Scion's Avalon [House of Dracul 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by J. Annas Walker

  “I guess we have to get dressed and go down,” she said. “It would be rude to keep our visitors waiting.” She pulled a navy pants suit and a white button-up top with a wide lapel from the closet.

  They dressed in silence. It seemed to Cassy he intentionally did not make eye contact. As they sat putting on their shoes, he glanced up at her. Their eyes met for a brief moment, reigniting the flow that had cooled with the interruption.

  “If we don’t get out of here soon, they are going to be waiting for a very long time,” he confessed. The look he gave her seared with all the unspoken things he wanted to do to her.

  Cassy giggled. She wanted to give into him, but there was a pressing matter at hand. She pulled her hair free of its braid and raked her fingers through it.

  “You’re right! I’ll see you after work.” She leapt out of her chair and hurried to the door. She paused halfway out of the door, looking back over her shoulder. His eyes still held all the tension and heat they had a few moments ago. She knew all she had to do was say the word and he was hers for the taking.

  “Keep that thought for later,” she whispered, knowing he would hear her, and let the door shut quietly behind her.

  Chapter 2

  The witches kept the library in the same museum-quality condition it was in when they bought the estate. The economic collapse left the previous owners in financial dire straits. The coven bought it with all the contents for a mere three million dollars.

  Thousands of books lined the walls. The two-story room opened to the ceiling in the center with a balcony that surrounded the entire second floor. Iron railings gave it an open feeling. The dark-wood-paneled walls peeked out from around the many volumes of books. Heavy furniture in dark tones occupied most of the floor space. A few silk and satin pillows tossed on the floor added space for sitting and lounging. The fireplace burned bright. Behind the mantel, the fireplace hid a stairwell leading up to the second-level balcony, but hidden in the wall at the top, a secret stairwell led to the second-floor guest quarters.

  By the fire sat a tall, thin woman in a jade-green gossamer gown similar to the gatekeeper’s. Around her waist was tied a fine, silver-toned silk cord. She wore her graying hair braided in an intricate herringbone pattern and studded with small amber beads. She gave Cassy a kind smile and motioned her into the room. The light lines on her face made the smile more pronounced.

  In front of her were two vampires dressed in classic black suits sitting up ramrod straight. Their white shirts were pressed so stiff, Cassy assumed they could not sit back and relax if they tried. Their solid black, standard-issue ties were tight and practically under their chins. They turned to face her as she made her way to the empty chair beside Lady Ursula.

  “Child, these men wish to speak with you alone. I have not been made privy to their information or reasons for their visit. You may choose to grant their wish or reject it. I would be happy to sit with you, should you have need,” the elder witch offered. Her face gave away nothing. If there was a hint in her offer, Cassy did not find it.

  “I’ll talk to them alone, Mother,” Cassy replied warily, taking her seat. She eyed the two men with cautious supplication. There was no telling what they wanted, but she did not want to start off on a hostile foot if she could avoid it. Their request may have been small and simple. Cassy decided to give them the benefit of the doubt.

  “Very well, I will leave you to your guests.” Lady Ursula rose gracefully and glided to the door. She turned and pointed a finger at a small tray with refreshments. It lifted from the far corner and floated gently to the table beside the two men. She snapped her fingers and the fire stoked itself. A small log rolled into the fire, popping and crackling as it burst into flames. With her task completed, she left the room.

  Cassy heard her dress slipping along the floor of the tapestry gallery as she left them alone. Ursula gave them as much privacy as possible. In a way, this made Cassy more nervous. No one was going to be nearby.

  Cassy turned her attention to the two men in front of her. She gave them a congenial smile and motioned to the tray Lady Ursula had left. Neither of them moved. They sat glaring at her. She ignored the looks, determined not to let them get the better of her, and tried to seem casual.

  “So, to what do I owe the honor of your presence?” She hoped she sounded curious and polite. She took a few moments to get a better look at them.

