by Imogene Nix
“The witches are here to meet with Daniel. They…we believe that they alone can determine what…what skills Daniel possesses.”
He waited quietly as the women stepped closer. He’d forgotten just how beautiful they all were. While he gazed on them Javed moved aside.
“Come, boy. Step forward, so we can read you,” the one he knew as Jemima called imperiously.
He moved in her direction but stopped as if some invisible force field existed. With his mind he tested it, letting his senses roam, looking for a chink. When he found one he gave a mental push and watched in amazement as the witch laughed. “Well done. You use your senses as if you were used to the wielding of magic.” She nodded and took a seat.
The second, a red-haired woman, grinned as she raised her hand. A flash of pain slid through his skull and he sought to shield himself, and the pain fizzled away, though it left a greasy smear of nausea.
“Now that was impressive.” She laughed before she too moved to a seat and slid down into the leather cushions.
“So you have magic. Strong magic. Magic that you can use without the need for spells and potions. Your magic comes naturally to you.” The voice echoed in his mind.
“How can you do that? What is it you are doing to me?”
The last witch tapped a finger against her lips and watched him. “I am merely communicating telepathically, Daniel. But you already know that.” Then she grinned. “I can tell you what he is. He’s exactly what you need. He’s a sorcerer, and I’d guess a strong one, though his skills are… Well, they aren’t polished, but that can be rectified.”
He found himself gaping. A sorcerer? What the hell was that? “There’s no such…”
The blonde pierced him with her sharp blue gaze. “Oh, there are sorcerers. Not many, I’ll concede. In my experience, most don’t have such a strong grasp of what they can do. Your powers are instinctive. They’re strong for all you are untrained, but with instinct comes the ability to learn quickly. You’ll do perfectly.”
His heart thudded in his chest at her words. “But I don’t…”
The dark-haired witch leaned forward and held out her hand toward him. A sense of understanding welled in his mind. “You wouldn’t. That’s not how these powers work. But you, my boy, you are the last of the trio. Your powers will complement those of Hope and Celina. Once we’ve refined your skills, the three of you will be more than capable of winning in the battle to come.”
The air felt as if it were being sucked from his lungs and he looked around the room, seeking something… Javed seemed as shocked as he was at the witches’ pronouncement. Most, but not all. Cressida’s eyes betrayed the fact that she’d had a suspicion of what they had just told him.
He became aware of a frisson of power winding closer around him. The ribbon of energy moved back and forth between the two vampires and the witches. The knowledge slammed into him. They were discussing him telepathically!
Caustic anger welled, and no matter how hard he tried to tamp it down, he couldn’t control it. “I’m not a damned guinea pig. Talk to me, dammit!” The rage spewed over, burning him. The power fizzled away and everyone turned to him.
In Cressida’s eyes he read a deep emotion that she couldn’t mask. Fear was there, in buckets, but it was more than that. In her eyes he saw a shimmer of regret.
“Please,” she entreated the witches, “don’t ask this of me.” Her tones clawed at his insides, but he’d had enough.
“I’m leaving.” He turned on his heel but as he reached the door a force stilled him with his hand on the knob.
“Wait, there is yet more,” the witch who’d communicated with him before commanded.
He pushed against the pressure that surrounded his mind, gripping the handle.
“Daniel? There is one more thing.” As Javed spoke Daniel turned. “Someone… We think someone is leaking information…to Creedar. He knows what we are planning before… We need to find out who this person is, without letting them know we are searching. You’re the only one, we think, who can help us.”
Javed’s words forced him to still, even though his heart pounded in his chest and his mind commanded he leave the room and the machinations.
He closed his eyes as his duty to the nest warred with self-protection.
The truth was inescapable though. I can’t say no.
“What do you need?”
Chapter Three
The Councilors waited for her in the foyer, but she needed to finish this, then she could approach them. Tell them a percentage of what had been discussed. Even through the layers of wall and door, she sensed the waves of dissent pulsing against her mind. They were like a battering tide, pushing against her consciousness. They’d been angered by her insistence that they leave the room, but given the circumstances, she couldn’t have had them there. What if one of them is the mole? They might inadvertently let on the only possible option they had to fight Creedar.
For an instant, she’d almost given in to the tide of anger, but the anxiety gnawing at her had regained ascendancy. She’d caught a flash of an unusual emotion, but with so many minds—and thoughts—to sift through, and so much interference from high emotions, she hadn’t been able to pin down where it was coming from. It was clear that one of the participants had exhibited fear.
“Daniel, Javed is right. We think someone is passing on knowledge of our actions before we can act. We need to find a way to beat Creedar, but the options are few. We need you trained as soon as possible, otherwise this battle will be over before we can even turn up to fight it.”
She had one more request, and she tried desperately to avoid it. How I hate asking this of him.
She studied the human man in front of her. He wasn’t muscular like many of the human nest guards, but he was toned and carried himself with an innate grace. Like a trained warrior and yet not. Cressida bit her lip. “You work out?” With careful steps she circled him. “Have you been trained for combat?”
He gave a short, jerky nod.
