by Ilana Waters
See, the trouble is, he said, they know they can get a rise out of you. Me? I’ll just stand there, smile, and imagine their heads being blown into microscopic pieces.
Sounds lovely.
It’s very relaxing, George said. You should try it sometime.
On we marched until I thought my back would break. My entire upper body felt like lead. We went deeper and deeper into the earth, the walls around us growing narrower, our magic lights fainter. It was so cold I could feel numbness in my earlobes, lips, and on the tip of my nose. I wondered if Rattler wasn’t leading George and me somewhere the vampires could kill us quickly—or worse, take their time.
Finally, we arrived at a cavernous chamber at least half the size of Ferox’s “grand hall.” Rattler heaved the bag off his shoulders and raised his hand, motioning to the fifty-foot ceiling above us.
“Here,” he said to George. “Big enough for you?”
“Perfection, mate.” George let his own bag fall onto the floor. He leaned against one wall to catch his breath, and I did the same. The vampires just let their bags drop and watched us, shaking their heads. Suddenly, Stavros sniffed the air in front of him, then over the body bags.
“Odd.” His nose twitched. “These don’t smell like the dead normally do. And I know what the dead smell like. I made enough of ’em, after all,” he said with something resembling pride.
George and I locked eyes. Crap, I thought to him. That one body isn’t making enough stink to account for all these others. “It’s formaldehyde,” George said quickly. “To preserve the bodies as long as possible before we get them down here. Not that it’ll last forever.”
“Formaldehyde . . .” said Sasha. “Isn’t that supposed to smell like pickles? I don’t smell anything like pickles here.”
“It’s a new formula,” I said. “Specifically developed not to smell like pickles.” Oh God, why hadn’t I thought of this? Of course body bags stuffed with C4 wouldn’t smell like dead people to a vampire. “Look, we don’t have time to explain the exact chemical composition right now.”
“Yes, and besides,” George added, “how would you know what pickles smell like anyway, love? Who knows how long it’s been since you’ve eaten one?”
“Of course, you’re always welcome to take another whiff.” I gave George a knowing look, which he returned with a slight nod. Leaning over the bag with the decoy body in it, I yanked the zipper down. There, for all the vampires to see, was the bloodless corpse of a murderous gang member, fang marks on his neck.
The vampires all made faces and waved their hands around in front of them. George and I held our breath, partly from suspense, and partly because of the ungodly smell. We tried not to exhale too loudly with relief when Rattler grudgingly ordered us to zip the bag back up.
“Well, there you have it,” I said. “We’ll be on our way, then.” They bought it, I thought to George as we started toward the exit.
Of course they bought it, he thought back. It’s a dead body. You can’t argue with that.
“Everything going swimmingly, I hope?” a familiar voice called, the sound echoing through the cave. I froze, and every muscle in my body tensed.
Bloody hell, I thought to George. It’s Ferox.
Chapter 18
Ferox? What’s he doing here? George thought back.
“I just wanted to see that all was well,” Ferox said, stepping into the cavern. The vampires smiled and gave little bows. George and I just stood there, calling up our magical reserves. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but one thing was certain: I wasn’t about to bow to this Philistine.
“Everything’s fine, Master.” Rattler pulled up his gloves and adjusted his cap. “Of course, we could’ve gone a lot faster without these two dolts, but what can you do?”
“Indeed.” Ferox smiled at me. His eyes shone brighter than the other vampires’, as if they could see past all my lies and glamours straight into my soul. The chill I’d felt before was back, except this time it went through my bones. “My, our reckless friend certainly has been busy, hasn’t he?” Ferox surveyed the bags. “Is this all of them?”
“Afraid not,” replied George. “Still quite a few more. We’ll have to keep coming back for a while, at least until Titus can take care of him.”
“Such a nuisance.” Ferox shook his head. But his tone didn’t sound like he thought it was a nuisance at all. More like he enjoyed having us down here, though for what I didn’t want to fathom.
