The Jewel's Treasure [Celestial Jewels 3] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by J. Annas Walker

  Since transforming, Sabrina had remained isolated from the rest of the world in her high-rise penthouse apartment in Atlanta. No humans lived in the building. Shopping and going out occurred at night, while most of the city slept. Socializing took place among the other supernaturals and human familiars. There was never a need to hide who or what she was. The fangs were now a part of her, like the necklace.

  But the advent of the internet and the changing dynamic of the backwoods meant a loss of the old security. Transplants moved in all the time seeking scenery and an escape from the harsher northern winters. How would she explain away the strange occurrences that came with being supernatural?

  “Screw it. Don’t let them take us downtown. Use magic on them, if you have to,” Sabrina demanded. “We can’t let them look at us too closely. If they demand DNA samples, none of us are going to register as human.”

  Salem’s eyes widened. “I hadn’t thought about that. You’re right. We have to get out of here. Marley doesn’t know. She’ll be here any minute.” An edge of panic threaded through her voice.

  “Just in case she’s tuning out our telepathic connection.” Winston pulled a business card and small pencil from his pocket. He scribbled a few symbols on the back. With a flick of his fingers, he threw the card in the air. It dissolved into the darkness. “She knows now,” he whispered.

  “All right, you three, different cars. Let’s go,” a hard voice shouted at them from the store front. An overweight officer pointed at three squad cars down the street.

  “Here we go,” Salem said and stood up.

  “Remember to stick to the story no matter what. They’ll ask the same questions in different ways to try to trip you up. So, keep it simple and casual,” Winston muttered quickly. He helped Sabrina up and turned to face the nearest officer.

  A young man in uniform approached her from the side. He reached out and took her elbow roughly. “Mrs. Thorpe?”

  “Yes, that’s right,” she replied, glaring at him. She knew he meant the tight squeeze to be painful, but as she was more than human, it only pissed her off.

  “You will come with me. Your friends can give their statements here. We need to speak with you downtown,” he said forcefully.

  Sabrina’s anxiety got the better of her. Her pendant flashed to life. Dark rainbows and hazy shadows danced around her. She jerked her elbow out the young man’s hand. Her inner lioness roared with defiance. How dare he put his hands on her in such a manner?

  The officer glanced around at the rainbows now forming a cocoon. He looked down at Sabrina and locked eyes with her. A strange expression crossed his face as though all his thoughts washed away and the rest of his world faded into the background.

  “I’m not a criminal, and you will not manhandle me as if I were,” she spat. Fury rose inside her. The lioness wanted to smack him, but Sabrina held back. “I’m not going anywhere with you. You’re going to report that we were cleaning out the store to make room for new stock. A chemical interaction in the Dumpster came from broken containers leaking fluids. A fire started and caused old spray cans to explode. Got that?” Her voice shook with anger. So much for keeping it simple.

  The young officer nodded with his expression still glazed.

  “I’m going to need you to say it out loud so I can hear you,” Sabrina demanded. For a moment, she was not entirely sure the man could speak. Nothing like this ever happened before, and she had no way of knowing what damage might occur.

  “Yes, ma’am. A chemical fire in the Dumpster. Spray cans exploded,” he mumbled numbly.

  “Good boy. Now run along and play with your papers,” she said gently.

  The dark rainbows and shadows receded. The cocoon collapsed, allowing her magical influence to wane. The rest of the world seemed real again.

  The officer blinked hard a few times and shook his head. He gave a wide, sincere smile and tipped his hat in her direction. “Thank you, Mrs. Thorpe. I’ll get this typed up in the morning. You can pick up a copy of the report tomorrow afternoon for the insurance,” he said brightly. “Have a good night!”

  Sabrina watched as the young officer walked down the street, stumbling now and then. He looked slightly off-balance.

  Salem and Winston walked in her direction, turning to stare at the man as they passed. They watched him get in his car and pull slowly away in the wrong direction from the police station.

  When they caught up with her, Salem and Winston gave each other a high-five. “Now that’s what I call some seriously good magic, Mrs. T,” Winston said, sounding impressed.

  A van pulled up behind them and a woman similar to Salem with Winston’s brown hair got out. “I’m gone one afternoon, and you two nearly burn the place down?”

