I gazed into the dark blue of his eyes and tried to figure out if he was telling the truth. After an uneasy minute of staring at him, and still not sure if he was telling the truth, I shrugged and crawled into the limo. Rigel scooted in next to me. The scarred man slammed the door shut and, a minute later, the car started up and lurched forward. Rigel grabbed my arm to keep me from falling off the seat when the driver made a sudden turn and I thanked him by jabbing him with my elbow again. He put his hands up in a gesture of surrender.
"Sorry. I'm a little on edge,” I said.
"I'd be, too.”
"Yeah. Just a little,” the older girl said.
"This is Fawne,” Rigel said indicating the girl who'd just spoken. "The little one's Lily."
"I'm not little!” Lily said. She stuck her tongue out at Rigel and kicked the backs of her pink patent-leather shoes against the seat
"Hey,” Fawne said by way of greeting. Fawne was pretty, with short, curly hair, coffee-colored skin, and startling green eyes.
"Hey.”
"Is for horses!” Lily said. She did an imitation of a horse, tossing her blonde pigtails back. I smiled at her and her little faced scrunched up in a frown. "How come you were at the witches' house? Did they put a spell on you to get you to come?” She asked.
"Uh, no…”
"'Cause that's the only way they'd get me to come,” Lily said, her little face fixed in a serious expression.
"Lily,” Rigel said. His voice held a warning tone. Lily rolled her eyes and threw herself backwards onto the seat.
"Where are we going?”
"Where would you like to go?” Rigel asked. I balked at his question.
"You said we were going to get Gemma.”
"Yes, but not until later. It'll be safer to rescue her at night."
"Don't vampires sleep during the day?"
"Yes, which means they'll have her…” Rigel's voice trailed-off.
"They'll have her…”
"Secured.”
"What do you mean?” I asked.
"I'd rather not get into specifics. It's just safer to wait until dark.”
"Can't we just…"
"Damn it. I won't argue about this! I know what we're doing, so just do as I say."
"Rude!” Lily yelled. My sentiments, exactly I thought.
"Well, I'd rather you did get into specifics. We're talking about my sister here and I want to know what's happening.”
"No, no you don't."
"Yes, I do. I have the right to know what's happening to my sister!” I said.
"You want to know what's happening?” Rigel asked. I nodded, but the tone of his voice made me unsure. "They'll have kept her close which means she'll be with them all day. The location of a vampire's crypt is known only to himself.”
"You're not saying she's in a…a…”
"A coffin, yes. Your sister's in a coffin."
"Awake? Is she awake?” I asked.
"Not at first, but she should wake up a few hours after sunrise. When the sun comes up, vampires pretty much die. Their hypnotic powers over her would lessen,” Rigel said.
"So, you're telling me my sister will wake up, in the dark, in a coffin next to a…dead body?” A wave of nausea hit me and I gagged.
"Pull over!” Rigel ordered. The car slowed and he opened the door. I made it outside just as I began to vomit. I threw up everything I'd eaten and still my stomach lurched upwards. I felt someone gather my hair and glimpsed over my shoulder at Fawne who made small circles on my back with the palm of her hand. She leaned forward and handed me a Kleenex to wipe up with, but when I met her eyes, I saw that they were those of an animal; her irises glowed a sickly yellow. I cringed away from her.
"It's okay, I’m a werewolf,” Fawne said. Why she thought telling me she was a werewolf would be of comfort to me, I have no idea. I clenched my jaw, swallowing the bile that was threatening an encore. "Damn it! Rigel, you didn't have to tell her like that!” She said.
I felt hot tears trailing down my cheeks, and began to sob. Fawne helped me up and half-carried me into the limo. She sat down next to me, still patting my back. Lily moved to the bench along the back of the car between where Rigel sat and where Fawne and I sat. I felt the car begin to move again, but I didn't care.
I just kept thinking about Gemma and how scared she must be. I burst into tears as fresh sobs shook my body. When I'd cried all I could, I sat, feeling defeated, my body still shaking. My thoughts turned to what my grandma would do when Gemma and I didn't come home. I pictured her frantic conversation with my mom and took in a shaky breath to try to calm myself.
