“Ms. Silvers, what a wonderful surprise. You will be the first to hear the news. Mayor Seul has unfortunately resigned and is abducting his position to me.”
Shayla’s expression never wavered. “Mayor Seul is going nowhere. Cut the crap Vas. My hearing is still sharp and I can outdo you on the Peloton any day of the week. I heard every idiotic word.”
All pretense of subterfuge dropped from his features as his lips curled in a snarl, revealing sharp teeth and glittering eyes. “Yes, well, as usual, you slept in. I sent runners with my special blood cocktail to contaminate the blood banks in several cities days ago. You are too late. When I get done stepping in and playing the hero to the panicked masses, you will be obsolete—old and unnecessary. For too long the Vampire Nation has stood on the sidelines, hiding who we are from the weak humans and letting the cowardly Magicals call all the shots. It’s time we took our rightful place where we belong; at the top of the food chain.”
His smile slipped sideways when Shayla Silvers threw back her head and laughed, the sound deep and bounding off the walls. Lucas shivered and made plans to install a bathroom down the hall if his future meetings were going to be like this one.
She pinned Fino Vas in an amused gaze. Her words were not.
“Are you that stupid? Do you imagine you are the only one smart enough to have eyes and ears in all the right places? The Vampire Nation intercepted your runners days ago. Didn’t you wonder why they ignored all your calls? We’ve been following your mismanagement of the Vampire Sect in Seattle for months. You’ve created quite a reputation as a useless and unforgiving leader. One I no longer have a use for.”
The Judge gasped, his complexion fading to waxy. “It’s lies. I can prove it. There will be a trial.”
Her laughter floated into the room once more, much lighter and wholly amused. “That’s right. A trial by your peers. I’ve had a wonderful time rounding up the perfect jury to sit at your trial. Did you know they are all human? But never fear. As you’ve informed so many of your victims, we have a special set of rules in the Vampire Nation. The Judge always gets the final say.”
In a weak voice Fino asked, “Who is the judge?”
Shayla Silvers’ smile widened in satisfaction. “Now, you just let old useless Ms. Silvers worry bout’ that.” She drawled, a hint of her deep Southern heritage slipping through.
Lucas breathed easier, but his temper over Shayla Silvers lack of communication and late arrival grated. “What took you so long? I contacted you several days ago and no word.”
Her eyes fell on Lucas and cooled by several degrees. “Watch it, Sorcerer. My time is my own and I control it. I had everything under control. And besides,” she reached back with purple manicured nails and patted her bouncing black curls with a bodacious grin. “Perfect hair and nails take time. You can’t rush classy.”
Lucas Seul’s open mouth snapped shut. He had nothing.
#
“Get. Out. Of my Kitchen!” Wendy Seul roared, waving a spatula in the air and eying her husband and son as they hovered in the kitchen doorway.
“If you ask me one more time in that coddling, have to take care of the invalid voice if I need help, I won’t be responsible for my actions!”
In the dining room I smiled, exchanging looks with Elise and Emerald. Behind them both stood a stoic and nervous Yeti, in full camouflage. His eyes kept drifting to the kitchen.The opaque shimmer in the air giving his position away. He’d refused to sit, suspicious of the strange contraption with the four sharp protrusions and two arms that looked like they might gobble him up. Elise and Emerald had both agreed to join us for dinner now that they weren’t on the Vampire Nation’s most wanted list. They were returning shortly with the rest of the antidote for any remaining pockets of afflicted vampires. Poured into twin goblets at their elbows was the bag of AB- blood that Emerald had pulled from her pack. With a cheeky grin, she’d offered me some. I was fairly sure she was joking. Fern and Neil were there too, but Thomas had once more left to haunt Deep Lake and search for Sirris. The not knowing if she was okay or not was preying on us all.
We’d all taken one look at the glint of battle in Wendy Seul’s Fox shifter eyes and been smart enough to sit patiently and wait for her to serve her famous Lasagna. The aroma of garlic and rich buttery spices filling the air was making me dizzy with anticipation.
