“Rain check, gotcha.”
“Take a key, it is my gift to Maia. You already have the dagger that Lacey carried.”
I did. It was in my backpack. But how could she have known… I looked nervously at the basket of keys... was there a right key? A wrong key? Did it actually matter?
“Hecate is the one who protects you in remote places, when you have lost your way, when you feel trapped.She is the one who is the Dark Mother, who will hold you in the blackness until the first streams of light illuminate your path.”
I grabbed a key and shoved it deep into my jacket pocket. I’d give it to Maia later, when we were back in New York. Vivienne smiled.
“You may not think so now, but Hecate has always been watching you, and even if you don’t believe she is always there, always beside you... there is a part of you that has always known it.”
This was getting to be too much. It was enough that I was a witch, that I had magical powers that ran through my veins and mixed with my blood. It was enough that I cultivated herbs and tried to keep the lessons I’d been taught at my mother’s knee fresh in my mind. It was enough. It had to be. There was no wrong way to be myself... and I definitely couldn’t see myself spouting off this kind of crap on a whim.
But there was also something else. Vivienne represented all of the lessons that I hadn’t learned. She had learned from her mother, and her grandmother, and she’d taught her own daughter the same things... I couldn’t just let that go.
“Will you come to New York with us?” I blurted out the question. I knew it was stupid to say it, I already knew what the answer would be.
“You know I can’t,” Vivienne replied, stroking her owl gently. “I belong here.”
I looked around the shop again. That was definitely true, a shop like this wouldn’t survive more than a summer in New York. “But you are more than welcome to come back and visit,” she said. “And Maia too. I’m very sure that we have a great deal to teach each other.”
I nodded absently, wishing that Maia would hurry up. Vivienne had made the offer kindly, and with a smile on her face, but I couldn’t help wondering if there was some kind of catch. Maybe I’d come back and visit, maybe not. But knowing that I could gave me a little bit of comfort that I didn’t know (or couldn’t admit) I needed.
As the Greyhound pulled away from Jackson Square, I was just grateful to have Maia and Lacey with me. Both unharmed, and both in relatively good spirits, at least as far as I could tell.
The key that Vivienne had given me was heavy in my jacket pocket, and I tried to remember what she’d said about the key, and what it represented, but it wasn’t coming to me. I should have written it down...
I watched the scenery speeding by with unfocused eyes. There was a lot of shit that we would have to deal with when we got back to New York, and I didn’t want to do any of it. I’d missed eight calls from Eli, two from Bishop, and I’d lost count of how many times Haven’s owner had called me. My voicemail was full and I hadn’t even figured out how to check it yet.
“Ophelia,” Maia leaned over in her seat, her voice quiet. “Did you know that Laudan’s couldn’t bite us?” So that’s what was bothering her.
“I knew that they couldn’t feed on us, yeah. But I didn’t know that our blood literally melted them from the inside out... Bishop told me there was some kind of law against it, but I guess that old bastard didn’t know about it.”
“That’s for sure.” Maia stole a sidelong glance at Lacey. The purple-haired Laudan had her earbuds in, and was bobbing her head along with whatever music was playing on her phone. “Is Lacey going to be in trouble for what happened? Does she have to tell Bishop about the crackheads we found in New Orleans?”
“Crackheads?”
“Yeah... there were a lot of them. All vampires, but they looked like addicts... they were all gaunt and creepy. They couldn’t tell that Lacey was one of them.”
The image of the young Laudan I’d faced off against on the subway flashed into my head and something in my spine turned sharply.
“No, no she doesn’t have to tell Bishop about them. But I’m glad you told me,” I said with what I hoped was a reassuring smile. Was I getting better at this comforting thing? I couldn’t tell. “We’re going to try not to tell Bishop anything... if he doesn’t know that Lacey left New York, he doesn’t have to know about any of that shit either, okay?”
Maia nodded, and I knew she was thinking about the blue inferno that had consumed the abandoned bar. “And the less said about any of that, the better,” I said, wiggling my fingers like Lacey did when she was talking about magic. Maia chuckled and leaned back in her seat again.
“I just want to go home,” she said with a sigh.
“Me too. Nothing good happens when we leave that apartment... I might take up hermiting again.”
“That might be hard when you have to be at the café tomorrow morning,” Maia said, raising her eyebrow at me.
“I don’t have anywhere to be tomorrow morning,” I said crisply. “I quit.”
Maia sat up straight. “You quit?” she almost shouted the words and I cringed as some of the other passengers turned around to look at us.
“Shut up. Yes, I quit. David didn’t want to give me the time off to come and get your asses, so I quit.” I could feel my face getting red, I’d forgotten how annoyed I was about this.
“What am I supposed to do?” Maia squeaked, her eyes wide. “I can’t work there alone, have you met those other girls? I’ll go insane! I’ll kill someone with badly foamed milk! You can’t abandon me like this!”
“It’s not a big deal. Besides, judging by how many times David’s called since I quit? I won’t be unemployed for very long, so quit freaking out.”
Teenagers.
