Olivia sighed. "Out with it."
"Whatever do you mean?" Annara's olive complexion paled as she frowned. "I didn't withhold any information from you, Olivia. We simply don't know what all the Alphans are capable of. There are rumors and legends and—"
"And what? Evidence they're able to manipulate memories and control people through their psychic abilities?" Olivia threw up her hands in disgust. "At the very least, you should have warned me that sort of thing was possible."
Annara shrugged. "I wasn't sure, and I thought it an acceptable risk."
Olivia shook her head. She knew she should keep the disappointment out of her voice, but she couldn't help herself. "I should have been told about every eventuality before I left Earth. Who knows? I may have gone along with it anyway. At the very least, I would have been better prepared."
Annara bowed her head. "Yes, I realize now I was wrong. I'm sorry."
"Too late for sorry," Olivia barked. "I've ruined any and all spying missions from now on in the Alpha clan. They have the upper hand. We're no better off knowing what they're up to with a rogue Portal than we were before."
"We are better off—you've given us the names of the Alphans most likely to be breaking the law. It narrows the field of players we need to watch, and the friend who helped you escape is still in the clan house..." Annara's smile didn't quite reach her eyes, suggesting to Olivia that her friend had her doubts. "With her aid, we could yet discover where they've stashed their Portal device."
Olivia frowned. Kate didn't want to play cloak and dagger. She just wanted to marry her egghead professor and settle down to teach history classes. It wasn't fair to put her into further danger. Besides, Kate would be leaving for Earth soon if the Alphans had their way.
"No, you're not putting my new friend at risk. She didn't ask to be a part of this... scheme. Her life shouldn't be placed on the line." Olivia slapped her legs and stood. "It's my life at stake. I said I'd go in as a bloodsucker's mail-order bride and spy, and I'm going to keep my end of the bargain."
Annara blinked and shook her head. "What? You don't mean you're going to walk back into the Clan Alpha House after you’ve just sneaked out of it. Do you?"
"Yes, that's what I mean. It's something they won't expect."
"You're not making any sense. You sure you feel okay?" Annara rose to her feet and felt Olivia's forehead. "You feel a little warm. Why not go and lie down in the council dormitory for a while until you're positive you're still not under the Alphans' control."
You're not under the Alphans' control. Your mind is clear, my dear child.
"My mind is made up—and it's my mind, not theirs, speaking." Olivia smiled, softening her tone as she leaned toward Annara. "I won't be alone. Remember Valori? I will ask her advice on how to deal with the voices in my head. She'll help me."
Annara sighed. "Oh, Olivia... Valori isn't in any condition to help you. She's been recuperating since our kidnapping by Roland Grundfest. No one's seen much of her at all. Last I heard she was still receiving regular transfusions and therapy."
"I think you'd be surprised at how much better Valori is feeling lately."
"You've seen her?"
"Not in the flesh, but I know she's been out and about."
Annara crossed her arms and leaned back. "I'll believe it when I see it."
"Will you deny the evidence when it stands before you?" came a familiar voice from behind them.
Olivia and Annara both startled. Olivia laughed and ran to hug the petite, silver-haired figure in the doorway.
"It's so good to see you." Olivia and Valori hugged. "I knew you were doing well when I heard your voice stronger than any of the others."
Annara's eyes narrowed. "Are you certain this is our Valori?"
"What do you mean? I swear, you're a suspicious one, Annara." Olivia turned her focus back to the older woman in front of her. "Of course this is our Valori—the beautiful silver-gray hair pulled back in a bun, the practical black dress which never shows dirt, the comfortable sandals, a gorgeous giant ruby necklace..."
Olivia lost her train of thought. She stared at the striking crimson-red teardrop-shaped stone suspended on a thick silver chain. "Whoa, some rock you got there. Is it a family heirloom, or did you meet someone fabulously wealthy and start dating again?"
Valori smiled as she fingered the shiny pendant. "I wish I'd met someone special and had been given such a gem as a token of affection, but truth be told, it was given to me by Drucinda."
