“Long story,” I replied, “but we kind of found Rugrem chained up in the one of the academy’s dungeons,” I said pointing at Rugrem to identify him, “we couldn’t just leave him down there, could we? The other three are his friends and family.”
“That is exactly how your father would have answered,” mused Sophie-Anne.
“You don’t need to do this alone. Professor Frewin is coming to meet you with some of his team,” came the message from Safi and as I conveyed it to everyone else excitedly, she had another. “Ulric is on his team too. It’s his first mission as a member of the Silver Shadow Pack.” I couldn’t help but smile, broadly enough that Natalie who was walking on the other side of me, picked it up.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing,” I smiled.
“This has to be boy-related,” said Valenthia from behind us, “and that too, a certain boy.”
“Definitely,” agreed Sophie-Anne. Wow, I’d never imagined a day when my friends would get together with my biological mother and tease me about my love life. Nothing would surprise me anymore.
“By the way, there’s been a man following me around town,” I cut in, having just remembered the peculiar incident with Moldark.
“Oh?” replied Sophie-Anne.
“I tried to show him to you that time when you called me but he was gone by the time you looked for him,” I said, “anyway, the other day I was out and he was skulking around again and my classmate confronted him.”
“What did he say?” asked Sophie-Anne, apparently not picking up on my discomfort.
“He knew your name. And that you were my mom,” I said, “he said he was a friend of yours.”
“Was he a vampire?” asked Sophie-Anne in a suddenly tense voice.
“No, a human.”
“Then we have nothing to worry about,” Sophie-Anne immediately loosened up and smiled at me.
“Who is he?” I pushed, not satisfied with her answer.
“Katrina, when you stay young for as long as we do, you rack up all sorts of admirers, especially now that vampires are known to humans.”
“Oh.”
“Out of every ten human males, at least eight of them are smitten with the fantasy of being with a vampire. What I’m saying is, you don’t need to worry. In time, you’ll learn to ignore your own mortal fans.”
“That would be fun!” said Natalie, keenly.
Rugrem and the other grunches abruptly stopped walking. I heard a startled cry from Valenthia as she bumped into them because she had kept going.
“What is it?” I asked, a few steps ahead of everyone. If there was danger, why hadn’t I sensed it? Why hadn’t the other three vamps? Probably because we’d been too busy chatting.
“There are five humans watching us from different parts of the park,” whispered Nephili, “we just want to be sure they don’t mean us harm. Otherwise, we attack back.”
I looked around and sensed out the area again. There were a handful of mortals lurking on the fringes of the park but they were too far to launch any kind of attack unless they were carrying weapons. Which surprisingly enough, they weren’t. At least three of them staggered around drunk. They did cast a glance in our direction every now and then but likely didn’t see us in their stupor, flailing around the way they were, looking where to go next. It was New Orleans after all. “It’s okay, they’re just enjoying themselves,” I said.
We continued walking and I felt Ulric wondering where we were. Just as I was about to ask Safi his ETA, I saw Professor Frewin and his team of shifters coming towards us. Some of the shifters were in their animal form and Ulric was one of them. His huge and powerful wolf made confident strides towards us with the rest of them. They stopped, a few feet away from us.
“If you really are going to co-operate, you can expect our full help and protection too,” said Professor Frewin, addressing the grunches. Where had he been when I could have done with help and protection last semester? Then again, I’d had nothing to offer compared to those that had spent their lives in the bowels of Bloodline Academy. Watching, waiting, learning all the inner secrets of what went on there. No wonder the vamps did away with them the moment they’d served their purpose as the underlings. Because each of them held a key to the Dark Legion’s undoing.
“You have our assistance in any way you need it, in exchange for safe passage as far away from here as possible,” assured Rugrem, stepping out from behind me.
“Of course, consider it done,” agreed Frewin.
I saw Ulric, his dark and muscular wolf form standing on guard. His golden eyes, with the copper-tone glints, watched me, intently. I looked away, inwardly disappointed that he’d turned up in his shifted form. Or maybe it was because I felt guilty that I’d gone to the blood bar and ended up sharing an evening that had held hints of attraction, with a fellow vampire.