Cressida turned to Javed. “What skills does he have?”
“Councilor?” Javed attempted to hide his surprise, but the final sound betrayed his astonishment. She smiled.
“What self-defense and combat skills does this man possess?” She indicated to Daniel, ensuring they only saw the surface reaction of disinterest. It wouldn’t do for them to realize there was a huge dose of uncertainty mixed up there. She didn’t want to see him injured, or even worse, dead. For a moment her breath caught just at that thought. It made her stomach tip and yaw, while the burn of bile rose in her throat.
Clearly unwilling to let Javed answer for him, Daniel straightened to his impressive six-foot-plus height. “I am versed in karate and boxing and I have some experience with a sword.”
“Hmm…” So he had some rudimentary skills. Not enough to preserve his life against a vampire, but it was a start. We can build on that, she thought.
“Javed? I want him trained further. Get someone to cover his work, I don’t care who you get or where they come from at this point. Offer whatever you must. He will also work with—”
Daniel interjected. “Councilor—”
She heard the anger, ignored it as she thrust out her hand, stopping his remonstration.
“I’ll be the one to train him in the use of magic.” Selena, the blonde-haired woman, stood. “Master Javed, if you would be kind enough to arrange lodgings for myself and my sisters in your nest, we would prefer to be on hand so we can take advantages of opportunities whenever they arise.”
Cressida glanced at Javed, who nodded. Taking another deep lungful of air helped her to clear her mind. “Good then. Now go, I have other things to attend to.”
The door slid open and Samra entered. On the other side of the wall she could hear the Councilors as they waited impatiently. Javed, Daniel and the women left quietly and Samra slid the wooden closure across the opening. “So?”
Cressida turned, unwilling to give away all her secrets. “So what?”
Cressida absorbed her words. “Why do ask that?”
“Because you are avoiding direct questions that involve your thoughts. You also have a deeper plan.”
For a moment Cressida swayed. “Who else has—?”
“I don’t think many have worked it out. At least, not yet. So?” Samra pressed closer and Cressida sighed.
“Maybe. I think there is someone here who has. Someone with connections to Creedar is what I honestly think. They are feeding him information.” She grimaced as she spoke. “But I can’t prove it. I need proof so I can take it to the Council, and deal with whoever is sharing the intelligence. I can’t do it yet because right now it’s only a gut feeling.”
Samra frowned as she listened. “So what do we do about that? How can we combat the situation?”
Cressida wanted to grin as she watched Samra’s hand curl over the hilt of her ceremonial sword. Samra had been born in France during the reign of Louis IX. To her, it was imperative to watch her back and always be armed.
Until recently, the inability to go in public armed with her sword had caused Samra great consternation. That had changed since the vampires had announced their presence, and once more, the scabbard and sword were an extension of her clothing, like many women wore jewelry.
Cressida gave a tiny smile before it melted away. She shrugged settling her gaze to a spot over her second’s shoulder as she weighed the question. Exactly how? Subterfuge and planning were both options. But preparation was only going to get them so far. Maybe they could lure Creedar…? But she’d been down that path before. She turned and observed the outcomes of the plan over and over again in her mind. There could only be one way they’d all survive.
“I need to think on it.”
Samra nodded at her words, although Cressida could see the frustration building in the woman’s eyes. “Hmm. Okay then. What about the Daniel situation?”
“The Daniel situation? What situation would that be?” She tensed again, wrapping her fingers around the goblet of blood wine that had been sitting on her desk.
“Oh, come on. Be honest with me and yourself. I can see just how much you’re trying to avoid looking at him, how he watches you. The air between you practically sizzles with lust, and you’re turning your back on that? Cressida, you aren’t a stupid woman—”
“And therein lies the rub. I’m not. I’m a vampire.”
“He could be too…” Ahh, and there lies the single thing that I must avoid at all costs. The price she might have to pay was far too large for her to consider. The possible pain too deep to recover from.
“Not now, Samra. I need to contact Caridad.”
Samra’s eyes grew wide, as if she finally understood Cressida’s fears. Samra bowed before leaving Cressida to her thoughts.
* * * *
Droplets of sweat dripped down his arms. “What now?” His voice showed the strain as it wobbled.
“Keep it up. Think of it flying, feel the air underneath you as you soar. Visualize the flight.” His mentor—or tormentor—Selena smiled slightly as she walked around the cavernous room the witches had commandeered.
Damn it, I’ve been doing that for the last hour. The large metal cooking pot wavered and he refocused his mind to the task before it careened to the ground.
“Tell me about Cressida.”
“What?” His concentration splintered and the cauldron fell to the floor with a reverberating thud. Hands free, he swiped at the perspiration that stung his eyes.
“Yes. She is your weakness.” The woman’s smile ebbed away as she studied him.
He wanted to snarl. Nights of endless erotic dreams and days of fighting and magic tuition were messing with his head. “I don’t want…”
The witch’s eyes glazed. “She is your future. You want her and she wants you, but you both fight it.” There was puzzlement in her voice.
Daniel closed his eyes, shuddering as he saw the two of them, entwined—just as he had the night before in his dreams.