Maia didn’t look satisfied, but I didn’t want to talk about it any more. It was what I was going to say to Bishop that was really weighing on my mind. He’d called twice, and that never happened. Ever.
17
Ophelia
Sitting on a hard chair in Bishop’s office in the depths of Spiral was not my idea of a great way to spend a Thursday night. Or any night for that matter. But here I was, sitting on an uncomfortable chair staring across the desk at the Laudan leader. Bishop always looked the same. Always sharply dressed in a fitted suit that was completely out of place in an underground punk club. He looked like a high powered lawyer... the kind you didn’t trust, but knew would win whatever case you threw at their feet.
His moonshined eyes glittered at me as he leaned back in his wide leather chair. Meridian, always a shadow in the room, was lounging against a heavy wooden bookcase, his arms crossed casually over his chest.
“So, why the fuck did you call me here?” I asked briskly. I hated wasting time, and there was nothing hated more than long drawn out meetings. Better to get it all over with. Like ripping off a Band-Aid.
“We’re letting you off the hook, kitten,” Meridian said with a flash of sharp teeth as he smiled at me. I hated that smile. “It seems that there is a higher power watching over you.”
“Off the hook? A higher power?” I looked at Bishop incredulously. What kind of shit was Meridian talking about? I didn’t like it one bit. I didn’t trust that fucker. “I’m not here to play games, Bishop. If your lackey can’t speak to me without using riddles then I’m getting out of here. I have other shit to do, vampires to babysit... you understand.” I made to get up out of my chair, but Bishop held up a finger, and two very heavy hands fell on my shoulders, holding me down in the chair. “Ow! These chair are really uncomfortable, you’re going to break my ass. Hand’s off!” I slapped at the iron paws that had me pinned to the chair and Bishop smiled.
“Let her go, she’s not going to run away.”
The pressure eased immediately and the goons stepped back. I brushed off the shoulders of my leather jacket and glared at Bishop.
“Meridian is being obtuse, but he is correct. You are off the hook. And so is Lacey.” Bisho
p’s face was calm as he pulled one of his black cigarettes from a silver box. One of the goons stepped forward to light it, and I tried not to look away as the flame was reflected in his silver-shined eyes.
“Get to the point,” I said through gritted teeth.
“The point is simply this,” Bishop replied, gesturing with his cigarette. “The Catamarian... Izet, his name was. He never made contact. He was alone, and we weren’t told where he would be staying before coming to New York. We offered our hospitality, but the régi vér declined, preferring to isolate himself before coming to the city and holding the trial.” Cigarette smoke trailed through the air and stung my eyes, but I didn’t say anything. Bishop sighed heavily. “We’ve been in touch with the Caedyr, and no one has heard anything from him. With the trial looming, and the Caedyr unwilling to send another representative... I’m afraid little Lacey won’t be standing up for her transgressions.”
“What? You didn’t tell me that!” The fury in Meridian’s voice made me smile.
Bishop didn’t look in the other Laudan’s direction, he took a deep drag of his cigarette before crushing it on the dark wood of the desk. “Meridian, you seem to be forgetting who is in charge of this Noctem. I don’t need to tell you anything.” Bishop’s voice was cold, and I wanted to burst out laughing at the expression on Meridian’s face.
Priceless.
Meridian closed his mouth, and I could tell that he was biting down on his lip to keep from saying something he’d regret. That’s no fun.
“So... what happens now?” I asked.
“Nothing. Lacey is free to live her eternity, she can return to work and do as she pleases. The Noctem will continue to support her, and Eli will return to his position as her mentor.”
That should cheer Lacey up... but Eli better hold up his end of the bargain, or I’d be taking it out of his sorry hide.
“Where is Eli?” I asked suddenly. “I haven’t seen him in a few days.” That was true, he’d been absent in more than one way over the last few months, but I still hadn’t been able to get the real reason for his distance out of him.
Meridian snorted. “We’re trying to plan a tour, and he’s stalling, that’s what.”
I knew what a tour meant... a contract for Grady. If Eli’s guilt got the better of him, what would happen to the band? Or did he not care about that anymore either? Lacey’s sudden rebellion had brought up a whole host of shit that I wasn’t especially equipped to deal with. What did someone do with eternity? Sure, I had nine lives to figure out, but eternity? That was daunting as fuck, and I couldn’t imagine having to deal with it so young.
“Eli will see reason soon enough,” Bishop said
“He’ll have to,” muttered Meridian, re-crossing his arms over his chest.
“Shut-up,” Bishop snapped. Some things were still secrets... fine by me.
“Is that all?” I wanted to get out of there. Bishop didn’t seem too concerned about Lacey’s whereabouts, and he obviously hadn’t heard any whispers about what had happened in New Orleans. So much the better.
Bishop dismissed me with a wave of his hand and I wasted no time getting the fuck out of that office.
The club was full, as usual, and I wound my way through the crowd towards the stairway that would take me up to the street.
“You think you’re so smart, hitea,” a voice hissed in my ear.
I didn’t slow down or look behind me, I knew who it was.
“What the fuck do you want.”