I caught a glimpse into Ulric’s mind. “What’s wrong?” he thought. I shook my head, looking into his eyes once again. I wished I could reach out and touch him. Looking at Ulric I knew that to me, the evening with Moldark had meant nothing more than a couple of classmates, out together.
“We can take it from here,” said Frewin, ushering the grunches to join them, “excellent work Katrina Quartz. Pearl will be very pleased. Places please!” he said and the shifters, including Ulric, formed a protective circle around the grunches.
Ulric watched me and thought “It’s so good to see you, Kat. You’re looking beautiful.”
“You too,” I mouthed clumsily back at him, as Professor Frewin summoned his magic and stepped on the outer side of circle, walking slowly around everyone in it. Ulric smiled at me and as Frewin passed him, he slowly began to fade away. In another few seconds he was completely gone, as was most of the circle. As the professor reached the last shifter, a large Alsatian guarding Rugrem, he turned to us and nodded goodnight. I watched Rugrem, the dog-shifter and Professor Frewin melt away into the night.
“That was quite an experience,” said Valenthia.
“Even for me,” Sophie-Anne agreed.
We streamed back in the darkness until we were outside Bloodline Academy. I silently messaged Safi to let her know that the team were on their way back and to let me know when they’d reached safely. I decided that in the next few days, stuff whatever Pearl thought or said, I was going to Superno to visit my best friend and my boyfriend. It had been too long.
“What a spectacular show!” said a voice from behind us, from the same side of the gates as we were on.
“Oh shit!” said Valenthia as Madame le Boursier came into view.
Chapter 24
“Girls, I have to say, you have really disappointed me tonight,” said le Boursier, too calmly. Clara stood behind her nodding in victory.
“It’s not their fault!” I said, summoning as much of my Sanguine attitude as I could.
“I’m inclined to agree. Ah, and the legendary Sophie-Anne Bathory! A pleasure really – if only we weren’t meeting under such strained circumstances.”
“Leave her alone!” I said. My voice echoed in the stillness. “You should go, now,” I urged my mother. But she didn’t hear me as her eyes were glued, with a petrified expression, to something inside the courtyard on the other side of the gates. I followed her gaze and as someone strode towards us, I realized who it was. Professor Varga.
“Kellam,” uttered Sophie-Anne
“My dear sister, Sophie-Anne, it’s been far, far, too long,” he said smiling spitefully. I did a double-take as I realized the implications of his revelation. If he was her brother, then he was also the one who had murdered my father. And he’d been teaching me for almost an entire semester without my having a clue.
“Do come inside,” said Kellam Bathory, the vampire we’d known as Professor Varga, throwing open the gate.
“You need to leave!” I said to Sophie-Anne, as I felt myself being grasped from behind by le Boursier.
“I wouldn’t suggest doing that – not unless you want young
Katrina here to pay the price that you owe,” said Kellam Bathory, ushering us all inside as though we were guests at some macabre inn.
I tried some of the moves I’d learned in Duquette’s classes through sparring with Moldark but it was no good. Having successfully used a flanking maneuver, Le Boursier saw each of my attempts before they ever came.
Next, Valenthia attacked le Boursier in the same move she had used on me, drawing more than her usual strength, thanks to the charmed bracelet she was wearing. Le Boursier was stunned enough to lose her grip on me for a split second but that gave me enough time to free myself. I grabbed Sophie-Anne’s wrist and summoned my magic. There was a burst of silver energy and I managed to put a bubble around the two of us.
I reached into my pocket and withdrew both of my crystals, the one that had belonged to Cassander Quartz as well as the one Pearl had given me to communicate with her. Using my father’s crystal, I strengthened the magic bubble I’d conjured around us and using the other, I sent a magical flare to Pearl to inform the S.L.A. that I needed help and I needed it now.
“Get Nadasdy or Duquette!” I screamed at Natalie and Valenthia, hoping beyond hope that this time the profs weren’t in on whatever it was that le Boursier and Professor Varga – who’d actually turned out to be Kellum Bathory – were pulling.
