by Flynn, Mac
She sneered at him. "Don't give me any of that, Cruor. What are you doing here?"
Simon straightened and his mischievous eyes flitted to Basileus. "I believe your employer can explain that better than I."
Basileus pursed his lips. "Then you have guessed?"
Simon nodded. "Yes, though I wonder how this-" he swept his hand over Bentley, "-came about."
Madam Bentley whipped her head to Basileus. "What is the meaning of this? Why have you brought him to me?"
I raised my hand. "I'd like to second that question."
Basileus bowed to Bentley. "If you will excuse us."
Bentley struggled to sit up. "No, I will not excuse you. Why have you brought him to me?" She waved her hand at us. "Who are these others?"
Our host sighed. "If you wish to know."
She gave a firm nod. "I do."
I yelped when something hit the back of my knees. I whipped my head around and found it was Certus. He held a chair and the front had bumped against me.
I gave him a sheepish smile as I sat down. "Thanks." Simon moved back to us and stood beside me while Certus stood behind.
Basileus moved to the center of the room and gestured to the irate woman. "This is Madam Bentley, a very old-" Bentley's eyes narrowed, "-a very long and very loyal employee to me," he corrected himself.
Bentley leaned back against her pillows and glared at Simon. "And trustworthy." Simon smiled and bowed his head.
I looked the short woman over. "What's she do?"
Bentley's angered eyes fell on me. "More than you can imagine. I can conjure spirits from the other side, perform spells that would freeze your blood, and-"
"You were always quite terrible at making tea," Simon spoke up.
The old woman crossed her arms and slid down her pillows. "Tea-making is not necessary for my witchcraft."
Simon bowed to her. "I stand corrected. It must be that all brews are meant to be cooked until they are burnt."
She scowled at him. "And vampires such as yourself are meant to see the light of full sun."
Basileus stepped between them and raised his hand. "This is an ill time for disagreements." He glanced at Bentley. "I am loathe to admit this myself, but we are in need of his assistance. Your magic cannot help us."
I glanced at Simon and pointed at the wizened old woman. "Is she someone important?"
Bentley slammed her fists down on the covers. "You foolish girl! I'm one of the most powerful witches in the world!"
I snorted. "It must be a small club."
She narrowed her eyes and raised on hand. "Would you like a demonstration?" She wiggled her fingers at me while her lips moved, though no sound came out.
Simon and Basileus leapt at her at the same time I felt a stab of pain hit me in my chest. I clutched my chest over my heart as it beat hard and fast against my ribs. I leaned forward and lost my balance as my body stiffened. I slipped off my chair to one side. Certus caught me and lowered me to the floor.
Simon was at my side in a moment. He wrenched my hand from my chest and placed his palm over my heart. The cold from his hand soaked through my clothes and sank into my flesh. My body shivered as it sank into a figurative lake of chill. The world darkened around me like someone had drawn a curtain over a window. My eyes flickered to the far right corner of the room and widened. A dark shadow the height of a man stood in the corner. The form was like that of someone robed in a black cloak. A hood covered their head and shrouded their face in impenetrable darkness.
They raised one arm. The long black sleeve slid back to reveal a skeletal hand. In those bony fingers was a long dagger. The blade glistened, but at the same time it reflected nothing in the room. What was reflected was my terrified face as the thing floated towards me.
I opened my mouth in a soundless scream and tried to scramble backward. My body wouldn't obey me. Simon followed where my wild-eyed gaze lay. His eyes narrowed. He stretched out his arm towards the cloaked figure and held open his palm toward it.
"Begone!"
The creature threw up its arms and let out a blood-curdling shriek. Its form disappeared like a dust mural against a harsh gale. The thing was gone, but far from forgotten.
CHAPTER 3
With the disappearance of the figure went most of the cold chill over my body. I sucked in a giant bubble of air and shuddered.