But Nick and Lucas, still in full on over protective mode since the kidnapping, had apparently not gotten the memo she didn’t want nor need their help.
My grin turned into laughter as she laid into them with a fresh round and we heard spinning wheels and scrambling feet.
She was delivering it now.
#
Drae Hallow was a community comprising Magicals and Other, or shifters. So, Halloween was a huge celebration each year. The night long party spilled into the streets and vendors hawked their wares, musicians plied their trade to the click clacking of dancing feet, and everyone was somebody—or something for the night.
In the center of town they erected a huge bandstand for the bands to set up, and also as a focal point for the Mayor to give his yearly celebratory speech to give thanks and uplift the spirits of the community he served.
I adjusted the floppy fedora on my head and straightened my black jacket over a simple white T-shirt. Printed on the shirt-front were two stumbling zombies. On the back of the jacket, in bold red letters, were the words Zombie Killer.
I couldn’t prevent the grin that spread across my face. Nicholas was going as a zombie. He was in his bedroom applying costume make-up with Thomas and his brothers.
I glanced over at Sirris, Kimmy, and Fern, getting ready beside me and trying to crowd in to get a look in the mirror I was hogging.
My eyes lingered on Sirris. She sported a cowboy hat and a long-sleeved sequined shirt that glittered when she moved. Blue jeans and cowboy boots completed the ensemble. She adjusted the hat over her long blond hair and frowned. But then, she hadn’t cracked a single smile in more days than I was comfortable with. Something was wrong in Sirris’ world, but so far she hadn’t been willing to share it. She’d shown up miraculously on the Tuttle doorstep the night before, looking for her father and Thomas. Sirris was obviously thrilled to see everyone, but she’d ignored all questions regarding her absence with a stubborn refusal to discuss it.
Fern dressed as a witch. As Glinda, the Good Witch of the North from the Wizard of Oz, to be precise. Her wide skirted dress sparkled and moved with her. She’d cast a spell to change her long dark hair to a platinum blond.
But, on her feet she wore her characteristic orange tennis shoes and draped around her neck in full view was not Toto. Instead, Kit, her Weis familiar, was in full view, lips pulled back in a snarl as she stared at us from her large whiskey-colored eyes.
I ignored her foul mood and reached up to scratch her beneath her chin.
Fern sent me a haughty look. “Hands off the Toto!” she drawled, giving me a small smile. A shadow passing behind her eyes told me the beginnings of a headache were forming. Fern was a powerful witch in training. But she was also an Empath and crowds were painful for her.
“Do you have the stone Neil gave you?”
She frowned. “Yeah, but it doesn’t work near as good as having him around.”
I imagined that wasn’t the only thing about Niel she missed.
“You about ready to go down? The guys should already be there waiting.”
Without a word, Sirris reached for the door.
#
In the main living room below, Nicholas and the Tuttles stood by the fire waiting for us. All three brothers had opted to change and go as their ultra-egos. It was disconcerting to see three enormous wolves prowling in front of the fire, any of them easily four foot tall at the shoulder. One of them turned at our approach, his dark yellow canine eyes very human on Sirris’ unsmiling cowgirl. He whined low in his throat and Sirris approached him, bending down to wrap her arms around the muscled neck and bury her face in th
e thick fur. Something about the movement made my throat grow thick with emotion.
My attention moved to Nick, whose eyes glittered in amusement as he took my outfit in, top to bottom, with a grin.
He had outdone himself in the zombie department. Along with the ragged outfit and the serious bed head, he’d given his ‘rotting corpse’ a serious lift in the authenticity department. Using his sorcery, he’d created several jagged looking wounds that looked way too real. One of them, high on his sharp cheekbones, winked at her. He’d added an eyeball in the oozing mess for affect. So cool!
In his arms he carried a small red fox. She wriggled and nipped at his arm and he put her down.
It seemed that Wendy Seul was joining the festivities as her own alter ego. She’d chosen to go as her fox and walk with a limp rather than be wheeled about in her chair. I couldn’t blame her.
Nick frowned at her in concern. “Ma, you might get stepped on.”