Le Boursier and Valenthia circled each other viciously but Natalie was free because Kellum Bathory was focussed on me, waiting for my magic to weaken so he could strike. Natalie promptly streamed away, causing Clara to follow after her. All of a sudden, le Boursier stopped her circling movement and lurched forward, making me think she was going for a direct attack. Instead, she broke off from Valenthia and streamed away. Valenthia did too, but she went in a different direction, looking for help.
“I’m going to get you out of here!” I said to my mother through teeth gritted by sheer concentration. “We can do this!”
Sophie-Anne tugged free of my hold on her wrist. “No, we can’t,” she said as I watched the bubble around us break and the silver beams of magic around us grew instantly wispy and began to fade.
“Why did you do that?” I cried, acutely aware that there was nothing to protect us from Kellum Bathory, who stood only a few feet away.
“Because, it’s either me or you,” replied Sophie-Anne, looking into my eyes. “No matter where we go, he’ll find us. They’ll find us. And if we flee from them, they’ll kill us both.”
“No!” I insisted, “Why are you saying that?” I could feel the tears pricking my eyes. This woman had managed to keep herself safe and alive all these years. Why was she giving up so easily now?
“You’ve wanted me dead since the day I met Cassander,” Sophie-Anne said to her brother.
“There is no room in the Bathory family for a Light-blood Lover!” Kellum Bathory spat back. As he said it, I saw le Boursier returning, with someone walking behind her. It was the human weirdo who’d been following us. And he was carrying something in a box.
“What’s going on?” I asked. Le Boursier and Kellum Bathory smiled menacingly.
“We thought that as my sister loves witches and warlocks so very much, it would be a fitting way for her to perish – by wearing the very necklace cursed by that pesky little witch, Esmeralda Quartz, all those hundreds of years ago,” replied Kellum Bathory as if he’d made a great joke.
“The Dark Spark,” I said dumbly, sniffing back tears.
“Well done, my dear, I see you’ve really been doing your homework. In fact, this deserves some extra credit.”
“She knows because she spends her time sneaking around where she shouldn’t and rescuing lowly grunches,” answered le Boursier casting me a knowing glance as she communicated something to the creep standing beside her. He reached one hand over the box and opened it. The Dark Spark dazzled in the dim light of the moon. It was the most spectacular thing I’d ever seen and it was even more stunning in real life.
“You don’t have to do this,” I found myself saying to the man. He reached inside the box to get the necklace, like a poisonous snake that would claim our life the second it was around our necks.
“You’re right. I don’t have to. I want to,” he replied.
“What stops him from using it on both of you idiots, once he’s done with us?” I asked, hoarsely.
“Blind trust,” said Kellum Bathory, “but of course anytime the Dark Spark is around, we also take a few precautions so there are no misunderstandings with those handling it on our behalf.” He opened his blazer and revealed a pistol holstered on each side of his waist. He then walked up to Sophie-Anne, standing to one side of her, and le Boursier covered the other. They took each of her arms and walked her through the entrance to the academy. The human holding the Dark Spark walked next to le Boursier and I trailed lamely behind.
As we walked through into the great hallway, I saw a few Black Banes and upper year vamps, Novus and Sanguine, gathering around watching us. They whispered to one another, waiting in anticipation. Kane was amongst them and so was Clara.
“Pay close attention, fledglings – for you are about to witness a moment in history!” announced Kellum Bathory, drunk on power. This is the Dark Spark as some of you may know.” The human held up the necklace. “And this Sanguine right here, is going to wear it to show you what it does.” The true meaning of a supernatural psychopath, he grinned, like he was about to perform some grand feat.
“Promise me, you won’t hurt Katrina,” said Sophie-Anne.
“You have my word,” said Kellum Bathory.
I sent Safi an urgent message about what was going on. I’d found my mom and now we were both about to be killed. I implored her to find Pearl, the Grand High Witch, anyone who could help.
I summoned my magic to overpower the man holding the Dark Spark, to no avail. Along with whatever curse and enchantment Esmeralda had put on it, it must have had dark magic that had carried on from the time the Blood Countess had worn it. Or maybe my magic had dulled and darkened and it was Esmeralda’s spell working against me.