Simon turned his red eyes on the bed. Basileus stood at the side with his hands on Bentley's shoulders. Her head lay to one side and her hands gripped the covers. Her eyes were shut and her breathing was erratic. Sharp hisses escaped her clenched teeth. Spasms shook her body and caused her back to arch.
Basileus pressed her back down. "Madam Bentley! Fight the sickness! Control it!" His shouted words lessened her spasms. Her body relaxed and her breathing evened.
Simon helped me sit up. His eyes searched my face and his voice was soft. "Are you all right?"
My body still trembled, but I nodded. My voice was hoarse. "I-I think so."
Simon glanced at Certus who knelt on my other side. "Hold her for a moment." Certus nodded and took me in his arms.
Simon rose and faced the bed. His fangs peeked over his top lip and bit into his lower one. Thin streams of blood poured down his chin as he strode over to the bed.
Basileus stepped in front of him. "Not all the blame for what happened to your fledgling lies with Madam Bentley. The illness from which she suffers is having an effect on both her mind and body."
Simon narrowed his eyes at Basileus. "No, but she will be the one to remove the curse."
My eyes widened. Certus had to hold me down keep me from standing. "Curse?" I choked out.
Basileus glanced from me to Simon. "Let us go downstairs where your fledgling can be made more comfortable."
"The curse must be removed immediately," Simon demanded.
Basileus closed his eyes and shook his head. "The spell she cast drained much of her energy. She may not awaken for several days, if not weeks."
"My lord," Certus spoke up. All eyes turned to us. Certus nodded down at me. "She requires rest and blood."
Simon closed his eyes. His shoulders fell and his body relaxed. He opened his eyes and nodded. "Very well."
Simon strode over to me and lifted me into his arms. He carried me downstairs back to the living room. Certus and Basileus followed. Simon set me on the couch and turned to Basileus who took position near the mantel with its crackling fire.
"What is it you want us to do?" Simon asked our 'host.'
"Wait a sec," I spoke up as I sat up. I glanced from Simon to Basileus and back. "Could I get caught up on everything? Like what's wrong with that other woman and what's wrong with me?"
Basileus stared into the fire and pursed his lips. "Madam Bentley is a very powerful witch. It is she who manages the dungeon depths of this island where a great deal of magic resides."
I arched an eyebrow. "I'm following you so far."
He turned to us and clasped his hands behind his back. "A short time ago a letter arrived for her. She carelessly opened the envelope without checking the contents and was cursed with the illness which you witnessed. It is a curse that attacks the mind and body. Some days she is herself and others days she is barely conscious. Oftentimes, her mood swings from gentle to as you saw her: vindictive."
"If she can curse why can't she un-curse me?" I asked him.
He shook his head. "Unfortunately, her magic ebbs and flows. The inconsistency means she can't cure herself, but on occasion she is able to harness enough strength to cast powerful curses."
I frowned. "So what did she do to me? What was that thing Simon scared off?"
Basileus closed his eyes and turned his face back to the fire. "It was a Death Phantom."
I blinked at him. "A what?"
Basileus's gaze flickered to Simon. "Perhaps it would be better told from you. She is your fledgling."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked to Simon. "Why do you need to tell me?"
; Simon pursed his lips. "What you witnessed was a Death Phantom. It is a creature summoned to cause death to the one who is cursed."
My blood froze in my veins. "Death? Like permanent death?"
He nodded. "Yes. The creature stabs you in the heart and steals your soul at the point of death. The soul is then given to the one who cursed you."
I whipped my head to Basileus and stabbed a finger at the doorway. "Go tell your witch my soul's still in use!"
He shook his head. "Even if she would awaken it wouldn't be of any use. She doesn't have the focus to revoke the curse. That is-" his eyes flickered to Simon, "-unless she were to be cured. That is one reason why I brought you here, besides your inexcusable transgressions."
Simon's eyebrows crashed down. "Where is the cure?"
Basileus pursed his lips and turned his face back to the fire. "Trica has it."
