The Kingdom Journals Complete Series Box Set

by Tricia Copeland

  We filed into the security control room and sat in front of a wall of video screens to monitor the witch’s meeting. Each of us was assigned one of the council members and had headphones specific to the video feed for that person. I marveled at the intricate systems they had in place as a camera was mounted above each chair and a microphone in each seat. We were instructed to text Anne if anything seemed off. I requested to be assigned to Marcus, and fixed my eyes on his image as the meeting started.

  Anne asked for introductions and expressed regret that the High Priest, Thanatos, couldn’t be in attendance. “Thanatos assures me that Marcus has been briefed on his coven’s opinions and can speak for Michael’s line.” She folded her hands on the table, meeting each set of eyes. “The vampire council members have brought it to my attention that vampires fear retaliation for the events on Mabon. I want to reassure you that the vampires involved in the hideous crimes against the witches have been dealt with.”

  Marcus folded his hands on the table. “So how exactly were they dealt with? Twelve of Michael’s coven members were murdered.”

  Chin high, Anne addressed Marcus. “Our laws are much like human law, only swifter. Murder is a capital crime. The vampires were disposed of.”

  One of the council members raised a hand. “The rumors are that Michael’s coven has the sword, was using it for some ritual and escaped with it. We don’t know what to believe. Michael’s coven says the vampires have the sword.”

  “There are many rumors.” Anne laid her palms flat on the table. She lifted her shoulders as if she might be nervous. After watching her the past three days, I knew better. “It took a while to find the guilty creatures, and I assume they were the source of the rumors. The criminals reported that Thanatos possessed the lance of Longinus. They were very adamant. Although as you know, vampires can deceive seers, so there is no way to prove or disprove their allegations. My investigations revealed the attackers were bloodthirsty vigilantes, a small sect where hatred of your kind ran deep. I have no evidence the sword has been found, and my council members report the same.”

  Whispers filled the room. Marcus cleared his throat. “Michael’s coven strongly denies insinuations that it possesses the sword. As you know, the lance disappeared from General Patten’s possession. It hasn’t been seen since.”

  A male witch stood. “So, we know nothing? Your vampires could have the sword. What assurances can you give that they won’t use it?”

  “Do any of the other coven’s have information about the sword?” Anne scanned the faces seated around the table. Each denied any knowledge of the lance.

  “If what the criminals reported is true, this is the first we’ve heard of the sword since General Patten possessed it,” Anne confirmed.

  The house of Uriel’s representative raised his hand. “We need to intensify our efforts, put more investigators out. We have reports of missing witches. Could this vigilante vampire sect be the cause? You need to answer for that.”

  Hands still flat on the table, Anne scanned the other faces. “This is the first I’ve heard of this, how many?”

  “Two.” The representative reported.

  Grady spun in his chair to face me. “That would be me and your father.”

  “You were searching for the sword?” Tyler asked.

  “And obviously not doing a very good job of it.” Grady refocused on the screen.

  Anne folded her hands in front of her. “We are watching family, friends, and accomplices of those charged with the murders. We will consider the matter.”

  “Have we found any children of light? It would be their eighteenth year,” one of the house of Gabriel commented.

  Anne let each in attendance report that there were no candidates from their lines. Doodling on the page in front of him, Marcus cut his eyes to each speaker and back to the paper. When he finished his drawing, I realized he’d included a string of dots and dashes. “Morse code.” I enlarged the drawing and displayed it on the front screen.

  Grady approached the image. “I need to meet with you.”

  I messaged Anne. Marcus scribbled that he needs to meet with you. She looked to her device, deleted the message, and looked back to the group.

  There were a few more minutes of back-and-forth discussion, and then Anne summarized the concerns. “It seems that the rumor of the resurfacing of the sword is just that. Our leaders will communicate this with their patrons to prevent any problems. These are heavy topics. I invite you to join me in my home for some drinks and lighter conversation.”

  The tech guy pecked on his keyboard, rerouting our feed to the surveillance cameras in Anne’s condo. We watched the group ride the elevators up a floor to Anne’s living quarters. Her staff brought glasses and poured drinks for the guests. Anne made her rounds, speaking with each of the council members. Her demeanor with Marcus matched how she greeted the others, and I wondered how the meeting would be accomplished.

  Alena turned to Orm. “Marcus has been to our home before. It was in early September. He came in Thanatos’s stead. Were you with them the entire time? Did they speak privately that night?”

  “I don’t believe so.”

  “Funny how the one event that was supposed to bring people closer to God fractured relations between all the other species,” Chalondra noted.

  “What event?” I asked.

  Grady shook his head. “God orchestrated the flood to rid the world of witches and vampires.” He looked to Chalondra. “He doesn’t care that there are wars between our groups.”

  “Wait, I’m confused.” Tyler spun his chair to face Grady. “You’re talking about the great flood and Noah’s Arc?”

  Alena spun her seat to face the group. “The witches convinced Noah to include a pair from each line on the boat. Since the vampire families were pagan, heathens in Noah’s eyes, none of our kind were included. Vampires went to the witches and begged for help, asking for a cloaking spell so they may slip onto the boat undetected.”

  “But the witches refused?” I asked.

  “Yes, creating a rift between the species that has never healed. Before that, our peoples helped each other, protected their secrets.”

  Tyler shook his head. “The vampires would have endangered all the lives on the ship, right?”

  I stared at Tyler in disbelief, wondering how he could be stupid enough to make such a comment in Alena’s presence. But, he was half human.

