by Becca Andre
She snorted. “Good luck making me drink that. I’ll bite off your fingers first.”
“Sounds like you’ve been spending too much time screwing that dog.”
She lunged for him. Glass shattered, and a cloud of white fog immediately enveloped the hall.
Neil’s footfalls echoed in the unadorned space, moving away from her. Had he created a smoke screen to enable him to flee? She snorted. What a coward.
The smoke had an odd sweet smell, and she rubbed her nose, not sure she liked it. She was still trying to place it when her cheek bumped against the cement floor. Then the world went dark.
Chapter 13
Glass clinked as if something was being stirred, and the smell of what might be roasted sunflowers hung heavy in the air. What was Grams cooking? Elysia lifted her head and grimaced at the stiffness in her neck and shoulders. Had she dozed off at the kitchen counter doing homework again?
A small pain drew her attention to the inside of her elbow. A tug followed as if a needle was being withdrawn.
Elysia blinked her eyes, her groggy brain unable to make sense of the unfamiliar counters and cabinetry in the room around her. It looked industrial. Like a lab.
The thought of a lab dumped ice water in her veins, and her present circumstances came roaring back. She tried to stand and discovered that her wrists had been bound to the arms of the chair she sat in. The cable ties dug into her arms and she slumped in the chair.
“Welcome back.” Neil stood over her holding a syringe filled with bright red blood. Her blood. “I hope the nap improved your disposition.”
She rotated her wrist beneath the cable tie and flipped him off.
“I guess not.” He turned away to set the syringe on a nearby counter.
“What are you going to do with my blood?”
“Break your curse—as I was commanded.”
“So, what’s the deal?” she demanded. “You return that egotistical ass to the world so you can be his lackey?”
Neil chuckled, but didn’t look at her. “I rather preferred your pretty fertilizer moniker. Original, and apt.”
She frowned. “You don’t want to be his lackey?” Okay, she didn’t get this guy at all.
“It is a position I’m accustomed to.” He uncapped a vial and sprinkled a little of the white powder it contained into a porcelain bowl. “But not one I wish to make a career out of.” He capped the vial and turned to face her.
“Are you really going to break my curse?”
He shrugged. “If that’s what it takes to stay in the game. Though it seems like a lot of trouble for something that is of no consequence.”
“What’s the game?”
He studied her, his intelligent brown eyes holding her own. “I don’t think you would be opposed to it. After all, I do believe your trials echo my own.”
“If we’re such kindred spirits, then release me.”
His smile was smug, but he didn’t reply. Instead, he turned to his alchemy.
“What happened to Bella?” she asked.
“I have no idea. Our master hasn’t returned.”
“What do you think he’s doing?”
“Paying a few outstanding bills? Tormenting kittens? Modeling every article of clothing in Xander’s closet before that huge mirror in the corner of his bedroom?”
She snorted in spite of herself, but Neil didn’t acknowledge her. He picked up a glass rod and began to stir the mixture in his bowl. She frowned, trying to puzzle this guy out. What made him tick?
“Where’s Doug?” she asked.
“Locked in a sarcophagus last I saw.”
“What? Why?”
“For the same reason Alexander wants me to cure you. He’s decided to stop pretending that the descendants of Ian’s sons are his own. You are his only true descendant.”
He selected another vial, this one a dark red liquid, and held it up to the light. “Where’s the grim?”
“If I knew, do you really think I’d tell you?”
“He went to Addie, didn’t he?” He glanced over at her before unscrewing the lid on the vial he held. “He wouldn’t take you because that would put her at risk, and he would never put her at risk.”
“Imply what you will, but Addie is my friend, and I would never put her at risk, either.”
“I wasn’t implying that, but I was implying something.” He gave her that smug smile before returning to his work. “But it’s good that you’re protecting her. Say nothing about her to Alexander.”
A frown was becoming a permanent expression around this guy. “Why are you protecting her?”
“She’s going to help me with something. She just doesn’t know it yet.”
“She wouldn’t help you slit your own throat.”
Neil smiled, then selected a dropper and carefully added a few drops of the red liquid to his bowl. “I can be very convincing.”
Goosebumps rose beneath her shirt sleeves. He was a cocky bastard, but then, he was an alchemist. As Addie had pointed out more than once, confidence was the alchemist’s stock-in-trade. Without it, an alchemist simply wasn’t an alchemist.
Neil abruptly stopped and looked to his right. She followed his gaze and saw nothing. She was about to look away when Alexander suddenly appeared out of thin air. He had used a portal, and she had neither seen nor sensed it. That answered her question as to whether Neil’s potion had worn off.
Alexander walked toward them. He had changed his suit in favor of a dark blue sweater and well-made slacks.
Neil glanced over and caught her eye, a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth. He had been right. Alexander had been going through Xander’s closet.
“How are you progressing?” Alexander asked.