Olivia took a step backward. "Drucinda, the high priestess of Clan Alpha? That Drucinda?"
"Yes. It's to help me focus my mental energies so they can do the most good, and not harm."
"It's why I questioned her identity." Annara came forward and took the gem stone in hand, studying it with a frown. "This gemstone is an emblem of the Pure Blood priest caste of BloodDark." She dropped it with a harrumph and returned to her seat.
"Come on, give her a break. She isn't a priestess working for the Alphans. Are you, Valori?” Olivia crossed her fingers behind her back.
"I will be. As of today, I outrank even Drucinda."
Olivia took another step backward. No, this can't be happening. You can't be telling me this...
"It's already happened, my dear child, and just in time. I've come to do as you wished." Valori held out her hands. "I've come to take you home to Clan Alpha, where you belong."
Chapter Four
Out of the frying pan and into the fire...
Olivia pinched herself for the tenth time as she approached the Clan Alpha House. This couldn't be happening. She wanted to finish her spy mission. Being retrieved and presented by the new high priestess to her intended and the ruling elite didn't make her feel like she was doing it on her own terms. Whatever had happened to her kind and trustworthy friend and confidant? Why had Valori betrayed her?
They knocked on the large double doors and waited for them to swing open. Olivia closed her eyes, wishing she was with Hernando back on Earth. She had wronged him, and she regretted it.
Don't worry. You'll see Hernando soon.
She frowned. Valori's voice filled her head. Because they'll kick me out on the street, or at least out of Clan Alpha House?
No, they won't kick you out. I won't let them until you've finished your task, and I've finished mine.
Your task?
Concentrate on your mission to find the rogue Portal. Only your mission and nothing more. I will keep them occupied.
Olivia startled and opened her eyes. What did Sherlock Holmes say to Dr. Watson whenever a mystery heated up? The game's afoot.
Perhaps Valori wasn't a turncoat after all. She smiled and took a deep breath as they entered the entrance hall. Together they could do what she couldn’t do alone. Teamwork was the ticket.
"Lauren, how good it is to see you. I was so worried." Kate crossed the large chamber, took Olivia by the hands and squeezed. "I've been so worried about you. The fever made you think you were back on Earth, and you went out looking for a cheeseburger and chili fries in your delirium, our newest leader said."
"Newest leader?"
"Priestess Valori. She's been ever so kind to me. I was out of my mind with fear for your safety."
Olivia turned to smile at Valori, but she had somehow already vanished into the depths of the mansion. "Yes, she's a great leader. I feel better, too. How are you feeling?"
"Much better than when you left me. Very rested." Kate averted her gaze and lowered her volume. "I've been offered a job here as well, so I don't have to return to Earth yet if I don't want to."
"Fantastic. You'll stay on, right?" Kate nodded. "What's the job?" Olivia asked.
"Assistant to the new priestess. She has need of a researcher to help her correlate some data from ancient texts. When she found out I had excellent research skills..." Kate grinned. "It was an offer I couldn't refuse."
"I bet." They began to walk along the corridor toward the sleeping quarters. "Did anyone other than Valor
i miss me during my absence?"
"You mean Moreau? Yes, he did wonder what had happened to you when he didn't see you lying in bed. Don't worry, though. I told him you were taking a long soak in the tub to cool down. He didn't question me any further."
"Good. My wandering wasn't noticed by the bigwigs. I'd rather they didn't know I went walkabout. Mustn't give them the idea I had cold feet about this mail-order vampire bride business."
"Of course not."
How much did Kate understand what was going on? Did Valori fill her in and then come to fetch Olivia at the council chambers? Or did Kate blank out the last few hours before she left?
"I think I'll go lie down for a little bit before mealtime. Wanna come up and... chat?"
Kate glanced about and bit her lip. "Not right now," she whispered. "There's something I must do first." She patted Olivia's shoulder. "You go and rest now. Valori will call on you soon."
Olivia strolled back to her room and plopped onto her bed. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on how to complete her spying mission while avoiding Moreau's crawling about in her head.
