latest bad guy. The thrill was overwhelming, with both fear and excitement coursing through my veins.
Eventually, we were almost reaching the edge of Bradford, a city about double the size of our quaint little town. The truck made a turn that no one else was taking. I tried to hang back, but it was either miss the light and possibly lose them or give myself away and follow a bit more closely, so I sped through to keep up. This street looked like it held more warehouses and businesses than homes. Two-story buildings loomed on each side, casting a closed-in feeling, and in the darkness, they hid a lot of corners or alleyways. My imagination was running wild. Every shadow was another vampire waiting to attack. I was trying to be hyper-aware of my surroundings, thinking of the worst possible outcomes if I missed one coming at me.
The road gradually started to incline, leading back up onto one of the rolling hills. Before we got past all the corporate concrete buildings sitting like isolated prisons, Judson's truck pulled over. He jumped out so fast I had to slam on my brakes. After the turn and freaking myself out, I failed to try to hide that it was me. Oops. He stood there with his arms crossed over his chest, staring me down through my headlights. I just stared at him back until he moved. I parked my car, obsessing about turning my wheel, pulling my brake so hard it would be stuck locked unless I got help. All the angst had me twitchy, and I didn't like it.
"Are you crazy? I could have hit you if I hadn’t been paying attention!" I yelled as I hopped out of my car.
He opened the back door on the driver's side of his truck and, again, just stood there staring. I wasn't going to keep standing there making myself a target in the dark, away from home, with no wards' protection. I hopped in, and Ulric was avoiding any eye contact. I saw a hint of a smile flash on his face just before Judson got back into the truck. The tension was rolling off him in waves. Had he expected me to stay home? He gripped the steering wheel for a while before he acknowledged me.
"Do you have a death wish?" he asked; he didn't turn around to look at me, but used the rearview mirror, giving me a sight of the top part of his face. I had a flashback to Gram yelling at me the same way for ditching school in the sixth grade.
"No, I do not, but you two cowboys just want to ride off into the night to save everyone, and this guy is probably dangerous. I'm not a damsel that needs saving. I got roped into all this mess, and I intend on finishing it. Scary vampire guys are just one more stop on the crazy train schedule." His eyebrows slowly went from crumpled to almost touching his hairline as I spoke. I couldn't tell if he was in shock of my br
avery or just flabbergasted at my explanation. I was hoping it was somewhere in the middle of the two.
"You will stay in the car when we get there, and if you refuse, Ulric will spell you to be stuck in it." He bit out the words like they tasted bitter.
"I will a hundred percent follow your lead on this one, but I will not be left in the car. I will hit you with a spell before he can lock me in. It will be ugly. Itchy crotch, bubble guts, tongue twisters, you name it, and I will throw it at you." I had no idea if those were things I could do, but I wasn't going to let him call my bluff.
"Have you been reading more of Mabel's spell book?" Ulric asked. He failed at hiding his smile as the corners of his mouth were twitching, and one of his eyebrows was picked up with his question. He could look like a statue with no actual facial movement or emotion, but that was a rarity. I had seen it, but not very often. His face was too expressive, especially when considering anything having to do with magic.
"That's a big possibility," I shrugged. They would never know. I tried hard to channels Gram’s poker face.
"You need to follow our lead in here. Shit will go sideways really quick with the wrong etiquette." Judson put the truck in drive reluctantly.
We followed the road up the hill until it opened onto a massive piece of property. The mountain had been cut flat for a mansion of epic proportions. How we didn't see it until we were in the driveway was beyond me. There was a paved circular drive to pull vehicles around and a massive garage to the side, no doubt holding lots of expensive cars.
Judson pulled up to the steps, and a guy came out, like a valet. Didn't say a word, just took the keys and drove the truck around, leaving us standing there at the bottom of the steps, in awe while taking in the house looming over us.
One of the two front doors opened, and a man ushered us up the steps. We made our way up and into the foyer. Inside the mansion, it looked like we had stepped into an old Victorian castle instead of a mansion in the boondocks of Idaho.
Some paintings and vases looked priceless. I tucked my hands away to make sure I didn't touch anything, let alone knock anything over. The Persian rug under our feet was intricate in design and color. I hated to even be standing on it, in its immaculate form. I was so busy staring at everything that I ran into Judson's back, getting a glare over his shoulder for my misstep.
"Mr. Goroff is in a meeting and will see you shortly," the butler said. I assumed he was a butler. He wasn't dressed all fancy, but he led us around like it was his job to do so.
He walked us off to the left into an office or library. It could be a sitting room, I was just guessing, as it had floor to ceiling bookshelves, a desk, and then some wingback chairs centered around a massive fireplace. The kind hoity-toity men lean on with a tumbler of whiskey as they talk.
"Can I get you anything?" the butler's voice was monotone. I didn't want to intrude or make this guy's night any harder. I just shook my head as the guys passed politely.
My leg was bouncing as I sat in a chair that looked older than all three of us combined. The cream colored walls had no dust or dirt marking their old-time beauty. I couldn't stop fidgeting, so I stood up to look at the books.
I reached out to run my hand along the old spines, taking in the old book smell. Working with new authors and my laptop, I rarely had time to read hardcover books anymore. This was like heaven for someone like me. I loved the classics. I pulled one from the shelf and about dropped it as I saw it was the first edition of Wuthering Heights. I held it, just staring, not believing what I was seeing.