“There will most likely be a trial and error period. Undoing another’s alchemy, when nothing is known of the potion they used, is not an easy thing. And though I know you don’t like to hear it, your brother is an extremely skilled alchemist.”
“As long as you do not call him a better necromancer, I have no problem with any praise of my brother. After all, he is just like me in many ways.” Alexander gave him a wink, his grin dimpling his cheeks.
Elysia wanted to point out that he was nothing like his brother, then stopped herself. She needed to stop defending Ian. She was beginning to suspect that he didn’t deserve her defense.
Alexander left Neil to his stirring and walked over to her. “Are you feeling a little more agreeable?”
“Not particularly.” She steeled herself for what she was about to ask, but she had to know. “What did you do to Bella?”
His eyes narrowed. “And what do you know of my daughter?”
“I know she’s watched over me since my birth. As she’s watched over all who came before me. Protecting us, from you.”
“From me?” He blew out a breath in annoyance. “I had the best future lined out for each of them, but she destroyed that. Which didn’t go over well with the more powerful families. If I hadn’t had my sons to give the Family a secure line of inheritance, we would not still be in power.”
She bit her lip to keep from reminding him that it hadn’t been his sons, it had been Ian’s.
“But, as fate would have it, things have worked out in the end. My line was preserved, without diminishing its strength, and is now available to carry the Family into the future.” Neil glanced over, his brown eyes meeting hers. His smile screamed, I told you so before he turned back to his work.
“Providing of course, that my nephew can accomplish what he claims.” His gaze settled on Neil, one brow lifted in question.
Neil didn’t look up from what he was doing. “I believe we’ve discussed my aptitude as an alchemist.”
“Indeed.” Alexander watched him a moment. “Which families ha
ve the strong talents these days? I usually leave that end of affairs to Xander. I assume the Dunstans are still strong. Did your father have a blood gift?”
“No. Neither of my parents had one, but my brother and I both did.”
“Curious.”
“Not necessarily. It’s just genetics.”
“Genetics?”
Neil glanced up. “Right. You wouldn’t be well versed on that. Think of it as the science of inheritance. There was a brilliant article written by a local woman that delved into the genetics of magic. I’ll have to dig that out for you.”
Alexander grunted, not looking particularly enlightened. “What was your brother’s blood gift?”
“His gift never had a chance to manifest. He was murdered when he was eleven.”
“That’s right. I remember now. An alchemist got him.”
“Apparently.”
Alexander chuckled. “Yes, Xander performed a marvelous Making on that one. What he lacks in raw talent, he makes up for in skill and…imagination. He actually pulled off a soul prison.”
Elysia looked up on that one. “Xander imprisoned someone’s soul within their own heart?” After the heart was removed, of course.
Alexander faced her. “It was a thing of beauty. Dear Xander may lack a blood gift, but he is an exceptional necromancer.”
Elysia was horrified, not impressed.
“He had led me to believe that his son was just as talented,” Alexander continued. He stopped to shake his head. “What a shame he lacks the required loyalty to the Family.”
“Doug is completely loyal to the Family,” Elysia said. “He’s also more talented than his father.”
“You come to his defense easily.”
“Doug and I may no longer be…courting,” she reverted to the word Ian often used, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect and admire him. And really, what did you expect after the family he gave everything to betrayed him?”
“He was not betrayed. He fully understood what was expected of him. He chose to betray me when he discovered that he could not carry on his father’s legacy and become Deacon.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s sterile.”
“No, he’s just been focused on his career first.”
“Xander had him tested. He failed, then he lied to me.”
She glanced over at Neil, and though she could only see his face in profile, she saw the small smile. The bastard was enjoying this.
“But he will still serve the Family,” Alexander continued. “Willingly or not does not matter.”
She gripped the arms of her chair. “What are you talking about?”
“He will serve as do all those who have failed to meet the requirements to lead. He will be Made.”
“What?” She tried to get to her feet, forgetting about the straps securing her to the chair.
Alexander turned to Neil. “I thought this would be a good opportunity for you to learn to use your blood gift.”
“You sick bastard.” She strained against her restraints, not sure what she could do if she got free, but she couldn’t sit here and let them kill Doug.
“I grow weary of this insolence.” Alexander held out a hand to Neil. “Give me your dagger. I will remove her tongue.”
“It’s no longer…fashionable to carry a dagger.” Neil set a funnel in the mouth of a small jar. “But there’s a nice collection of scalpels and such in any of the embalming rooms.”
Alexander turned on his heel and, without a word, left them.
“You don’t play the game very well,” Neil said now that they were alone.
“Unlike you, I’m not good at groveling.”
Neil gave her that amused, yet knowing look before he returned to his work. He retrieved his tongs and lifting the bowl, began to transfer the contents to the jar. “You don’t have to grovel, but you could work on keeping your mouth shut. Of course, that won’t be an issue shortly.”
“Funny. Do you intend to help him?”