On cue, his voice popped into her mind. Where have you been? We were worried.
Worried? Why didn't you come looking for me then?
The pause itself was telling. They didn't know she was gone for quite a while. Even if they were reading her thoughts, they weren't always able to do so. Someone or something had blocked them.
Valori—it had to be her. Her mental powers appeared stronger than those of anyone she had yet encountered on BloodDark, and the ruby pendant... Did it help her focus them? Magnify them?
Never mind. You are home now. It's all that matters. Moreau sounded satisfied with her explanation.
Olivia quirked an eyebrow. "Really? You're okay with my alibi? No more excruciating headaches to put me in my place, huh?" she taunted out loud.
Silence. She frowned. "Weird. One would think you had given up on me altogether."
Work, Olivia. Get to work. I can't keep Moreau out forever.
Valori's tone could not be mistaken. "Yes, ma'am."
Olivia rose and headed to the corridor. Without Moreau keeping mental tabs on her, she felt free to prowl about the clan house. She decided to search the higher floors first, since most were not in their personal chambers during the hours before mealtime. All she had to do was keep to the shadows and not make a big fuss if she was seen strolling where she shouldn't stroll. She had to blend in, but how?
Passing by a tarnished candelabra positioned atop a sideboard in the dormitory hall gave her an idea. She picked up the solidly-built piece and reached for a tissue in her pocket. Why couldn’t she be a roving silver polisher? The Pure Bloods would ignore her like they did the other house servants. As long as she appeared to be keeping busy by polishing the piece, no one would stop and ask her what she was up to, right?
By the time she had made it to the fourth floor, checking each and every room and corridor along the way, she was in desperate need of rest. The metal candelabra might have been the perfect prop for her cover, but it had to be the heaviest thing she had ever lugged upstairs. Olivia found herself breathing hard at the top of the landing and wishing she'd chosen a more lightweight candlestick instead.
"Excuse me," Olivia muttered as a haughty looking Pure Blood woman came at her at a hundred miles per hour. Olivia jumped to the side of the hall to avoid crashing into a well-dressed lady in burgundy in an outfit complete with bustle and high collar. The woman flounced past Olivia with a harrumph and hurried down the stairs in a swish of her long skirts. "Must be dinnertime, but I didn't hear the gong."
She looked up and down the hallway. The coast was clear. This floor housed bedroom suites and private offices for the most part, so there was no need to be seen polishing the silver. Olivia put the candelabra down on a small side table to free her hands. The first two doors revealed large, empty adjoining rooms. Odd. The house overflowed with Alphans and potential brides, so why wouldn't they utilize every space available?
The third door revealed the reason why. Ten feet from the entry Professor Mahvet sat slumped at his desk with his back to her, his head in his hands.
Olivia sighed. He looked so sad. Could it be the two empty rooms she'd just checked were to be his and Kate's? She made to go, but before she could slip away Mahvet raised his head.
"Kate? Is it you?" he asked.
Olivia froze. So far she hadn't run into any Pure Bloods who even gave a hint they saw her as anything other than one of their servants in her wanderings of the corridors with a candelabra. She'd called them experts at ignoring people they felt were beneath them. She, in turn, had acted like she knew where she was going and what she was doing, so she hadn't raised any alarms. Mahvet had sensed her as human, however. Could he be trusted?
"It's okay, you can come in." He turned around. "Ah, Lauren, is it? Or is it Olivia? Our clan leaders are split on what to call you."
Olivia entered the study and closed the door behind her. Not knowing how best to react to being caught, she figured a direct approach was best. She willed her nerves to settle and plastered a smile on her face. "You can call me Olivia. Professor, I have a favor to ask."
"A favor?" He arched a bushy brownish-gray eyebrow and steepled his fingers as he considered her like an erring student. "What can I do for you?"