"Guys, do you see this?" I whispered harshly, "This is stunning. Someone take it from me before I drop it. Do you know how glorious this is?"
I opened the book and inside the cover there was an inscription to Aldon. Holy cannoli! He was super old. This book had been published in 1847. I started to put the book back, acting as if it were an egg and likely to break with even the most delicate touch. The door opened, and a tall man walked in. Just the air around him screamed money and entitled.
"I apologize for my delay. I was indisposed," he said, his voice caressed my ears, even from one end of the room to the other. Indisposed? Who talks like that? His voice held a slight accent I couldn't place. It was so imperceptible I wasn’t sure it had even been there.
I carefully nudged the book back in before making my way back to the chairs.
"Lovely book, is it not Ms. Miller?" he said, casting his glance over me. I felt like he had physically run his hands down the length of me as he spoke. I shivered. I had no idea what kind of reaction to him I was expected to have, but this was not it. I realized why he was looking us over. We were all still covered in blood and gore from our fight, looking very much disheveled.
"I am a fan of all the classics. A first edition is a wonderful thing for any book, let alone Bronte's," I said, still in awe that I had held it in my hands. Not many people could say that. It was the equivalent of meeting my favorite band.
"It was not the thorn bending to the honeysuckles, but the honeysuckles embracing the thorn," he quoted the line as if he had read it a hundred times and pondered the meaning a million more. The fact he could quote it so smoothly had my inner bookworm swooning.
"I hate him for himself, but despise him for the memories he revives," I recited a line back. One I had memorized from when I was an angsty teenager loving a boy who didn't love me back. I couldn't help but smile as I quoted it.
"Ah yes, to have loved and lost. I think we can all appreciate that quote," he smiled, but it wasn't the full-on charming one he walked in with. A shadow of pain crossed his face.
I stood by my chair, ignoring subtle hints from Judson to sit down.
"Mr. Goroff..." I started.
"Please call me Aldon," he reached out a hand to grasp mine and pulled it to his lips to kiss the back of my hand briefly. My cheeks burned. It was strange yet flattering.
"Okay, Aldon. I was attacked driving home tonight by some of your...um...people." Both guys quietly groaned before Judson interjected.
"Mr. Goroff, what she means is that we were wondering if you had any idea as to why some of your men were in our area?" Judson asked formally. Damn, I was not following their lead. This guy was a top dog, and I had just talked to him like I accused him of sending out those things to get me. Aldon perked up at my comment but didn't even look at Judson while he was talking.
"What do you mean you were attacked?" he asked, stepping up closer to me as he spoke.
"I…uh..." I didn't know how much to say or not say. I had stepped into it this time. I looked between him and Judson, unsure of what to do. Judson stood up and walked over to me, putting his arm around my waist, slightly pulling me back from Aldon.
"She was driving home when she was ambushed on a residential road." Aldon stood there listening intently. His face didn't budge a centimeter. I couldn't read what he was thinking or feeling at all.
"They then surrounded her house, leaving us no choice, but to defend her as they broke down her wards." Judson continued.
"Interesting," he said, looking down at Judson's arm around my waist as I pulled away and sat down. Aldon then took the seat next to mine with a flair of dramatic flourish.
"You are living in Mabel's house, are you not?" he asked.
"Yes, I am."
"I heard about her passing, and I am very sorry for your loss."
"Thank you." His condolence seemed genuine. Most people say it out of social acceptability, but his voice and face portrayed his sincerity.
"There's no physical way that any sires of mine can undo a witch's wards. Considering how powerful Mabel was and the number of wards that surrounded her home, which I have encountered myself a time or two—not in that way of course, but as a welcome friend—I am at a loss," he said, putting his hand to his chin, getting a far off look.
"With all due respect, if they shouldn't be able to do it, then how did they without you knowing?" Ulric asked, leaning forward in his seat.
"Seems I h
ave some rogue children to deal with," Aldon said somberly before calling for Alfred. The butler walked in, and I couldn't help but giggle that his name was cliché to his job.
"Alfred, we might have an issue in the lower ranks. Let Derik know that we will discuss this shortly." His tone implied nonchalance, but his posture gave away the tension coursing through him, as he gripped the arm of the chair so hard his pale fingers were leaving indents. He turned to me once more.
"Please tell me you are unharmed," he said.
"I came out of it okay, but I can't say the same for the attackers," I said. Ulric sat there with his mouth hanging open at my candor while Judson's face looked as if he was going to blow a gasket at any second. Both had anger wafting from them. Aldon laughed heartily at my statement then took my hand into his. His long slender fingers rubbed against mine in a feather light touch.
"It takes a brave woman to sit here and speak to me about killing my kind in such a manner, without receiving some form of payment in return. You see, I have been around a long time. When a vampire is killed, retribution is owed, or the killer's life is forfeit, as is vampire law, which is my duty to uphold. You, my dear, are a breath of fresh air," he said, releasing my hand and leaning back into his chair.
The guys looked shaken up at his response to my fumble of information. I was coming off braver than I felt. This guy was smooth and charismatic, but anyone could see that was a show he put on. I would hate to see him upset. I didn't think twice about telling him that we killed our attackers, which happened to be his people. This exchange could have gone very badly, and I just blurted it out.
"As they attacked you, I will not hold you accountable. I cleared no such thing with them. They are acting outside of orders, which I will deal with, I assure you." He sounded sincere. I wanted to believe he wasn't the voice on the phone and that this wasn't some elaborate ruse to get us to let our guards down.