"I didn't mean for you to get so upset,” Rigel said. Fawne and I both glared at him. "I don't want you to be mad, okay. What can I do to make you feel better?"
"She could call her grandma,” Lily said. My head jerked up in surprise.
"How did…”
"I listened to your head.” Lily said matter-of-factly. Did all witches do that? I wondered. "I'm not a witch- and no, I'm special.” Lily said.
"Keep it up and I'll bind you for a week,” Rigel said. Lily rolled her eyes. "Lily apologizes. Her gift is very rare in magical children as young as she is. She won't be invading your thoughts again. Will you, Lily?"
"I do have to call my grandma, though. My mom's out-of-town and my grandma was coming over this morning to stay with us.”
"Understood,” Rigel gathered his coat from the floor where I'd discarded it prior to my Linda Blair impersonation and tossed me a phone. "Look, I'm sorry I sprung the whole coffin thing on you like that.” He said it like he was apologizing for something unimportant, like a stain on the rug- which is precisely what he'd be if he said one more thing about Gemma. "I'll make it up to you.” I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Oh, yeah?” I said. I expected him to say he'd buy me an ice cream or something equally stupid, but his words blew all my expectations out the window.
"We'll make a stop at your house and you can visit with your grandma."
"Are you serious?” I asked. Rigel smoothed his hands down the black material of his shirt.
"As a vampire attack,” Rigel said. He pushed a button on the car door and the partition dividing the back of the limo from the driver lowered. "We're going to back track, Roscoe.” A minute later, we headed towards my house and I had a whole new set of problems.
Chapter Fourteen
Friends of the Family
An hour later, I was basking in the familiar comfort of my home, curled up on the recliner in my living room. My grandmother sat beside me on the sofa, the heat from her coffee mug sending swirls of scented smoke into the air. She'd made us a pot of tea, using an old recipe she'd learned from her mother. No tea ever tasted as good as Grandma's.
She'd been so excited when I came home with my "friends" Fawne and Rigel. We'd left Lily with the driver who, Fawne told me, was also Lily's bodyguard. I'd asked Fawne why the little girl needed a bodyguard, but she's shushed me with a look of warning. My Grandma was disappointed that Gemma was staying over at a friend's house- an alibi provided by Fawne after I'd babbled incoherently when my Grandma asked where my sister was.
"I'm always so glad to meet my granddaughter's friends. Did you kids meet at school?” Grandma asked.
"Uh, yeah. Fawne's in my honors English class.” The lie came to me easily and I felt a pang of guilt gnaw my stomach.
"And how did you meet this handsome young man?” Grandma asked. I turned my attention to Rigel whose face threatened to split from the smile he was aiming at me. I frowned at him and his smile widened; his blue eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Ascher! I can't believe you didn't tell your grandmother about how I met you.” I scowled at him.
"It must have slipped my mind,” I said through clenched teeth.
"I suppose next you'll tell me you haven't told her we're dating.” Tears filled Rigel's eyes as he struggled not to laugh at the horrified look on my face. I bit my lip.
"Oh, my! Ascher, I d
idn't know you had a beau! Why didn't you tell me?” My grandma's face was a mask of disappointment.
"Well, we're not really…”
"Come on, Asch, sweetie. No need to be shy.” Rigel got up from the loveseat where he and Fawne sat and crossed over to me. "We've been dating for four months.” He took a seat on the wide armrest of my recliner and placed a hand on my knee. I turned to him, my teeth grinding together
"Stop it!” I whispered.
"Oh, I'm so glad Ascher has found herself a nice young man. Her sister Gemma's always had more luck socializing with the boys and all that. Our little Ascher was always the shy one. Always tagging along behind her big sister like a baby duck!” Grandma said. I wanted to crawl into a hole and die, not necessarily in that order.