“Why?”
“I’m not talking about Cressida.” His words were little more than a snarl.
The woman cocked her head to one side. “Why is that? It’s not fear…” She frowned. “I don’t understand what you gain by ignoring the connection between you.” She moved closer, placing her hand against his biceps. “You hunger for her, and for what could be. You know it. Do you not want her as your lover?”
“It’s private.” He muttered the words, hoping she would back away and change the subject. His gut churned wildly as he fought for control of the frustration that clawed at him day and night.
“Hmph. Tell me how your replacement is working out.” The change of topic gave Daniel a moment to control his anger. One breath, then another, deep down into his lungs as his mind cleared.
“David is doing okay. He’s used to a more formal nest. He’s adjusting as the majority of the nestlings came from other areas. They don’t know all the gory details of his past. I think that makes it easier for him to cope. Apart from that, he’ll be fine in time. I check in on him daily…” He hefted the cauldron, making it rise slowly.
“Will he stay?”
“What?” Daniel was startled by the change of discussion and the cauldron once more clanged to the floor. “Why would he?”
“When you and Cressida…” Her eyes glowed in the half light.
The anger surged again. These days it was near the surface most of the time. He advanced toward the witch as if hoping to make his point, his strides long and determined. “I told you—” She simply smiled at him and he stilled.
“Nonsense. You need to face the truth. In order to beat Creedar, you must come to an understanding. Embrace what is before you so that you, together, will be stronger.”
“She doesn’t want me!” He roared with anger that rippled under his skin.
Light pulsed and the recessed globes in the ceiling flared brightly, but that quickly petered out as he regained control of his emotions.
“So… What will you do about it?”
For the first time since the discussion had begun he felt surprised. The wrath he’d carried melted away and it confused him. “Why? Why do you care so much?”
The look she slanted at him was full of understanding. “We have always cared, Daniel. We chose to give up our future in order to caretake the future of humans, but sometimes when you give up everything you find the greatest pleasure.”
Her words confused him further. Daniel waited, sure she’d explain.
“Creedar must be stopped. You are fortunate, Daniel. What you humans have is love. What Creedar exudes is hate and he excels at that, but love is a strong magic of its own, one which will strengthen you all, if you will only accept it. Hope and Xavier have a bond so strong it couldn’t be broken. Celina and Javed also possess it. That strength is rare and infinitely more powerful than anything Creedar feels. It has few barriers and cannot be tamed or controlled.”
“Cressida isn’t human. So where does that fit?”
She held up a hand, stopping the questions that ricocheted around his mind from finding voice.
“You are rattled, and full of bad temper. The blinding flash you’ve just demonstrated, is because of your loss of control. You need to learn discipline. Of course, you are right, Cressida is a vampire. So were Javed and Xavier when they met Celina and Hope, but they retained their humanity. So does Cressida. That is a small part of the key.” She nodded as if reminding herself of something.
“But—”
“But nothing. Just because they—and Cressida—are no longer human, or should I say they are more than human, doesn’t change the fact that they care, they love and experience deep emotion and loyalty to those they have protected for centuries. Cressida feels it even more deeply, as she does guilt.”
Guilt? Why would Cressida suffer guilt? He wanted to ask but something held him back. It was an innate knowledge that he wanted her to be open with him,
not to learn what made her unique from secondhand sources.
Her words flowed and the cadence of her voice soothed him, easing the ache that pulsed through every part of his body. She’d spoken of logic and loyalty and it made sense. After months of tossing the issue over, though, he didn’t want to make a step that would forever push her away. In his experience, each time he’d thought he was close to breaking through the icy wall she’d thrust between them, she’d skittered away. “She doesn’t want me.”
“Cressida fears emotion and love, Daniel. You must find out why and vanquish those fears before she will share all.”
“How? How do I make her see…?” He turned away.
“You keep working with her, let her see what you have to offer. Soothe her fears and make her believe in your connection.”
Daniel nodded, letting the knowledge seep into his brain. He would reevaluate her words later, when he had time to consider them. “Maybe we should get back to work.”
The witch grinned and nodded. “Maybe we should.”
* * * *
Cressida patted her blonde hair into place then smoothed down her ice-blue suit. Everything must be perfect for their Overlord’s arrival. With Caridad, any appearance brought drama, and in this instance it would come laden with danger.
The entire nest was on alert, prepared for the formal welcome she usually demanded.
A sense of losing control nearly overwhelmed Cressida as she watched the fleet of vehicles glide toward her.
“Cressida, all will be fine,” Samra leaned close and whispered.
“Nothing will be well until we beat Creedar.” There was no further time to talk as Caridad’s car came to a smooth stop at the bottom of the steps.
One of the guards slid from the front seat and opened the door for her just as Cressida reached the base.
“Liege, I welcome you formally on behalf of the nests.”
Caridad emerged from the car. She was, as usual, a vision with her red-gold locks tamed into a perfect knot at the back of her head. With immaculate makeup, a black leather pantsuit teamed with a peach camisole, she could have just strutted off a catwalk.
