"I literally just got back. You must be confused about how long ago you looked," she said resolutely.
Gabriel was still unconvinced, but he tossed his bag on the table and sat down on the opposite chair staring at her. His disconcerting expression was almost knowing, and it made Victoria feel paranoid. He hadn't seen her disappear and reappear, had he? He couldn't have, she had checked properly. Still, she berated herself for even doing magic in a library of all places! She was being careless and it would only get her into a lot of trouble that she didn't need.
She buried her head in a textbook and heard Gabriel chuckling loudly. She poked her head over the top of the book and gave him a black look. He laughed harder.
"You know, if you're going to pretend to read, at least have the book the right way up!"
To her chagrin, she realized that she did indeed have the book upside down, and burst out laughing at the expression on his face.
"Busted!" he laughed.
Cheeks flaming, she put the book down and decided to give him a partial truth. "Sorry, it's just that Charla and some of her friends walked by and it was really uncomfortable, so I was thinking about what I should do."
Gabriel shrugged. "Don't do anything, she'll come around. She's just being ... Charla."
"But it's uncomfortable, Gabriel, to have one of your friends think that you are after her boyfriend ... because that is what you are, isn't it?" she asked. "You need to tell her that this is nothing more than what it is—two friends studying."
"Is that all it really is?" he said, pouting. She shot him a dark look, and he put his hands in the air in surrender. "Just kidding, I know, I know ... you're 'not in a dating mode right now,'" he said, mimicking her consistent response to him on why they shouldn't date. "We're just study buddies."
"Be serious, Gabe," she said. Gabriel smiled; he loved it when she called him Gabe. She noticed him smiling and chucked a book at him, thinking he was still messing around. "Please, will you just do it?"
"Fine, I'll talk to her," he promised. "Now will you stop bugging me? I really need to study!" Victoria rolled her eyes at his dishonest comment, and turned back to her book, this time making carefully sure that it was the right side up.
They worked in quiet camaraderie for a few hours until Gabriel sat back and announced that he was hungry. They decided to head to the Black Dog to get something to eat there instead of staying on campus, and Gabriel drove. It was the first time that Victoria had been in his car and she was impressed. It was black and sporty with shiny chrome wheels and custom racing stripes. Given what she had learned over the holidays about their wealth, she wasn't surprised that Gabriel could afford such an expensive car. But rather than seeming ostentatious for a high school student, it suited him perfectly, she thought, as he got in and gunned the engine. He smiled at the sound, and she rolled her eyes.
They got to the Dog in no time at all. Gabriel drove fast, flying around corners at breakneck speed and screeching to a stop in the restaurant parking lot. She'd held on to the sides of her seat with white fingers and literally released the breath she had been holding for five solid minutes when they finally arrived in one piece at the bar.
"Well, that was the first and last time you're ever driving me anywhere!"
"Come on." He laughed. "That was me being careful." Gabriel held the door open for her, and they waved to Tony when they were seated in a booth near the bar. As they wolfed down burgers and fries, a couple of his teammates came over and chatted for a while. Gabriel glanced at her apologetically but she smiled and nodded for him to continue with his friends. As he spoke, she studied him. There was so much more than met the eye with Gabriel. It was as if some hidden part of her identified with a part of him. She had tried to explain it to Christian but he wasn't exactly open to the discussion.
Christian did not like Gabriel, and though he'd been especially irritated that they'd been partnered together on their Calc project, he had never asked her switch classes or change partners. Christian seemed to think that Gabriel was after Victoria, and while she assured him that that would never happen, he still didn't trust Gabriel's motives where Victoria was concerned. He'd even suggested that Gabriel had somehow masterminded them being assigned as partners, which was ludicrous. No one could get away with something like that!