"Well, lucky for me, it made her easier to catch!” Rigel laughed at his joke, my Grandma laughing right a long with him. Still seething, I placed my hand on top of his in a gesture of familiarity and dug my fingernails into the back of his hand.
I saw a blur of movement to my right and noticed my black and white cat Nicky was peering at me through the white railing of the banister that led upstairs.
"Hey, little man,” I said. Nicky meowed his response and climbed down the stairs to meet me. He always followed me around. Mewling and mewling until I picked him up, like a furry baby.
Nicky turned the corner leading to the living room and froze in mid-step. He was staring at Rigel. Nicky's velvety little ears flattened against his head. He growled and flicked his tail in challenge.
"I see you have the same effect on cats as you do on people,” I said.
"I see you're cat is as uptight as you,” Rigel said. My Grandma watched Rigel and I, her usually tranquil gray-green eyes squinted in concern.
"Is everything cool, kids?” Grandma asked. I smiled at her sweet, but lame attempt to bridge the generational gap.
"Yeah, we're fine. Could you excuse me for a moment?” I stood and Rigel started to follow me. "I'll be right back.” Rigel smiled at me.
"I know you will. You wouldn't leave your grandmother alone for too long." I heard the underlying threat in his words and swallowed. I ran up the stairs, taking two at a time, and collapsed on my bed. I could feel tears on my cheeks, but that was the only reason I knew I was crying. I felt drained, empty.
God, I don't even have the energy to cry.
I felt something brush against my side and raised my head up to see my sister's cat Angel. I stroked her silver fur and took a deep, shaky breath. I had to keep it together for Gemma.
My eyes skimmed my overloaded bookshelves; all of them filled with horror novels, books peopled with vampires, witches, ghosts, and werewolves. When these creatures merely existed on the page, they seemed exciting, alluring- each novel an escape into a world I'd often wished was real. I laughed bitterly.
You got what you wanted. Your sister is locked in a coffin and your Grandma is in the middle of the world's most funked-up tea party with a werewolf and a warlock.
The Dracula poster on my wall seemed to taunt me, the vampires' yellow eyes, and sharp fangs mocking my hopelessness. As I eyed the Dracula poster, I grew increasingly pissed. I couldn't look at that stupid poster for another second. I pushed myself up from my bed and crossed the room, tearing the Dracula poster off the wall and into many tiny pieces.
"Feel better?” Fawne stood in my doorway, her arms wrapped around herself as if she were cold.
"I want to kill Savian for what he did to Gemma,” I said. Fawne rubbed her arms.
"I know how you feel.”
"What did he do to you?” I asked. Fawne shook her head and stepped further into my room.
"Not him. A werewolf killed my father, stepmother, and brother, Robby. He was only six. I was eleven,” Fawne said. "They kept me as a prisoner, a servant for three years. One night, they brought a prize home for dinner- a little girl, Daray's sister. I'd been used to following orders for so long, but something inside me just snapped. I took out three of my captors and escaped with her.
When she told Daray what had happened he pledged a gift to me. I could have anything I wanted because I'd saved the life of the Warlock Princess. I told him I wanted revenge, against those who killed my family and I wanted to learn to fight. He led a raid on the were pack that night. It was a long time ago, but the impulse to fight, to get revenge, it never really stops. If you want to help your sister, you need to use the anger you're feeling. It'll fuel your magic."
"I don't know how.”
"It'll come to you soon enough.” She stalked over to my closet and began shoving through my clothes. "You need something to wear tonight. Something impressive."
"Why does it matter?”
"You're going to meet royalty, girl.”
"What? Am I being introduced to the Gnome King?"
"The Warlock Prince, actually. He's using his pull to help us get to Gemma,” she said. My stomach did a nervous flip-flop.
"I'm pretty sure Gemma has some dresses from last year's dances I could borrow.”
"No. Her scent would be all over them and the vamps would sniff you out. I'll take care of it. We have to get going; sunset is in a couple of hours.” I spotted my alarm clock on in its usual place on my nightstand. It was 3:53.
A couple of hours until sunset.