"First of all, you can tell Kate you don't want to break it off. She's devastated at the thought of losing you if you couldn't tell. Second, I..." Olivia paused. Should she trust him? He appeared to be a decent sort for a Pure Blood, but it was still risky. Time wasn't on her side. She should have found the illicit Portal by now and returned to Earth. Perhaps trusting Mahvet was a chance worth taking.
She unclenched her fists and continued. "I could use some help locating something."
"That's two favors and not one. I can't do much about the first one, alas." He sighed. "It's out of my hands now. Kate and I can be... friends... but it's all we can ever be." He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. "Now, what's this thing you're trying to locate?"
Olivia bit her lip. Maybe Mahvet wasn't the maverick type to go against the heads of his household after all? He appeared reluctant to fight for his and Kate's happiness. Had she misread his openness to share his knowledge of BloodDark with others and his willingness to learn more about Earth as an indication of an open mind? There was one way to find out for certain.
"Professor, has it ever occurred to you all you've been taught about your clan isn't the whole truth?" she blurted. "Maybe the reason they want to keep you and Kate apart is they know your offspring could possess abilities which would rival their own powers?"
Whoa. How did I come up with that? Olivia surprised herself with her summation. It's something I learned from Moreau in passing and another part I gathered from Valori added together. Will he accept it?
A look of doubt cast a shadow over Mahvet’s angular features. "The truth? What is truth?" He shrugged and continued, "Is your truth the same as mine? I believe I read that very question in a book about one of your great philosopher-prophets. His accusers didn't want to accept his truth and so they had him executed—quite brutally from what I gather. I supposed he got the better of them when he came back to life three days later. It must have been quite shocking."
Olivia smiled. "Yes, it changed the world, and he was right. Truth is truth—and if it's hidden away and altered, it ceases to be the truth and becomes a lie."
She took a step forward and softened her tone. "You know you care for Kate, and she cares for you. I see it on both of your faces. Everyone can see it. You two would be very happy together. Don't deny the truth."
Olivia sensed Mahvet 's resolve to follow his clan leaders' order was wavering in spite of his proper manners. She continued to present her argument. "No one should prevent your happiness together from having the chance it deserves. No one."
Mahvet took a deep breath. "You're right. It is our happiness and our lives—not theirs. We should have the power
to make of our love as we want." He settled back in his chair and folded his hands together in thought. "Yes, we should be together. It doesn't matter what Drucinda says. She's out of favor at the moment anyway, from what I heard earlier today. The new priestess Valori might be willing to bless our bonding."
"She would—I know she would do it. If you helped me to locate this object she wants me to find, you will get on Valori's good side."
"Oh?" His expression brightened, and he sat up straighter. His amber-brown eyes twinkled with warmth. "Tell me about this object and why our new priestess sent you to look for it?"
Olivia released a long sigh of relief and then gave Mahvet a brief rundown of her mission. Love was a great motivator. He voiced no qualms about helping her search for the rogue Portal device in the compound. He agreed with Olivia and didn't see why the Alphans should break the laws of the new ruling council. He prided himself on respecting authority and order.
She had read his words and actions well. Mahvet was a true patriot of his world. He didn't want to jeopardize Earth/BloodDark relations by allowing the illegal art sale trafficking to continue, especially since he wanted to take an Earth woman as his wife and possibly emigrate there someday.
"You say your intelligence states this Portal is located in the city and not someplace else on the planet?" Mahvet asked. He pulled a map of the planet out of the drawer and spread it across the desk, pointing with a pen as he gave his geography lecture. "There's more than enough space for a multitude of Portals in the Penumbra Zone as you can see. You sure it couldn't be hiding in a barn or warehouse facility on one of the clan's farms?"
Olivia shook her head. "No, they say the residual energy trail shows it's been activated in the vicinity of the Clan Alpha House. This is a quite large residence with several related structures, so..." She shrugged. "You tell me the best place to start looking."
"It is hard to imagine a Portal so small it could be hidden inside a pre-existing building. Even a half-sized Portal would take up a room the size of our feasting hall." Mahvet dropped his pen and his jaw at the same time.
Olivia's Decision Page 3