Her bright blue eyes narrowed and she growled at him, flipping her tail in agitation.
Kimmy spoke up, a broad grin splitting her white face. “Let’s go, we’re going to be late and I don’t want to miss anything.”
I stared at the brilliant orange curly wig perched on her head. A clown—who did that?
#
Lucas Seul, dressed as Batman, complete with long dark cape and mask, stood at the podium and ready when we arrived and pushed our way to the front of the bandstand. Recognizing Nickolas, his son, most gave way gracefully to our impolite determination.
He spoke as we reached the front, beginning with his welcoming speech to show his appreciation for their vote of confidence in his ability to keep them safe and prospering. He moved on to news concerning recent events. When he mentioned Wyndoor, my attention—ours, sharpened.
“… the alternate dimension is recovering slowly under the direction and guidance of the vampire Elise and the Demon wolves. All the afflicted vampires have recovered and are making repairs to what they destroyed.”
His eyes darkened in the mask as he continued. “As for the Judge Fino Vas, he is awaiting trial for sometime next month. I will let all of you whose friends and families were affected in the attack know the details by mail. There will be limited seating, but I will do my best to make sure the audience is well represented by his victims.
The hum of the crowd rose and he let them go on for a spell before raising his hand and regaining their attention.
“I want to thank the council and those that helped make this event another spectacular celebration of our community of Magic. Thank you. Please enjoy the festivities with my blessing. Now if you will excuse me, I have a date with a Real Fox… um, I mean my wife. So if you will excuse me.” He threw out his arms and the cape billowed around him as he made a theatrical exit to the crowds amused appreciation. Behind him the band played, and hip hop filled the air.
He found us in the crowd, his eyes only for the small canine that sat laughing up at him, her tail wagging like any dogs. He bent down and snatched her up. “Hey, come here you.” He murmured. She gave an excited yip and wriggled in his arms, licking the end of his nose.
He looked us over, staring in amusement at the blinking eye in Nick’s cheek. “Wendy and I have a dinner date to attend to. You kids enjoy the celebration, but she wanted me to remind you to come by later and she’ll have homemade donuts and cider for you to cap the night.”
We parted and I watched as he bent down and kissed the top of his wife’s head. I felt a hand snuggle mine and I looked up at my Zombie, complete with black lipstick and yellowed teeth. But his bright blue eyes made my heart beat in triple threat as he zoomed in and snatched a quick kiss. “Eew!” I complained at the black smear he left behind at the corner of my mouth, but my smile was huge.
The others moved down the sidewalk ahead of us and that was okay with me.
I bent in and rubbed my cheek alongside his muscled arm and gave a contented sigh. “You know, I’m glad we’re here and all, I’m having a blast and we haven’t even started yet. But how come our entire vacation has come down to a single day? Class starts Monday again. I had exactly two days with my mom to catch up. I think we all should reevaluate our vacation plans because they suck.”
Nick laughed, the deep timbre making my knees knock. “Ah come on Cross, you’d be bored to tears and you know it. You’d miss the excitement,” he added.
I wasn’t so sure.
Up ahead, Kimmy gave a squeal. “It’s here. I heard about it. Would you look at that display? Everyone gathered around the storefront window of a new little shop that had apparently just moved to Bitterroot.
I blinked at what it showcased in the window. Brilliant oranges and blacks and teals sparkled from the strings of lights artfully arranged on the black velvet draping that showcased the objects artfully arranged there. A wide assortment of stands beneath the cloth at different heights revealed dozens of tiny carved houses. Each was a different shape and appeared to be bricked in multi-colored gems. They were lit from within, the light exploding from the tiny windows. I pulled Nick closer to get a better look.
Everyone chattered in excitement, pointing out their favorites and admiring the new shop’s Halloween display. I looked closer and my smile slipped a notch, as something gave an unpleasant blip in my stomach.
The houses were winking at me, as if each one of them contained a solitary eye. A sudden sense of despair and fear shuddered through me and made my hand jerk in Nicholas’. He gave me an odd look and I shook my head in confusion. When I looked again, they were just tiny houses.