“Well, we’ll be off then,” George said firmly, giving Ferox a tight smile and brushing past him. I did the same. “We’ll just let ourselves out the way we came. Lovely seeing you all, et cetera, et cetera. We really must hide evidence together again sometime.”
“Joshua, aren’t you forgetting something?” Ferox called after us cheerfully.
I froze. Shit. George, he found out. I don’t know how, but he did. I tried to keep my breathing steady, though my heart was pounding.
Just stay calm, George thought coolly, but he wasn’t smiling.
“What’s that?” I turned slowly, making sure my voice was even.
Ferox paused before answering. “You forgot to say hello to me.”
Is that all? I raised my eyebrows in disbelief, though Ferox probably thought I was deliberately being rude.
“Do you frequently ignore the host when you visit his home?” he asked. I didn’t dare look at George, but our minds were still communicating, rapidly going over the possibilities. I had no idea if Ferox was playing with me, or he genuinely didn’t know what we were up to. Regardless, I had to be careful.
“I didn’t want to trouble you,” I said casually. “After all, surely we’ve taken up enough of your valuable time with this unpleasant business.”
Of course, I wasn’t fooling him with this faux politeness any more than he was fooling me. Like he and my father did, it was a game we were playing. But what game and by what rules, I had no idea. There was no way to tell just how much he knew. It was like trying to win at chess when you couldn’t see your opponent . . . or the chessboard.
“Why don’t you walk me back to our living quarters,” he said, standing at my side, “and my children will see that George gets aboveground safely?”
“Ah, well, we really ought to be getting back—” I started.
“It will only take a few minutes.” Ferox’s eyes bored into me again. He wasn’t trying to control my thoughts, which I knew how to defend against anyway. But he didn’t have to. The threat was obvious. The other vampires walked out of the cavern and gathered tightly around George. Despite his previous bravado, I saw his muscles tense, felt him calling magic. He’d never be able to set fire to them all at once before they killed him.
“And after that,” Ferox said, “you can join him and be on your way. Do take good care of our friend’s friend, won’t you?” The minions began walking back to the entrance, trapping George in their circle. He started to protest, but I looked at him and shook my head.
“Don’t worry, George. I’ll see you soon,” I said.
“But—”
“Really, it’s fine.” I waved him off. “Just go.”
I promised Abigail I’d protect you, he thought to me.
And who’s going to protect you? I asked.
Forget about me; you better come back in one piece. His thoughts grew fainter as he walked farther and farther away. Otherwise, Titus is going to tear me limb from limb, and then Abigail’s going to bring me back so he can do it again. I listened to the group’s footsteps crunching over the gravelly floor until I couldn’t hear them anymore.
“Very good then,” said Ferox. “Shall we?” He motioned in front of him and began walking. I had no choice but to follow. “Not to worry. It isn’t far.”
Maybe this wasn’t such a great plan after all, I thought as I trailed along after him. But then I recalled the Latin proverb, “Audaces fortuna iuvat.” Fortune favors the bold. Now, if only Fortune favored the nervous and reluctant, I’d be fine
.
“Tell me,” he said, looking at my magic light above him, “how goes the task of trying to stop that wild vampire Titus made? Any progress?”
“Ah, not as much as we’d like,” I said, trying to keep up. As a vampire, Ferox was much more sure-footed than I in this terrain. “But we hope to resolve the matter shortly.”
“Surely it can’t be that hard,” Ferox said. “Not for creatures as intelligent as yourselves. Especially you, Joshua. After all, how many places in Rome could there be for him to hide?”
“We’re going through them methodically,” I said. “But new ones keep cropping up. We zig, he zags. You know how it is.” Now we were walking into a narrower part of the underground, and I wondered again if I was being led into a vampire’s trap.
“Children can be incorrigible,” Ferox agreed, the sleeves of his jacket brushing against stone walls that seemed to be closing in on us. “My, how all this killing must offend your moral sensibilities.”
“You have no idea,” I replied. There’s no need for him to trap me, I thought to reassure myself, because he could easily kill me right here if he wanted. Somehow, the notion was not as reassuring as I had hoped.