Gabriel was still talking to his teammates when she saw Charla and her entourage make their way to a table at the far end. Charla looked around as if she were looking for someone specific, and it was very obvious to Victoria exactly who she was looking for. Victoria looked down at the table when she felt the hostile gaze settle on them. She kicked Gabriel under the table. He winced and looked at her accusingly. Victoria inclined her head toward the bar. She saw the recognition in his eyes and looked at him meaningfully until he sighed, excused himself from his friends and stood up, walking over to Charla's table.
Victoria watched as he hugged and kissed Charla performing like a pro for their captive audience, asking her entourage very loudly whether they were getting his best girl in trouble. Charla beamed from the attention. Victoria kept her expression carefully neutral. She hated the pretense and had decided that she would leave just to make the point for the hundredth time that she wasn't interested in Gabriel. She was just getting her stuff together to see if someone could give her a ride, when a small figure slid in the booth opposite her.
"Oh, hey Angie, you look different," she said, suddenly noticing the short hair and the fact that Angie actually looked happy. Angie smiled dreamily.
"Thanks. Just trying a little something new," she said. "Taylor's coming up this weekend." Victoria's mind went blank and then she remembered in a flash. Taylor? New Year's Eve Taylor whom Angie had been making out with for hours? Angie's face turned pink with embarrassment, and Victoria grinned. Definitely that Taylor.
"That's really great," Victoria said, and meant it. "I didn't realize that things had gotten serious after New Year's."
"We kept it under the radar. I mean we all grew up together, so we didn't want it to be weird for everyone else," Angie said. "But since he's coming up this weekend, it won't be a secret any more, will it?"
"I'm really happy for you, Angie. You deserve it." Victoria hesitated for a second and then asked the question that had been bothering her. "Angie, can I ask you something? Does Gabriel treat you the way he does because of what you can do?" The happiness on Angie's face immediately dimmed and she looked sharply at Victoria. "I mean I know you said that he isn't like you, but is that it?"
"Why?" Angie was reluctant to respond and kept shooting panicked looks toward her brother. Even though Angie hadn't said anything, Victoria had her answer.
"Don't worry I won't say anything ..."
"Say anything about what?" Gabriel interrupted rudely.
"Nothing, I was just asking Angie to give me a ride home."
"But I'll take you home, Tori," he said.
Victoria smiled. "Don't forget you have a job to do, Gabriel, and taking me home is definitely not one of them. Pay attention to your girlfriend," she said, jerking her eyes toward Charla sitting at her table and casting furtive glances at them.
Gabriel knew he was beaten when he saw the resolute look in Victoria's eyes, and he sighed, resigned. "Fine, I'll call you later then," he said.
As they made their way out, Victoria was rewarded with a happy squeal from Charla as Gabriel grabbed her from behind and twirled her in the air. She and Angie waved goodbye, and Charla gave them a big grin on the way out.
The ride to her apartment was quick, and just as Victoria was thanking Angie for the ride and getting out, Angie put her hand on Victoria's arm.
"Look, it's really weird between Gabriel and me. It's hard to talk about when he is there and well, it's pretty obvious how he feels about me."
"It's okay, I understand, sorry I asked," Victoria said.
Angie still looked like she had something to say and Victoria waited, her hand on the door handle. "I meant to tell you before, but I ju
st didn't get around to it." Angie paused and smiled awkwardly. "I saw those guys in New York with you. You know, the ones without any colors. The dead ones."
Victoria leaned back into the car seat and stared at Angie. She didn't say a word. Angie squeezed her hand on Victoria's arm.
"Look, it's okay. I didn't say anything but I was watching them for you. I know that one was Christian Devereux. I recognized him even in the white mask, but I didn't know the other one." Victoria could see that she was starting to get agitated.
"It's okay, Angie. I knew that you could probably see and was wondering if you did, so thanks for telling me," she said.
"I wanted to make sure that you were okay. It worried me when I saw that there were two of them. But you were fine because you came back." She smiled. "Anyway I just wanted you to know that I ... that someone ... was looking out for you," she said.
"I appreciate that more than you know," Victoria said, dazed. She felt absurdly grateful. "Hey do you want to come up for a minute? I could make some tea."