  They appeared as the usual midtwenties, short regulation hair, and with stern expressions. Their true ages were unknown. One had the steel-gray eyes of a made vampire. The other had the silver-gray of someone born a vampire. There would be no compelling him to give up their reason for coming.

  Silvery-gray spoke first. “My name is Reid, and this is Dmitri. We would like to ask you a few questions about your sister-in-law, Her Highness, Princess Elisabeta.”

  Cassy was instantly alarmed. “What about Liz? Is she okay?”

  “That is what we are here to find out, er…” He trailed off. Ordinarily, he would have addressed her by her title. As she no longer possessed one, he seemed to be at a loss as to what to call her. She decided to give him an easy out, rather than make him struggle to follow an unknown protocol.

  “If you are more comfortable with a title, you may call me Lady Cassandra in the custom of the witches. I’m more than happy to just be plain old Cassy,” she said. She hoped he would go with her name but knew not using a title would make most born vampires uncomfortable.

  “Lady indeed,” Dmitri smirked. His thick accent sounded Polish. In an effort to keep the conversation light, Cassy chose to ignore his rudeness.

  Reid made a low grunt in approval. He gave his partner a side glance before refocusing on Cassy. “Lady Cassandra, have you spoken to your sister-in-law recently?”

  “No. I have been completely cut off from the vampire world for the last three years. My husband and I rarely leave the compound. Witches are, by nature, very reclusive. Father left us in their care,” she replied. She glanced from one man to the other.

  “The princess was reported missing by her husband two days ago, but we think she has been missing for longer. No one has seen or heard from her in about three weeks. There was some strange activity with more than one of her accounts,” Reid confessed. He acted like this should not be a surprise to Cassy.

  Her worry increased. Had something happened to Liz? Had Liz been involved in something? Cassy tried envisioning Liz getting mixed up in politics but failed. Liz grew up to be the ultimate proper lady. She married the crown prince of the entire vampiric world well over a century ago. Cassy knew for certain Liz could not be the problem. That meant something or someone did something to her.

  “What happened to her?” she asked. A twisted knot was forming deep in her gut.

  “You have not heard from her, correct? You didn’t wire her any money or act as a middle man for a financial transaction on her behalf?” Dmitri asked, dismissing both her question and concern. His posture suggested he was not inclined to believe her answer, no matter how truthful she was.

  “No. Like I said, David and I have been cut off from all vampire society for the last three years. The money Father gave me is in a trust, along the liquidated assets from my business and Erica’s estate. We have very little need of currency while we are with the coven,” Cassy explained.

  “And you expect us to believe you didn’t have something to do with Princess Elisabeta’s disappearance? Come off it. She would have turned to you if she were running away. You are the only royal ever to leave court or break tradition. While she was here, Her Highness assaulted the Crown Prince and helped you free your so-called husband. Those actions were out of character for her. So is this. Tell us what you know, and we will leave,” Reid demanded. His muscles tightened, ready to pounce. He looked like he was losing patience.

  “I really don’t know what you’re talking about, and I really don’t like what you are insinuating. I don’t know where Liz is. I don’t know anything about her accounts.
If Max or Father wanted me to know about this, they can call me. The phones here do still work, you know. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a class to teach in half an hour,” Cassy snapped. Anger colored her tone.

  How dare they accuse her of anything? If Liz left Max, Cassy doubted it was done without a good reason. These men did not seem to think she had been kidnapped. Cassy stood to leave, not caring to wait for a reply.

  “You’re not going anywhere until you tell us where she is!” Reid sprang out of his chair and pushed her back down. He put both hands on the chair arms, preventing Cassy from standing back up. He leaned into her face. She smelled the fresh human blood he had on his breath. “You have to know where she is. The money shifted between one of her accounts, one of your accounts, and an anonymous Swiss account the same day she disappeared. You had something to do with it, even if you never left this compound. Admit it or we are going to haul your ass in and let the interrogators get it out of you!”