  “You might have met yesterday when she came out to your house, but just in case, Marley, this is Mrs. Thorpe. Mrs. Thorpe, my sister, Marley,” Winston said, making the formal introduction.

  “I know who she is,” Marley said shortly, not bothering to look directly at her. With a huff, she brushed down her neon pink shirt with the store logo and fluffed her coarse brown hair. The light-colored scales on the back of her hand glinted under the street lights. Everything about her body language said she was not exactly a happy camper.

  Another vehicle pulled up behind the van.

  “Sabrina! Sabrina, are you all right?” Brandon shouted and ran to her side.

  “I’m fine. Thanks for asking,” she said dismissively. His presence reminded her of the changes he took upon himself and the secrets he kept from her. Annoyance mixed with the anger she already felt for the young officer. She wanted to go home and started to fade.

  “Sabrina, wait, please. Don’t go,” Brandon pleaded. He moved in front of her. “Tell me what happened.”

  “Nothing, really. Just a store makeover I didn’t know about, uniforms that belong to a strip club, a rude cop, and a bomb. Oh, I forgot to mention a pissed off goddess who’s trying to put the moves on my husband. You know. The usual BS,” she retorted, not bothering to hide her feelings. More tears threatened and she feared she might not be able to contain her temper. It was better to walk away and try to get some distance before she sat him down for a talk about the store. “Sorry, honey, but I’m way too stressed to be good company. I need some alone time.”

  Without giving him time to speak, Sabrina let go of the world and let the dizzy spin of magic pull her away. When the floor felt steady under her feet once more, she was on her front porch. Everything looked normal, except a woman in flowing black robes standing in the yard watching the house.

  “Just when you think the night can’t get any better,” Sabrina mumbled to herself.

  Chapter 8

  Hadrian laid a hand on Brandon’s shoulder and gently tugged him backward. “I think you need to let the triplets handle the store. We have our own business to attend to, remember?” The elder vampire let his hand drop and walked away.

  Brandon still looked at the empty ground where his wife once stood. Her anger scented the air around him. He caught hints of hot, dry, grass and the unmistakable scent of a lioness.

  The aroma drove home Hadrian’s earlier words. Sabrina looked and lived like a vampire, but underneath the beautiful exterior lay something otherworldly, something that had never been human. She was born of two magical powers and yet belonged to neither. She was a unique being, and he suddenly doubted if she would ever be a vampire.

  “I can tell you’re worried,” Winston said, breaking Brandon’s concentration. “You gotta give her some time and space. That’s all.”

  “Know a lot about women, do you?” Brandon asked with a heavy dose of sarcasm. He doubted the young man’s experiences. After all, Brandon had lived for centuries as the eligible bachelor playboy, and yet nothing prepared him for Sabrina.

  “Women are a complete mystery, but I do have two half-demon sisters and a demon mother. You learn a few things. All you can do is love them and waste time trying to figure them out,” Winston replied.
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  Brandon looked at Winston in a different way. The gangly youngster looked as human as Sabrina once did. Only the telltale signs of his demonic heritage said otherwise. Maybe there was some wisdom in his words.

  “You’re right. She just needs to process everything. Thank you, Winston. Please get the store ready and order replacements for anything damaged,” Brandon instructed.

  “On it!” The bright, cheery smile returned as Winston followed the store van back down the street.

  Brandon got back in the car. He watched the flashing lights up ahead turn off one by one. As the big trucks pulled away, he turned to Hadrian.

  “Did you ever have this much trouble with women?”

  Hadrian smiled. “My boy, I don’t care who you are. When it comes to women, you’re always in trouble. The beauty of monogamy is there’s only one at home who’s angry at you,” he said with a chuckle.

  Brandon rubbed the place in his middle where Eleanor had stabbed him in the past. The memory brought a tingling sensation. It was the night Sabrina disappeared when she thought he’d used her to acquire her necklace, a delusional Camilla accused him of cheating on her as if they were dating, and Eleanor impaled him on her sword when she found out he had deflowered Sabrina. The blade wound healed instantly, but from time to time, it hurt as if it were fresh. When it did, Brandon wondered if Eleanor added a little magic as a lingering reminder.