“Did you ever think that perhaps the mortal world was not the place for you, Joshua?” asked Ferox. The path in front of us was growing wider, the ceiling higher. A sense of relief washed over me.
“What do you mean?” I asked. “What other world is there? Because frankly, I’m not too fond of the one you’re contemplating.”
I expected Ferox to argue with me, to describe how a world run by vampires would be superior. To my surprise, he didn’t. He just turned around, his eyes searching mine.
“You’re . . . different,” he said, almost wistfully. “By rights, you shouldn’t be here.”
“So everyone keeps telling me.”
“I didn’t mean it as a slight.” His voice was so warm and understanding, I almost wanted to believe him. “I only meant the fact that you were born at all. Could it be some dark alchemy Titus won’t reveal to me? Something worked by your mother? She doesn’t seem like the type to indulge in that sort of practice.”
“She isn’t,” I said curtly.
“No, I imagine not.” He turned back around and kept walking. “Like you, she is far too interested in humanity’s fate to manipulate it to her own ends. But perhaps you will not be so shortsighted.” The stone path was wide enough for us to walk side by side, and I did so. Not because I wanted to be closer to Ferox, of course; I just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
“To the rest of the world, you’re just a half-breed,” he continued. “The star-crossed son of a vampire and a witch.” I opened my mouth to interject, but Ferox held up one hand. “Please, let me finish. That’s the rest of the world. Ignorant, unseeing eyes that don’t recognize your true potential. For instance, haven’t you ever wondered what it’s like?” He spread his palms out as if demonstrating something.
“Sorry, what? I don’t think we’re on the same page. In fact, I’m not even sure we’re reading the same book.”
“What it’s like . . . to be one of us?”
I could lie to Ferox, gentle reader, but you know I can’t lie to you. Vampires have always held a special interest for me, though I try to hide it. I suppose it has something to do with growing up with one. Though part of me recoiled at their animal ways, I knew those were something chosen, not inevitable. Vampires are like humans or witches—or mages, for that matter. They can be as civilized as they wish . . . or not.
The vampire in my father had always been a side of him that disgusted, yet fascinated me. The truth was, I did often wonder what it would be like to become a vampire. The craving for blood, the hypnotic power over mortals. The thought made me feel deliciously alive, yet shudder at the same time.
When I didn’t answer, Ferox spoke again. “You’d be truly immortal then. No question about it. The way it stands now, as a mage, your longevity is in question.” I couldn’t deny this was a concern. Would my parents outlive me, watch me grow old and die if I couldn’t keep my age frozen in time?
“I . . . I think we should keep going.” I pointed ahead of us. I passed an ancient mural of a Roman woman and thought how she’d remained here, ageless and untouched, for centuries.
“Consider it, at least,” Ferox said as we walked. “As you’ve seen, there are great advantages to those who join my cause.”
“Actually, the people you’ve blessed with those advantages don’t seem to be doing too well. They—and you—are living in an underground cave, for one thing.”
“Ah, but mark the improvements we’ve made. ‘Not too shabby,’ or so you modern ones put it.” As if he’d timed things perfectly, we’d arrived at the entrance to the vampires’ living quarters, stopping just outside the doorway that led to Ferox’s “grand hall.”
“But I do see your point.” He placed one palm on the archway that served as the door. “That’s why I’m making plans for us all. Aren’t you tired of skulking in the shadows, Joshua? I know I am,” he sighed.
“I don’t skulk,” I said indignantly. At least, not overmuch.
“Can’t you imagine how freeing it would be to finally show the world your power?” he pressed me. “To live in the light, so to speak?”
I thought of all the times I’d read mortals’ minds, yet had to respond to what they actually said, which were often two different things. How I had to take such great pains to hide what I was, the same way Titus and Abigail did. How I felt frustrated by all the problems I couldn’t solve because it would mean revealing my true nature. What good was the power to magically lift a car off a child if the reward was modern-day torches and pitchforks?