  Adrenaline flooded Cassy’s system. Reid gave her a cruel smile, as if she were overcome with fear. A year ago, he would have been correct, but not tonight. She was no longer the courtly lady she had once been.

  * * * *

  David sat in his office looking over the afternoon reports. Each of the coven compounds around the country had implemented the security changes Mills and he had suggested. There was still room for improvement, but overall, things were transitioning nicely.

  He picked up his warm mug. The metallic scent of blood made his fangs extend and his mouth water. As he sipped his breakfast, a twist began forming in his core. A fear he knew belonged to Cassy spread from the twist.

  He shouted, “Mills! Get a unit to the library! Cassy’s in trouble!” He did not even bother grabbing any gear before he tore out of his office.

  Mills and a group of six women in SWAT gear followed him down the hall of the converted old dairy barn. The witches were not going to be able to keep up with him, but they were going to get there in time to be backup.

  Running, he concentrated on getting to the main house. The landscape blurred into streaks of nighttime colors. He made the brightly lit house and its occupants his only concern.

  His desperation eased a bit when he felt the fear shift to determined focus. He spared time for a slight smile and a thought. That’a girl!

  Cassy was fighting back.

  * * * *

  Her bent leg came up in a quick, sharp movement. She put as much power as she could into kneeing his groin. As he gave into the pain, she head-butted him and punched him in the solar plexus. Reid fell back in agony. Cassy stood and made a dash for the door. She knew she would only have seconds to make her escape. Their chairs blocked the secret passage behind the fireplace. The gallery door was the only other exit.

  Behind her, a table and chair crashed to the floor. Dmitri gave a low growl. She knew he was coming for her. As she reached the door, Lady Ursula stepped into view, pointing her finger at the man behind her. She wore a serious scowl. Her eyes were wild with anger. The usually sweet woman turned into a fearsome creature.

  Cassy stopped, looking back to see Dmitri frozen in midair. His fangs showed, and his face wore a vicious snarl. Hands curled like claws reached out for her. He had been almost to her when Lady Ursula stopped him.

  “Thank you, Lady. Your timing is impeccable, as always,” Cassy greeted her.

  “You are welcome, child. These men—” She cut off her sentence. Reid had recovered and charged toward Cassy.

  “You bitch!” he yelled, taking a swing at her. She ducked in time for his fist to hit the doorframe. Wood splints flew in every direction.

  Lady Ursula made a waving motion at him, as if shooing away a fly. He flew across the room, crashing into a Chinese porcelain goldfish bowl on a low stand. Ursula motioned for Cassy to step aside. She walked over to the crumpled man on the floor.

  “I said you may speak with her. I did not say you could interrogate her like a criminal, and I certainly did not give you permission to do violence in our home,” she said calmly.

  He slowly got to his feet, stared her in the eye, and pointed toward the doorway. “I am going to walk out of here, and she is coming with me. You are going to go about your business and remember nothing,” he said through gritted teeth. Nothing happened.

  Ursula laughed.

  Reid looked confused. He had tried to compel her. Instead of backing down, he puffed up his chest and raised his chin.

  Cassy could hardly contain herself. To think he could force a member of the Council of Crones was ridiculous.

  Running boots echoed in the vast open space. Reinforcements came down the long tapestry gallery toward them. Cassy heard Mills giving orders. Her stomach tightened in anticipation. The bond told her David ran ahead of him. She felt him getting closer.

  Reid stood toe to toe with the witch. Apparently, he failed to get the memo that any witch old enough to be called a Maiden was immune to vampire mind tricks. Only adolescent witches could be compelled, and they were no longer used as security in the main house for that very reason.

  David stopped just past Lady Ursula’s position. He placed himself between the two vampires and her. After scanning the room, he turned to Cassy and gave her a quick hug, never taking his eyes off Reid.

  “Are you all right?” David asked. He looked her over from head to foot.

  “Yes, thank you. The good Lady took care of the problem,” Cassy admitted.