  “Tell me about it,” Brandon muttered under his breath.

  Hadrian just shook his head and floored the gas. “We need to get to Asheville. I’m meeting an old friend in a little bar not far from the university,” he informed Brandon.

  “What does this old friend have that Delilah can’t provide for us?”

  “Would you believe me if I said I haven’t a clue?” Hadrian sounded serious.

  It made Brandon curious about the friend. In all the centuries he had spent with Hadrian, he thought he knew all the former emperor’s friends. Delilah was a demoness of the ninth level.

  What abilities could Hadrian’s friend offer to top Delilah’s, Brandon wondered.

  They sat in silence for the rest of the trip to Asheville. The cityscape whizzed past as Hadrian careened through the narrow streets of the old town. Neon lights gave the entertainment district an eerie glow. Most of the patrons shuffled out of the buildings, heading for the parking areas. Several taxis waited outside for those unable to make it home on their own.

  Once parked, Hadrian got out without saying anything to Brandon. He smoothed his black suit and straightened his bloodred tie. Running a hand over his hair, he looked more like someone getting ready for a date than a meeting.

  Brandon wondered how close Hadrian and this friend were. He suddenly felt underdressed. His thoughts wandered back to Sabrina.

  Her powers remained a mystery to them all, including her. She did her best to live as a vampire with a few extras. It was how she wanted to self-identify. The last two days, however, she seemed less like herself and more like a temperamental goddess.

  This bothered Brandon. He loved her, but would she still feel the same by the time this all played out? He knew from past experience how fickle a goddess could be.

  Hadrian tapped on the window. He mouthed the words, “Get out.”

  Brandon left the car, slamming the door a bit harder than he intended. The result was a dent in the door panel. He squeezed his eyes tight and groaned.

  “That’s a nasty dent you’ve got there. Not to worry. Your insurance will cover it,” said a girlish voice.

  A teenager no more than sixteen or seventeen years old approached them from behind. Her waist-length, straight, blonde hair hung around her like a sheet. The street lights made the strands glow. Her tight red midi-skirt hugged her hips and thighs, tapering down to just below her knees. The black top clung to her curves, showing off her cleavage with a sweetheart neckline. Tall, black stiletto heels finished the ensemble, making her seem older. She held neither purse, nor any accessories. Her makeup seemed subdued in comparison with her outfit. Her blue eyes seemed kind but distant. Thoughts seemed to swirl behind the bright blue color.

  “Cybil, you look lovely as ever,” Hadrian said, quickly moving to take both of her hands. He gently lifted them to his mouth and kissed the top of each one. “What a delightful surprise to get your call. What can we do for you?”

  She giggled. “You always were such a flatterer Hadrianus. I see your heart still belongs in the stars. Not to worry, the one you follow still waits for you,” she said playfully.

  Hadrian’s face still held a smile, but his eyes seemed suddenly sad. “Well, now. Shall we go inside for a drink?” He offered her the crook of his arm, which she took, and he escorted her inside.

  Booths lined one wall of the dimly lit bar. Tables filled with people watching a hipster band croon about the injustices of the world and drinking overpriced import beer covered the floor. Waitresses in shorts and tight tees scurried between the bartender, the patrons, and the kitchen.

  “I just love these sorts of places. Don’t you?” Cybil asked Brandon.

  “Not really. All they do is whine about life not being fair while their mommies and daddies write checks,” Brandon said before he had time to think. He closed his eyes and groaned.

  “Brandon, don’t be rude. Apologize at once,” Hadrian ordered.

  “No need,” Cybil said with amusement. “It’s refreshing to have someone be so honest.” She laid a hand on his upper arm. “Your nerves are raw. These last few days have made you question yourself and someone you love deeply. An unresolved past can be unsettling. The words may have been brash, but I understand the sentiment. These young people have an idealistic view of how they think the world should work. They see how ugly things are in comparison to how they wish things were. Don’t forget. You were young once, too. Give them their moment to dream before reality and time teach them hard truths.”

  Cybil looked around and smiled widely, as if she knew a secret she just had to tell. She walked directly to a booth at the back of the place. The couple sitting there looked annoyed at her interruption. She leaned over and whispered something to the woman, turned her head and then spoke to the man.