“Come away, Kat,” said Nadasdy, walking up to us with Duquette behind him, ever impervious.
“No! They’re not on your side! She’s your enemy!” I screamed pointing at le Boursier. “She tried to kill me last semester!”
“It’s true!” yelled Natalie and Valenthia in unison.
“Take her,” commanded Nadasdy. Six Black Banes, with Kane at the hull, immediately swarmed le Boursier before she had the time to register what was happening. Two of them transformed into huge werewolves.
Le Boursier transformed, hissing as she revealed her fangs and evil, red eyes. Her complexion didn’t have any of the regular iridescence of the vampiric state but had a matted, green hue. One of the werewolves pounced, stopping just short of crashing into her. Kane firmly gripped her by the arm and one of his pack members gripped the other.
“Take her down to one of the bigger dungeons,” instructed Duquette barely looking in their direction, “it has much better security.”
With le Boursier gone the students clustered around, staring from me, to Sophie-Anne, to the human holding the Dark Spark. “I thought the necklace was currently doing its’ rounds in Hungary, maybe Slovakia,” said Nadasdy, completely keeping his cool. Like he hadn’t just realized his head of security was a rogue, in on a plot to kill.
“You have to help her!” I pleaded, “She’s my mother!” There was a soft collective gasp from the vamps and werewolves gathered around. Natalie and Valenthia watched, wordlessly, desperately.
“Yes, Sophie-Anne Bathory,” replied Nadasdy, “I’ve heard so much about you and I wish you hadn’t been a stranger for so long.” He knew who she was.
“Come along, Miss. Quartz,” urged Duquette.
“You can’t just let him kill her!” I protested
“It’s a family vendetta – we’re here to protect you because of what you now mean to the bloodline but I’m afraid the rest is out of our hands. Of course, things could have been diff
erent had you just honoured some of our wishes,” said Nadasdy in a firm voice, “And I strongly urge you to take this elsewhere, Kellum. Your grudge and Katrina’s punishment need not be a public spectacle.”
“Miss. Quartz!” said Duquette with impatience that fit one of her classes.
“No! Mom!” I screamed.
“To hear you call me that, has made it all worth while,” said Sophie-Anne. With a smile she stepped towards the man with the necklace, took it from his hand and put it on. In a blinding ray of crimson light, she disintegrated right before my eyes.
“No!” yelled Kellum Bathory, having had the power of watching my mother squirm out her last moments, taken away from him. By the time the Dark Spark hit the ground there weren’t even any ashes left of Sophie-Anne.
“I can help her,” I cried, running over to where she’d been standing less than a minute ago.
“She’s gone, Kat,” Natalie said in a soothing voice filled with tears of her own. Her and Valenthia knelt down with me as I stared at the spot where the necklace now lay.
“Give me something sharp! I need to cut my hand!” I shouted.
“I’m so sorry. There’s nothing left to bring back,” said Natalie. She was right. Sophie-Anne wasn’t just dead, she was completely gone.
Predictably enough, the powers that were, at Bloodline Academy had let me down. Pearl Quartz had let me down. And for what I decided would be the last time, the S.L.A. – upholders of light magic – had let me down.
“We might be family but if you don’t want to suffer the same fate as your deceitful little accomplice, make yourself scarce,” Nadasdy said to Kellum Bathory. I watched the mortal who’d had a hand in my mother’s death, pithily scoop up the cursed necklace and place it back in the box.
“You want me to prove my loyalty?” I screeched at Principal Nadasdy who was leading the mortal away to make sure the Dark Spark went back to where it belonged. He stopped and turned around, watching me in silence.
Students ducked for cover as a bolt of silver magic shot out of my hand and ferociously hit the wall. “Screw sucking the blood of a Crystal Witch, I’m going to avenge the death of my mother!” For the first time, Nadasdy and even Duquette stood there subdued. I turned to Kellum Bathory who was getting ready to stream his cowardly ass out of the academy, “You better keep running uncle Kellum – because I’m coming for you.”
Dark Spark: A Young Adult Urban Fantasy Novel (Bloodline Academy Book 2) Page 22