  She stepped back into David’s open arms. He stroked her hair and pressed her head against his chest. Tendrils of silver energy coiled around them in a protective layer. Cassy knew as long as they were together, the magic would push Reid and Dmitri back.

  “Thank you, Lady,” David said, nodding in appreciation to Ursula. She returned the nod.

  Mills stepped forward, grabbing Reid by the upper arm. “This way, sir. It’s time you and your partner left. Allow us to escort you out. Your car is waiting for you up front.”

  One of the maidens in Mills’s response unit made a cutting motion with two fingers like a knife slicing the air under Dmitri. The man fell to the floor still immobile. His steel-gray eyes held all the rage he had for Cassy. A shiver ran up her spine at the thought of it being directed at her.

  “Are you going to fix him? How am I supposed to get him in the car like this?” Reid asked curtly. He gestured to the man on the floor.

  “Yes, I will undo the spell once you are both outside. Now, please leave our home and never return,” the elder witch directed. Her voice remained even. Cassy was amazed at the amount of willpower she must have commanded.

  The response team levitated Dmitri. One towed him in the direction of the front door. Two women waved and pointed at the broken items as each one mended itself. The refreshments tray was gathered and the thick red liquid returned to the container by a third witch. The same witch cleared up the broken fish bowl, carefully scooping up the two large, flopping goldfish and returning them to their home.

  Reid stormed past David and Cassy, following Dmitri’s lifeless form to the front door. Halfway down the corridor, he kicked over a coffee table and cursed.

  Lady Ursula glided behind him, presumably to undo her magic like she had promised. As she passed the overturned table, she gave a slight twirl of her hand without stopping. The table righted itself.

  Before David could say anything, shouts came from the entry hall. Reid’s voice echoed throughout the downstairs. Everyone ran to find Lady Ursula standing quietly in the center of the room with Reid yelling at her from the door.

  “This isn’t over by a long shot, witch! She knows something, and she is going to tell us,” he proclaimed. Determination and defiance oozed from him.

  “That sounds terribly like a threat,” Ursula commented, maintaining her composure. Her hands remained clasped in front of her.

  “It’s a promise,” he replied.

  She reached one arm forward with her palm facing him, fingers extended to the ceiling. Ursula’s expression nev
er flinched. Cassy thought she looked like a traffic cop stopping cars. Her resolve showed in the steadiness of her hands.

  Reid dropped to the ground clutching his chest. His eyes were wide with fear. Gasping noises were all the sound he could make. In a matter of minutes, his twentysomething features aged by decades. His hair shot through with gray until it was mostly white. When she released him, a frail, old man had taken the place of a young man.

  Cassy gasped. She knew he would be like this forever. Once a council member doled out a punishment, it was permanent. No other witch would dare reverse the spell out of fear of being punished themselves.

  “You will respect the peace of our home and will never forget the lesson again. You may tell the High Prince his daughter will no longer accept visitors without his personal communications. Go now with your life intact before I change my mind,” the Lady Ursula warned.

  Chapter 3

  Reid hobbled down the stairs, muttering under his breath. The statuesque, frozen Dmitri took up the backseat, still posed in mid-lunge. Mills stood by the driver side door dangling a set of keys.

  Ursula walked to the front door and watched as Reid started the car. With a wave of her hand, Dmitri became reanimated. His momentum carried him forward. Unable to stop in such a short period of time, the side window cracked from the impact.

  Cassy heard him cursing. She did her best not to laugh out loud. A glance at David told her he, too, forced back a laugh.

  “What the fuck? Ow, damn it! Reid, what the hell happened? How the hell did I get in the car? Oh shit! What happened to you?” The sound of Dmitri asking questions diminished as Reid sped away from the main house.

  “Shut up!” Reid yelled at him over and over in a weakened, wispy voice. The car’s engine revved as he rounded the corner heading to the main gate. The treelined avenue obscured the car, but Cassy still made out faint voices inside the vehicle.