Angie was surprised but accepted the invitation. In Victoria's apartment, she was very complimentary even though Victoria knew her place was probably tiny compared to the one that Angie shared with Charla. Angie sat down on the couch next to Leto.
"Oh, you have a cat!" She giggled as if something occurred to her. "Of course you have a cat!" She stroked him a couple times before pulling her hand away as if his fur had burned her. Leto stared at her, his green eyes unblinking. "He's not just a cat though, is he?"
"What does he look like? I've always wondered. His name is Leto, by the way," Victoria said, bringing the tea and a plate of biscuits over.
Angie stroked Leto's silvery gray fur. He turned his head into her palm and purred but studied her with an intense look. "Lovely name," she said. "Do you know what it means?"
When Victoria shook her head, Angie continued. "It means 'the hidden one.' Leto was also the name of the Goddess Leto who gave birth to Artemis and Apollo."
"How do you know all this stuff?"
"I'm a sucker for Greek and Roman mythology," Angie said. She stroked Leto again, her eyes unfocusing. "His colors are so effervescent, there's so much silvery light that it's almost blinding." She squinted at Leto thoughtfully and then refocused to look into his knowing green eyes. He stretched and gave her his quirky cat smile, and she looked astonished. "Does he—" she began, and then stopped, confused.
"Does he know what you are, you mean?" Victoria finished for her as she sipped her tea. Angie nodded. "You already know the answer to that Angie, sure he does."
"Do you ... does he talk?"
Victoria nodded, staring at Leto for a brief moment. "He says in my world, you would be known as an Aurus. It's a witch term for someone who can see the true spirits of people." Victoria's eyes squinted as if she were listening to something more Leto was saying. "He says it's a very rare gift. Rare and dangerous."
In the space of half a second, Angie's eyes seemed to cloud over and her entire body tensed. Victoria wasn't surprised when she stood up abruptly.
"I'm sorry. I ... I have to go. I ... forgot that I told Charla I would pick her up later at the bar," she stammered. Two pairs of identical green eyes followed her as she raced out the door, almost stumbling in her haste.
Victoria watched her leave and Leto padded over to the windowsill, staring at Angie's disappearing taillights. Victoria scratched his head.
"What did you mean when you said her gift was dangerous Leto?" she asked.
Not just her gift. She is dangerous. Leto paused. The gift is coveted by many because of the power it grants to someone who can use it to control others. An Aurus has no magical ability, which is why most of them are usually bonded to evil witches and warlocks who abuse their gifts for their own ends.
"But she's human," Victoria replied.
You're human, Leto pointed out and Victoria rolled her eyes.
"You know what I mean," she said. "She's no witch, and I know she's not part of a witch coven under some other witch or wizard either. I read her."
She's hiding something. She has a mark of magic on her. Victoria immediately burned red and Leto shot her a sharp look.
"It could be me," she said. "She's seen me do magic at the bar."
You what? Tori! How many times have I said that you need to be careful! Leto hissed and flattened his ears.
"It's just a drink guessing game, Leto! And it's not like she doesn't know what I am," she said.
That's just the point, Victoria. When a witch or warlock uses magic, it makes a mark like a signature. Leto's tone was patronizing. Victoria gave an impatient nod, she knew that already. The signature really could only be used to determine the identity of the magic user so she didn't know why Leto was bringing it up. Angie already knew that she was a witch.
Leto stared at her with baleful eyes until she flushed again, before he continued. For an Aurus, that signature is as obvious as if you gave them the blueprint of your magic, and that information can be used against you ... to control you, to hurt you, to kill you! Leto's mental voice shook with barely concealed fury. That's why they are so dangerous.
"Oh," whispered Victoria. "But it was nothing."
Doesn't matter, it was still your magic. Please Victoria, you need to be more careful. You must know that there's a lot more at stake here. People have killed for far less.
The pointed reference to her unique blood and who she was made her feel suddenly very cold, and she wrapped her arms around herself.