Meridian’s cold hands snaked around my waist, forcing me to stop walking. “You know what I want, hitea, I want your voice,” he said, his lips close to my ear. “Eli listens to you, and I need your influence... wave your little fingers, make a little magic...” His fingers tightened on my hips and I pushed his hands away.
“Or what.” There was always a catch.
“Let’s just say, I know a few things... I have friends in New Orleans—“
“Aren’t you Mr. Popular,” I interrupted. “Look, Meridian, I have shit to do, and from what I’ve heard, you’ve been busy too.” I paused for just a moment, gauging his reaction. His lip twitched just a little. There it is. “Maybe Bishop would like to know what you’ve been up to. You’ve been breaking a few rules of your own, haven’t you?”
Meridian’s lip curled, revealing his sharp teeth.
“If you want me to keep my mouth shut, let’s just forget that we ever had this little conversation. I won’t tell Eli that you’re trying to blackmail me into influencing his decisions... even asking me to use my magic on him? Tsk, tsk.” I wagged my finger in his face, allowing just a little bit of my magic to push through, illuminating his pale face with a purple glow. “Best to just keep this between us, don’t you think?” I smiled sweetly and pushed past him.
I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets and marched up the stairs, a smug smile on my face.
I wasn’t even sure I had anything on him... but judging by his reaction, I definitely did. Now to find out what the fuck I actually had.
My phone vibrated across the beside table and I groaned. It was 6am. No one should be trying to get a hold of me at 6am.
U’d better get down here.
Maia.
She was at Haven. I was at home in bed where I belonged. Suki yawned and stretched on the pillow behind my head, her claws digging into my hair.
“Your breath is terrible,” I muttered as I texted Maia back.
Why. Did someone die?
David looks like he’s about to have a heart attack, so maybe?
“Fuck.” I threw back the covers and got out of bed. I guess I’d be going down to Haven today anyway. So much for that break I’d been looking forward to. My phone buzzed again and I picked it up with another groan.
R u coming in? I need to tell David ur coming. He’s freaking me out.
I rubbed my eyes and punched the screen furiously, tapping out my reply.
Yeah. Coming.
I threw my phone on the bed and grabbed my jeans. This had better be good.
* * *
By the time I got to Haven, it was closer to 7am, but it didn’t look like anything had changed. Through the plate-glass window I could see that Maia was standing behind the coffee machine. Her arms were folded over her chest and she had a sour look on her face. Genevieve, one of the new hires, looked panic-stricken, her face streaked with tears and blue mascara.
David was pacing and gesturing wildly while his wife, Candace, sat at one of the tables with a stack of ledgers. I had a feeling this day was coming. I’d been helping them with the accounting for the last few years, and things hadn’t been looking good.
I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
“Ophelia! There you are! Maia said she texted you an hour ago!” David’s face was red and his expression was harried. I raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah... I don’t work here anymore, remember?”
“Ophelia, none of us do!” Genevieve cried, bursting into dramatic sobs.
Oh, great.
Maia examined her nails. I knew she didn’t give a shit, but she’d only been working here for a few weeks.
I didn’t give much of a shit either, but I’d been working here for five years. David and Candace had treated me like family, which meant that they called me at all hours, scheduled me for every single shift they could legally schedule me for, and tossed a whole bunch of responsibility in my lap that I didn’t want.
They’d grown on me, dammit.
“Why am I here?” I asked evenly.
Candace sniffled and got up from the table, running past them and down the hallway towards the office.
Maia sighed loudly. She had about the same tolerance for histrionics as I did.
“The building is up for sale, and David’s freaking out because they can’t afford to buy it. The lease will go up, and the café will go under, is that about right?” Maia said dryly.
“That’s why you demanded I come down here at 6am?”
“David thought you should know,” Maia said with a shrug.
I rolled my eyes.
“What the fuck am I supposed to do about it?”
“I don’t know, Ophelia,” David said, rubbing his hands over his face. Genevieve sobbed quietly into her apron.
I let out a frustrated sigh and turned off the OPEN sign. “Genevieve, go the fuck home. Maia, you too.” I pointed at David. “You, go get in the office and console your wife. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Genevieve hiccupped and grabbed her purse. She ran past me and out the door before I could say anything else.
“Rats from a sinking ship,” Maia smirked.
“Get out,” I snapped. Maia stuck her tongue out at me and headed for the door.
I knew what I should be doing. I should be turning around and walking my ass back home.
But I wasn’t.
I locked the door behind Maia, and I sat myself down in David’s office and half-listened while he and Candace cried and raged and all of their worries and money issues spilled out.
I already knew that I was going to buy the building. I’d made the call to the current owner while I was in New Orleans. It hadn’t taken much time to convince him to sell it to me.
Now I just had to get David to do the same thing.
I had all the papers tucked into my jacket pocket, all I needed was his signature.
Once Haven was mine, everything would change. Lacey and Maia could move into the apartment upstairs and I’d get my life back, or at least most of it.
Lacey could come back to Haven, and I’d be able to stop shouting at her for breaking in to decorate the place with whatever spoopy holiday she’d decided was so important in any given month. I’d already heard her planning the Halloween décor.
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