The bell pinged above the door and everyone went in. Nick and I followed.
The inside of the small store reflected what was out front in that it was all designed to pull the attention of its potential customers. The owner definitely had an eye for style and the strategic placement of its merchandise. Incense wafted on the air, the smell of cinnamon and apples almost overpowering. In keeping with a Magical shop geared towards witches and wizards and sorcerers, the light was muted and the walls were paneled in dark walnut. We stared in fascination at the selection of dried plants hanging from the ceiling and the hundreds of jars that lined the counters, all neatly labeled with the ingredients.
Movement near the front of the store drew my eye and my gaze shot to a long glass case and the shop owner, standing silent behind it and watching us.
I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, but the small round woman with the frizzy brown hair and the black eyes wasn’t it. She couldn’t have been more than four foot tall. She was dressed in traditional black witches garb, her pointy hat perched at an angle and her heavy wool dress not covering the extra pounds.
But her voice wasn’t tiny when she spoke. Instead, it bounced off the walls and made me wince. “Welcome to Tonya’s Emporium, if you see anything you like, let me know.”
Her black eyes glittered with humor as she watched us move about the shop.
The little store catered to the unusual and fantastical. But also housed items that were more common. It delighted Kimmy to purchase a couple items that she said Jerry had been looking to purchase for his lab.
Both Nicholas and I watched with interest when Fern stayed a bare couple of minutes and then made for the door. She mumbled something about waiting outside for us as the door clanged shut behind her. Odd.
Despite the wide array of items to fascinate and beckon for purchase, Kimmy was the only one to actually buy something. The rest of us gathered around the counter while Kimmy received her change.
We turned to go when Tonya spoke up to all of us. “Hey, don’t forget your treat, after all it is Halloween.” Her heavily ringed hand waved to a basket of brightly wrapped candies, homemade from the look of them.
Kimmy snatched one up, but the rest of us thanked her and declined. We were still stuffed from the Mackinac Island Fudge we’d consumed at the Fudge Haus.
Fern was sitting on a bench outside the shop. One look at her face and I knew she had a killer of a headache.
“Are you okay?” I asked, concerned with her waxy complexion and glassy eyes.
She shook her head. “No, not really. Crazy how quick that hit me. It was like a thousand voices screaming inside my head all at once. It’s a little better now, but if you all don’t mind, I’m gonna call the night early and head back. You go on, have fun.”
I opened my mouth to protest when she nailed me with a narrow-eyed glare. “Don’t even. I don’t need babying; I can take care of myself.”
Sirris spoke up, indicating herself and Thomas, who paced at her side and whined. “We’ll walk back with her as far as Ms. Hodges. We have a way to go and we’re really tired.”
I stared into my friend’s haunted eyes. Something was wrong with those two, and I was tiring of being kept out of the loop. I glared at Sirris. Soon, I mouthed. She smiled sadly and turned without responding.
My eyes followed their progress as they moved down the sidewalk towards Feather Hodges, Fern’s Aunt’s house, where she bunked when she wasn’t in class and my dorm roommate.
It was after 10:00 before we made it back from the festivities downtown to Nick’s place. Wendy was still by the door, still a fox, and yipping at each costumed youngster that came to her door and took a fistful of candy from her bucket. Mayor Seul sat beside his wife, fielding grubby fingers and curious hands that wanted to pick her up and cuddle her.
Shortly after our arrival, the bucket ran dry and they turned the porch light out and closed the outer door. Wendy disappeared and emerged in her wheelchair several moments later and began bustling around the kitchen while we sat on stools around the island and talked about the festival.
I was on my second donut and Nick on his third when the Mayor got a phone call.
I nudged Nick to get his attention as I watched the growing alarm spread over the Mayor’s face. “Okay, yup. I’ll be right there. Yes, I do agree that’s odd. Just wait til I get there and stop panicking.” He hung up the phone and looked up at his now rapt and wide-eyed audience.
Rule 9 Academy Series Boxset: Books 3-5 Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy (Rule 9 Academy Box Sets (3 Book Series) 2) Page 50