"The thing is Leto, I'm just not sure what my purpose is. I mean I read Brigid's journal but I just don't know what it is that I am supposed to do." She wrung her hands in frustration. "I am not part of a coven, no one even knows who I am."
Patience, Victoria. Our destinies are not always known to us but still we must prepare for them.
"And is that what I'm doing? Preparing? Preparing for what?"
For who you are.
"But what does that mean, Leto? Who am I? Please don't tell me I'm someone like Brigid!"
You cannot change who you are, Victoria. But you can decide who you become. If that is similar to Brigid's path or someone else's, then that is your choice.
Victoria raked her hands through her hair. She knew that Leto was right, but she wanted someone to come out and tell her what she was supposed to be doing.
She had never spoken to another witch except for the one that had tried to kill her up at the mountain. How was she supposed to find others like herself? Christian had said that the Vampire Council was negotiating with the witch clans in Europe, which meant that covens had to exist there and here as well. She would ask Christian if he could find out anything further for her about the witch clans. Perhaps he would even allow her to accompany him on his next trip.
Aside from her loneliness, she worried almost constantly about how to control the blood magic. It only became ravenous when she engaged it, the day-to-day spells and incantations she practiced barely touching on the limits of her personal power. She rarely took off the amulet whose absence had caused her blood to go crazy when she'd killed the witch. She felt stronger knowing that she didn't have to give in to its blood lust as readily as she did without it.
Victoria knew what she had to do but was deathly afraid to do it—she needed to put herself into a situation where she had to actually use the blood magic, to get it into a frenzy so that she could have the opportunity to control it and learn to harness its deadly potency. Brigid's words resounded like a mantra in her head, the price of the blood was hers to set, hers to set.
And there was only one person who was strong enough that she could ask for help creating such a scenario.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" CHRISTIAN said furiously. She could see the muscle ticking in his clenched jaw. Victoria had just finished explaining her plan to him.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets and stared at her, irate. What she was suggesting was completely absurd, she could be hurt or worse, killed.
"Christi
an, please," she said. "I need to do this."
"Not this way."
"Christian, this is the only way!" As he shook his head, turning away, she continued fiercely. "Don't make me find someone else. I'm sure Lucian would be amenable."
Christian whirled back around, his silver eyes flashing fire. "Don't you ever say that! Don't you know what Lucian is? He is a merciless killer!"
"Yes."
Christian swore under his breath. He was caught between a rock and a hard place because on the one hand, he knew that Victoria was right to try to tame the manic desires of her blood, her birthright, but by having him attack her, he felt that he was tempting fate. He wasn't even sure that he could control himself if things got too out of hand. The siren call of her blood was still far too sweet. On the other hand, he really didn't want her running off trying to provoke someone else, like Lucian, who could really hurt her or worse. "Damn it!" he said.
"Does that mean you'll help me?" she asked. Victoria knew that what she was proposing could put them both in a lot of danger. Something could always go wrong, no matter the preparation or precautions. Christian held Victoria's shoulders, noting the defiant resolve in her eyes, and sighed.
"Victoria, you cannot possibly know what you are asking."
"I'm sorry, Christian. I just don't know what else to do, and this seemed like the best way. I need you. You're the only one I can trust."
"So when do you want to do this?"
"Now," she said, waving her hand toward the glass doors leading into the garden. The sky was overcast and it was warmer than it had been during the last couple months, a balmy thirty degrees, not that that really mattered to either of them. Christian blanched.
"It's not that simple, Tori. I need to feed first," he said.
"Fine, go ahead and I'll catch up," she said, the words rushing out.
She didn't want Christian to spend any more time thinking because he would undoubtedly find a way to get out of it. Christian, in turn, felt that Victoria was being far too cavalier about the whole thing. That fact alone exasperated him even more, but his hands were tied. She was headstrong and willful enough to do exactly what she had said—attempt to provoke someone like Lucian, and there was no way he could allow that to happen.
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