“Actually, I was thinking about asking him for the tongue. The alchemical application of such an ingredient would be interesting. Unfortunately, he already gave away your finger.”
She frowned at him. Was he serious, or was he just trying to scare her?
“Dunstan,” Alexander called from the hall.
Neil sighed and set down the bowl. “I’ve got a feeling that I’m not going to get a whole lot done.” He removed the funnel and shoved a stopper into the mouth of the jar. “Don’t go anywhere.” A last smile, and he left the room.
Elysia strained against her bonds, but found no more give in them than before. Should she call James? Could he get her out of here before Alexander or Neil returned? They would feel the portal open. Could James get her free in time?
She leaned up, trying to see what lay on the counters around her. If there was a knife or a pair of scissors handy, she could direct James to them the instant he came through, but she didn’t see anything he could use.
Come, quickly, a female voice spoke right in her ear.
Elysia jerked away from the sound, her heart almost leaping out of her throat.
Tattered robes stepped into her peripheral vision. It was Bella.
Elysia released a breath that shook. Damn Neil and his potions. She hadn’t felt the portal at all. “I can’t move,” she said as Bella moved closer. “I’ll need a knife or scissors.”
Bella leaned down and slipped fingers that were little more than bones beneath the cable tie on Elysia’s right wrist.
“They’re made of a heavy-duty plastic. It would be easier to cut them.”
I won’t leave you here, for him. Bella pulled at the thin plastic strap, the pressure peeling away little slivers of decayed flesh.
“It’s not working. You should go. I—”
Bella straightened and spun away from her.
“No need to leave.” Alexander was suddenly beside her. Once again, Elysia hadn’t felt the portal open. But apparently, Alexander had felt Bella arrive.
“Bella!” Elysia didn’t get to tell her to go again.
Alexander shoved both hands into Bella’s hood, then twisted. A sickening pop of brittle old bones, and the body within the robes crumbled to the floor, leaving Alexander holding the head. He dropped it an instant later, and it landed on the tattered robe that now covered only scattered bones. Very little flesh and a few hanks of lifeless blonde hair remained on the skull, but even as Elysia watched, those fell to dust as the magic that had held Bella to this last semblance of life faded away.
“You fucking bastard,” Elysia whispered. “She was your daughter.”
“Yes, she was.” He reached out and grabbed her chin, his grip crushing. “Dunstan,” he shouted over his shoulder. “Bring me a scalpel.”
Elysia pulled up both legs and slammed her feet into his chest. The move surprised him more than anything else, and he released her chin. But the impact knocked her back, and her chair toppled over. Unable to catch herself, she smacked her head against the floor.
With her wrists bound, she couldn’t even rub her thumping skull, but she didn’t get to dwell on it. Alexander grabbed her by the front of her robe and jerked her upright. He didn’t stop there. He lifted her and the chair from the floor completely, raising her until they were face to face.
“It is taking every ounce of restraint I possess to keep from Making you.”
The heavy wooden chair hung from her arms with nothing else to support it. The tight plastic bindings slid down to the lowest points on her wrists, scraping off a layer of skin until the straps could go no farther.
“But I must let you live a little longer. You will be the mother of my new Family.”
“Like hell,” she whispered.
&n
bsp; He shook her, the heavy chair swinging beneath her.
Elysia gritted her teeth and blinked her watering eyes, certain her wrists would break.
“You will summon the grim.”
Were they back on this? She glared her response.
“You will do as I command, or I will remove more…pieces.” He smiled, his blue eyes dancing with a manic light. Who knew evil had the face of an angel?
“I can’t,” she lied. “Neil knocked out my power.”
Alexander studied her for a moment, then abruptly dropped her. The chair slammed against the floor, and the blow reverberated up her spine to her aching head. At least the chair remained upright.
“I will ask Dunstan when the potion will wear off. Then you will summon him.”
Elysia glanced down at the tattered robe that still cushioned Bella’s empty skull. She had no doubt that Alexander could ultimately force her to do anything he wanted.
“While we wait,” he continued, “I will teach him how to Make.”
“Don’t hurt Doug,” she whispered.
His attention returned to her. A moment’s study, then he ran a cold finger along her jaw, pressing harder when he encountered the bruises he had made earlier. “And if I spare him, you will summon the grim?”
“When I am able.”
He reached up and ran a strand of her hair between his fingers, drawing it around her face. “You have her eyes.” His tone was soft, wondering.
Her heart thumped against her breastbone. This side of him scared her more than the vicious one he had just shown her. Perhaps it was the manic changeability of his moods.
“Aren’t you going to ask whose?” He smiled.
“Whose?”
“Isabelle.” He ran his fingers along her hair again. “But you have the Nelson coloring just like her daughter did.”
Elysia swallowed. Even Ian had mistaken her for Matilda when they first met.
Alexander cupped her chin again, but he wasn’t rough this time. Elysia decided she preferred the rough handling when he leaned down and pressed his cold lips to hers.