Simon moved so fast I could barely follow. One minute he stood beside the couch, the next he had his hand wrapped around Basileus's throat. The feet of our 'host' swung a foot above the floor. Basileus's hands clutched Simon's iron fist. Horrible choking noises emanated from his restricted throat.
Simon sneered up at his captive. "How could you be foolish enough to allow him to invade your home?"
Basileus frowned. "You of all vampires should know his cunning." Simon frowned, and our host winced as Simon tightened his grip. "He left no trail from that letter. We only learned of his involvement when the next letter arrived with his demand."
Simon arched an eyebrow. "And what is that?"
Basileus met Simon's gaze. "He wishes for access to Curse Chamber." Simon started back so violently that he lost his grip on Basileus. The lord dropped to his knees. He rubbed his neck as he stood and studied Simon. "Now you know why you were brought here in such haste. I couldn't lose a moment."
Simon sneered at Basileus. "You agreed to the blackmail."
I snorted. "You couldn't get your escorts to convince this guy?"
Basileus glared at us. "I had no other choice. Madam Bentley is the only one capable of unsealing that chamber. Without her it could be sealed for decades."
Simon turned away from him and toward Certus and me. "It would be better that it was sealed."
Our host scoffed. "For you, perhaps, but that room is the only threat I hold against the more powerful demons, Trica included. Without that threat the city would devolve into chaos."
Simon shut his eyes and ground his teeth together. "When is the agreement to be fulfilled?"
Basileus pursed his lips. "The demand is scheduled to be met tomorrow night."
Simon opened his eyes and his gaze fell on Certus. "Notify the others that they are needed this night." Certus bowed his head and hurried from the room. Simon turned to Basileus. "Do you know the whereabouts of Trica?"
Basileus shook his head. "No. I'm not even sure if he resides in the city."
Simon glanced at the curtained windows. The pale light showed that nightfall was almost here. His voice was so soft I barely heard the words. "He's still here. He would never leave."
"You have all my resources at your disposal," Basileus offered.
Simon's usual sly smile curled onto his lips. "I have need of only one of your assets."
Basileus nodded. "Anything. Name it and it is yours."
Simon strode over to the couch and half-turned to our host. "Your ship. We must return to the mainland immediately."
Basileus pursed his lips, but bowed his head. "I will inform my captain of the departure." He strode from the room.
I glanced at Simon. His smile was gone again and replaced with a deep frown. "This theft is going to be harder than the others, isn't it?"
He nodded without looking at me. "Much harder."
I stood on my wobbly legs. "And what about this Death guy? Is he gone for good?"
Simon shook his head. "No. The Phantom will continue to appear until the curse is lifted or it succeeds in its assigned task."
My shaking legs couldn't hold me. I fell back onto the couch and ran a hand through my hair. "How often is it going to keep coming back?"
Simon took a seat on the couch and studied my face. "The Phantom will come when it believes you are at your weakest."
I managed a snort. "Then it should be here any time now. I just hope it doesn't scare any of the staff."
"The Phantom will not be seen by the weak-minded," he told me.
I arched an eyebrow. The corners of my lips twitched up. "So how were you able to see it?"
A bitter smile slipped onto his lips. "Death is an old acquaintance of mine, and his messengers are also familiar to me."
I leaned back and studied him. "You can. . .you can stop death?"
He shook his head. "Nothing so powerful, but his messengers know I do not like for them to take what is mine."
I clasped my hands together and stared down at my lap. The thought of death brought tears to my eyes. I sniffled, but managed a smile. "All this time I was worrying about becoming a vampire. Now it looks like I might not get even that chance."
Simon clasped my chin between his fingers and lifted my gaze to his face. "You will not be taken by Death. He has no right to you."
I choked out a sob mixed with a laugh. "I don't think he's going to care much what you think. Not if that Phantom-" My words caught in my throat. Behind Simon beside the mantel stood the cloaked figure.
Simon leapt to his feet and spun around so he stood between the Phantom and me. His red eyes narrowed, but their light glowed brightly in the dimming light. The Phantom's cloak hardly rustled as it floated a few feet closer to us and stopped. The skeletal hand revealed the dagger, and it pressed the blade against its chest.