Few mortals would ever know what I was and accept me, no matter how open-minded they pretended to be. And yet, I felt a strange obligation to protect them. Even the coarsest, most ignorant and hateful ones were still only human. The contradiction was enough to make anyone resentful—even a half-breed like me. But none of this meant I could even entertain the possibility of joining Callix Ferox.
“Yes, I imagine it would very freeing,” I said truthfully. “Also very deadly—both to myself and the human race. Sorry, but I’m not willing to trade one for the other.” Ferox started to say something. “And with that,” I finished, “I wish you good night.”
Ferox took several long breaths, looking me and up down. Finally, he sighed.
“Good evening then, Joshua. Perhaps we’ll speak again on your next visit.” He gave me one last smile before turning to go inside.
“You will tell your father I said hello, won’t you?”
Chapter 19
“So, how was last night?” Arthur asked, his voice breaking up from the spotty reception on my cell phone. “I trust it went well, since you’re still alive?”
“As well as could be expected.” I rubbed the crook of my neck. I was about as sore there as predicted, not to mention aching in several other places. It was daylight now, and it felt like the first time in a while that I’d been out in it. Dealing with vampires sometimes makes the entire world seem shrouded in darkness.
With Titus and Abigail asleep (the latter had fallen into the former’s schedule), and George off doing George-knows-what, I took the opportunity to walk around the city. It seemed ages since I’d had a decent meal, of which there are many to be found in Rome.
I wandered the cobblestone side streets, the scent of oregano and basil wafting through the air. I’d already had lunch, and was looking forward to sampling some desserts, which in Italy are equally as luscious as the main course. Tiramisu is popular, as well as the usual cannoli, fruit-shaped marzipans, and panna cotta.
But in the end, I chose to reward myself with a gelato for all I’d been through over the past week or so. It satisfied the sweet tooth inherited from my mother. Of course, it was probably not up to the task of rewarding any future efforts to stop Ferox. However, if those efforts proved unsuccessful, this might be the last gelato I
would ever have. Which was all the more reason to enjoy it.
As I walked, I explained to Arthur, as I had to my parents, all that had transpired during our first drop-off. This included telling them about Ferox’s attempt to recruit me. I left out my ambivalent feelings on the matter, since nothing good would come of revealing them. Frankly, I’d just been glad to return aboveground and find George in one piece.
“Lord, but that must have been nerve-racking!” Arthur’s voice crackled over the phone. “But at least it seems like Ferox bought the charade . . . for now.”
“Yes, for now,” I agreed, pausing to watch mimes and street artists in a palazzo. They curved and swooped, pulling coins from behind ears and flowers from thin air. One mime had his audience mesmerized as he tried to escape a box that did not exist. Ah, how we are all liars and truth-tellers, and sometimes both at once.
“How goes the crystal investigation?” I asked him. It seemed odd that Arthur and I should now switch roles; it wasn’t long ago that I was investigating the crystal. “Figure out how it would help Ferox rule the world yet?”
“Afraid not,” Arthur replied. “I have some more books I can look through here, but there is one I was wondering if you could pick up for me. It’s waiting at the front desk of the Angelica Library.”
“I know where that is. Right in the Piazza Sant’Agostino square. It’s actually not far from where I am.” I glanced at the headlines at a newsstand.
GroGlobe, the leader in cutting-edge farming and agricultural research, has reported dozens of exotic plants and equipment missing from—
“Fantastic. Can you swing by?” Arthur asked. “Just tell them I sent you, and they’ll let you check it out on my card. I’ll pick up the book from you tonight. Obviously, it’s best if you don’t come to the PIA offices since you’re . . . ah . . .”
“Banned for life?” I said cheerfully.
“Yes. That.”
“Will do, Arthur,” I said, and we hung up. I walked into the palazzo and through a sea of people. Friends were greeting each other, planting a kiss on each cheek the way they so often do in Europe. They talked in a boisterous, animated way, their hands waving about.