A couple of hours left to find out what powers, if any, I have.
A couple of hours to learn how to use them to destroy the Master Vampire of Chicago.
* * * *
After my Grandma and I said our good-byes, Fawne, Rigel and I headed to the limo. I could tell she was sad I wasn't staying longer, but she said she was glad I'd be "out and about" with my friends. When we'd settled back into the limo, I noticed Rigel was studying me.
"What?”
"Your grandma's a witch, but she doesn't know it,” he said. "Her aura reads like a human's and I didn't feel any magic coming off of her, but you can sense her magic, waiting to be released.” I was getting sick of his evasive answers.
"What's your point?”
"Someone or something blocked her memories and bound her magic.”
"I don't understand,” I said. Rigel bit his lip.
"Your grandmother's magic was bound. That sort of thing happens, but the victim always remembers who they were, the powers they had. The fact that you're a witch or a warlock can't be erased. Not unless the victim themselves casts an erosive memory spell. Your grandma would've had to cast the spell of forgetting on herself.”
"Why would she do that?” I asked. Rigel cracked his knuckles.
"That's what I'd like to know.”
We sat in silence for most of the ride. Lily fell asleep while we were visiting my Grandma and the rest of us weren't in a very chatty mood. When the car pulled to a stop, I jerked out of my reverie.
"Where are we?” I asked.
"Chicago,” Rigel said. He didn't say anymore. His face was drawn and pensive. I couldn't tell if he looked scared or angry, maybe he was both.
I followed Rigel and Fawne out of the car. The limo pulled away; Lily and the driver/bodyguard in tow. Fawne led the way to an elevator, ushered us in and pushed the button for the 23rd floor. I closed my eyes as we surged upwards, my belly filled with butterflies.
* * * *
When the elevator doors opened, Fawne led us to a door marked 23D. She unlocked the door and directed us inside.
"Welcome to my humble abode,” Fawne said. Humble was not exactly the word I would have used. A living room, the size of a small gymnasium opened in front of us. Brown suede overstuffed sofas and a black leather recliner were the only furnishings.
I couldn't see a TV, but I didn't think it was so very strange, considering that the entire back wall of her apartment was made of one huge window with the most amazing view of the Chicago skyline. A veil of dusk covered the city.
"It's beautiful,” I said. I wondered if her apartment was a gift from Daray, but didn't dare ask. "Do you live with anyone?”
"No. Just me. I'
ll show you where you can shower and dress." I followed Fawne through a wide hallway, lined with strange photos, maps and posters with foreign words on them. "I travel a lot.” I found that a strange explanation for wallpapering her home with maps. She opened a set of double doors to our left, which led into a beautiful bedroom with a bed, vanity, armoire and sofa. "The bathroom is right in here.”
An old-fashioned tub sat on the right side of the bathroom. "There are extra toothbrushes in the cabinet under the sink and a robe on the back of the door. You should find everything else.” Fawne turned on the faucet and the huge, claw-footed tub began to fill with water. She poured some salts and bubbles into the water and dropped a plug into the tub.
"Thanks,” I said.
"Sure thing. When you're done, we can look through my closets and find something for you to wear. You're taller than me, but we're about the same size. Sound good?”
Fawne hurried from the bathroom before I could respond. I shut the door behind her and locked it, grateful to be alone. I kicked off Rigel's conjured sneakers and peeled off the clothes Cyd lent me.
Stepping into the hot, fragrant water felt like heaven. Easing myself into the tub, I ducked my hair into the tub and rubbed water over my face. I tried to forget about the night ahead and concentrated on getting myself clean.
Chapter Fifteen
Warlock Secret Service
When I'd finished bathing, Fawne took me into her huge, plainly decorated bedroom and into her walk-in closet to pick out something to wear. She was already dressed in a satin lilac-colored dress that made her pale green eyes pop out against the dark caramel color of her skin. Her feet were tied in matching sandals, which were pretty, but not very practical for a rescue mission.
"Are you sure you can run in those?” I asked.
Witchfire Page 5