Its hissing voice was as icy as the chill that ran up my spine. "Give her to me."
"She is not yours to take," Simon argued.
The thing raised its head. Within the depths of the hood I glimpsed a pair of white lights. Their attention fell on me. "She has the mark. She must die."
Simon whipped out something bright and glistening from inside his coat and threw it at the creature. The Phantom screamed and melted into the air. The object struck the wall behind where it stood and stuck there. I saw it was a long-handled dagger. The blade sunk clear into the wall.
Certus and Basileus rushed into the room. Our host looked from me to Simon. "What has happened?"
Simon strode over to the wall beside the mantel and pulled the dagger from its resting spot. The blade glistened like silver. He tucked the weapon back into his coat and turned to all of us.
Simon's eyes fell on Basileus. "Is the boat prepared?"
Our host nodded. "Yes, but I demand to know-"
"And have the others been notified?" Simon asked his manservant.
Certus bowed his head. "They are to meet us at the penthouse."
Simon strode over to me and offered me his hand. "Then let us leave this poorly-hosted event."
I took his hand and he helped me to my feet. We turned to the open doors. Certus stepped aside, but Basileus stepped in our way.
"I feel I must mention that should you be caught by Trica I will disavow any knowledge of your attempted-theft," he warned us.
I snorted. "So this is Mission Impossible?"
Basileus bowed his head and stepped aside. "Precisely."
Simon walked toward the door, but paused beside our host to turn his head to him. "Prepare what you can to revoke Faith's curse. We will return before the night is over."
And with that we left.
CHAPTER 4
We boarded the boat and watched the island recede into the distance from the deck. Night had fallen and enveloped the twinkling city in its cool blanket. There was a calm silence except for the occasional echoing roar from the engines.
I grasped the railing and glanced up at Simon who stood beside me. "Do you really have a plan to steal the antidote from this Trifecta guy?"
Simon's gaze lay on the open waters between us and the mainland. He pursed his lips.
"His name is Trica, and I cannot be sure how to approach this challenge without at least knowing where he is hidden."
I leaned my arms over the railing and studied Simon's tense face. "So who is this guy? Basileus sounded like he was terrified of him."
Simon pursed his lips as he gazed out over the water. "He is a very old and very powerful vampire. His influence reaches deep into the underworld of the city, back to the very foundations of the first organized crime one hundred years ago."
I arched an eyebrow. "So how come you haven't mentioned him before? He sounds like a challenge to steal from."
Simon closed his eyes and shook his head. "There is nothing I want from him that can be stolen."
I frowned. "So how tough is this going to be exactly? Should I throw myself into the arms of the Phantom right now?"
"Where there is life, even un-life, there is hope," he philosophized.
My eyes wandered down to his coat. I nodded at the breast. "What was it you threw at that Phantom, anyway? A dagger?"
He reached into his coat and pulled out the dagger. Its long, silver blade shone against the clear night sky. He held the blade of the dagger out to me. "See for yourself."
I reached for the weapon. My fingers brushed against the blade. I felt a sharp, biting heat. I yelped and drew back my hand. My finger was singed.
I glared at him. "You knew that would happen, didn't you?"
That stupid sly smile of his reappeared. I would have been relieved if I hadn't been the butt of the joke. "It is a lesson in your emerging weaknesses. Silver is dangerous to our kind, as is the wood of the hawthorn bush and tree."
I rubbed my aching finger. "Can't you just warn me like a sane person?"
He chuckled as he tucked the blade back into his coat. "I doubt I would have existed this long if I had been sane. Those who are sane lack imagination."
I rolled my eyes. "So silver works against death? And what was that thing saying about a mark on me?"
Simon lifted the blade and studied the sharp, reflective surface. "Silver blades, and knives in general, are protections against both the natural and unnatural worlds. The blade cuts intruders and wards them off so, like a wild animal, they stalk other prey."