  The woman burst into tears and jumped up to hug Cybil. The man sat staring blankly at the table in front of him. He seemed hardly able to breathe. The woman grabbed his arm and her purse, pulling him from the booth toward the parking lot.

  Cybil rounded up the plates and dishes, dropping them into a tub on a push cart nearby. With a smile, she beckoned Hadrian and Brandon to the booth. She sat down and picked up the menu.

  Brandon asked, “What did you say to them to make them leave?”

  Nothing about Cybil stood out as supernatural to him. No magical vibes radiated from her to give him any indication she was anything other than a human girl. Clearly, though, she was more than she appeared.

  “She’s pregnant. They’ve tried for years, with no success. He blamed himself, but it was nobody’s fault. The stars just didn’t line up right for them until now. She’ll go to the doctor tomorrow. The baby girl will be born in March and will be spoiled rotten before she’s one.” Cybil returned her attentions to the menu. When the frazzled waitress appeared, Cybil started rattling off her order. “I’ll have a cola, the double cheeseburger with fries, an order of onion rings, a side of ranch dressing, and a slice of apple pie. No, wait, scratch that. Make it two slices of pie.” She looked up at Brandon and Hadrian. “Did you want anything?”

  “Just a beer. House tap is fine,” Hadrian said.

  Brandon shook his head at the waitress. “Nothing for me, thanks.” He watched her dart off toward the kitchens.

  “I don’t think we have enough time to wait for you to finish that large of a meal, Cybil,” Hadrian pointed out, tapping his watch and glancing at the window.

  “Oh, I know. I’m going to tell you what I came to say. A man will come in looking for me. He’s older than us and seeking my counsel. I’m not going to tell him everything
he wants to know. There are a few choices that will have to be made by someone I can’t predict. Until then, I can only see those paths with clear views. He’ll be angry, but that’s life. You win some. You lose some. I’ll finish my meal, pay the tab, turn down the bartender’s offer for a date, and go back to Delphi,” she said very matter-of-factly.

  The waitress came back and sat the drinks on the table. Cybil picked up the straw and ripped open the wrapper. Before the waitress left, Cybil touched her forearm and gave her a sympathetic look. “Don’t worry. The breakup wasn’t your fault and everything you suspected is true. He wasn’t worth it anyway, and the next man you fall for will be your forever love. You are worth loving, no matter what he said,” she told the waitress.

  Tears immediately welled up in the waitress’s eyes. “Oh my God! Thank you,” she managed to squeak and hurried back to the kitchen.

  Suddenly, everything made sense to Brandon. The Oracle of Delphi sat across the table from him sipping on a straw and bobbing her head in time to the music. This teenage girl with no magical vibrations was the oldest and most psychically gifted woman in the world. Amazed, Brandon sat there staring at her, knowing it was rude but unable to stop.

  She sat her drink back on the table. She lost her cheerful look and the unspoken thoughts swirling behind her blue eyes seemed to take over. The bright blue turned to opaque, ice-white. She began to speak to the open air and not to anyone in particular. “As you know, energy can be neither created nor destroyed. Magical powers are really just energy harnessed by an individual in accordance with their DNA. Lucifer’s death radiated his power to the other gods and goddesses trapped in his throne room. The ones who had given up their powers voluntarily crumbled. His guards stopped some of the pantheon from returning by breaking their statues. However, the few Lucifer had to trick or capture for his collection managed to fight back. I’m sure you’re aware by now that Nemesis, Mars, Minerva, and Venus are freely walking the Earth. Minerva has entrenched herself in the British Library. The others are seeking to find their new path. This may mean trying to make connections from their pasts. As such, Brandon will have to face his past indiscretions before he can embrace his future. Hadrian must choose a sacrifice. Three vampires will enter the arena, but only two will leave. Love comes with loss, but happiness can be found in the pain. The stars will smile upon you and lift up your sorrow into eternal joy,” she said. When she finished speaking, her head drooped until her chin fell to her chest. She took several deep breaths. Lifting her head, she gave a weak smile that did not touch her eyes. “I’m sorry not to have better news.”