  Alena pounced onto the table top in front of him. “Have you seen me eat a human or a live animal in the three days you’ve been here?” She leaned into him as he backed away, his face stripped of color. “Well?” she insisted.

  He shook his head, and his eyes cut to the floor. “No.”

  “Alena.” Hunter rubbed his hand down her back.

  “Freaking humans think all vampires want to drink your blood,” Alena muttered under her breath as she jumped to the floor.

  “How am I supposed to know things?” Tyler knocked his chair over in his retreat from the room.

  Grady and Janine followed Tyler out.

  “Maybe that was a little harsh?” Orm produced a vial of liquid and handed it to Alena. She opened the top, held it to her nose, and took several deep breaths.

  “We need to focus on the party.” I pointed to the wall of video screens. “What could Marcus want? They may be the only two in the room that know the truth about Michael’s coven possessing the sword and the existence of the children of light. How are they going to manage to get a meeting alone?”

  “Mother will manage.” Alena took her seat again.

  I listened and watched, but the conversations grew boring, and my mind wandered. Alena was a loose cannon. Could she be trusted to stay focused? Maybe I’d request Hunter to be included in the rescue party rather than her. Of course, if our magic got disabled, she’d still have her vampire strength.

  Tyler re-entered the room and crossed to Alena. “I’m sorry, my mouth got ahead of my brain.”

  “It’s okay. I’m s
orry I snapped at you.”

  “Actually”—I tapped my pen to the pad in front of me—“they didn’t teach me anything about vampires in my coven training. I could use a crash course so we know what skill sets we’re working with.”

  “We can plan a session after the party.” Orm pointed to the video screens.

  The rest of the event comprised a huge snooze fest with the old cronies talking culture, history, music, and the state of the millennial younglings. I should have felt a little more respect. The most powerful beings in the world—save Sonia and Thanatos—were gathered in that room. I shivered. If the humans only knew.

  “Like all of us are unmotivated losers?” Alena huffed after the fifteenth comment on the topic of the newest generation.

  An hour into the gathering, the patrons started to say their goodbyes. Anne spoke with the council members, planting kisses on each of their cheeks before they left. My eyes found it hard to divert from her form. She seemed to float, each movement flowing into the next. Pondering whether her full vampire nature or her age caused the effect, laughter broke my trance.

  Hunter poked a finger into Alena’s rib, and she jumped around the room, trying to escape him. Her jerky movements irritated me, but it was their bond, how their banter brought them joy, that angered me. I should be with Camille, I thought. I’d pushed the emotion away again and again as I’d watch them train, seemingly a perfect yin and yang. How Tyler even entertained the idea he had a chance with Alena was beyond me.

  Glancing at the screen, I noticed Marcus to be the last council member in line to say goodbye to Anne. As they spoke, the elevator doors began to close with the rest of the group inside. One of them stopped the door’s progress.

  “Sorry, got caught up talking. That’s all right, I’ll get the next carriage.” Marcus waved for them to leave without him.

  The gentleman continued to hold the door. “We have much to discuss. You should join us now. Avery’s flight is tonight.”

  “Oh, right.” Marcus waved his finger in the air as if he’d forgotten. After bidding Anne goodbye, he joined the other council members in the elevator.

  “Well, that was a bust.” Alena jumped from her seat.

  Hunter stood, leaning on the table beside her. “At least we know Marcus wants to talk to Anne.”

  “Well, let’s put our waiting time to good use.” Orm moved to the front of the room. “Vampires 101.”

  I refocused, knowing the scant knowledge I’d acquired needed to be fortified. He talked of their lifespan, strength, sensory abilities, speed.

  “Their venom is a neurotoxin, and large amounts can stop a heart. Blood from a vampire can heal almost any wound but not bring someone back to life. Once you have a vampire’s blood in your system, that vampire can always find you.” Except beyond magic-impenetrable walls, I thought. “I expect that we’ll be fortifying your diets with some blood to make you the strongest possible for Camille’s extraction.”

  “I may skip that part.” Tyler’s face contorted, and his shoulders shook.

  There was a knock on the door, and a staff member announced dinner. We made our way to the dining room. Once we finished the meal, we changed into our workout clothes to get in a training session while we waited for word of Marcus from Anne’s aides.

  We were sparring when an announcement came over the intercom that we were needed in the conference room. Jogging down the hall, we took our seats in front of the large screen. It showed feed from the multiple cameras in Anne’s building. Lines moved across the screen.

  “We’re having trouble with audio,” the tech person indicated.

  “Well, hurry.” Alena insisted. “There!” She pointed to a view of the front sidewalk. “Who’s that? Is it Marcus?” The high cheekbones resembled Marcus’s, but a ball cap shielded his eyes from view.

  He strode into the lobby and spoke to the attendant. Lifting the phone from its cradle, the employee dialed a number and spoke into the receiver.

  The hat-wearing gentleman kept his head low and jacket collar pulled high up over his cheeks. In a few minutes, two of Anne’s guards exited the elevator and escorted the man back in.

  “That’s definitely Marcus. He must’ve come back. She expected him, or he wouldn’t have been allowed up. We need audio,” Alena insisted.

  We took our seats as a bodyguard opened the door and Marcus entered the foyer. Anne had changed to a pair of jeans and a sweater and padded to the front room in bare feet.

  A high-pitched signal emitted from the speakers. Anne’s mouth moved, but we didn’t catch the first words. “…a surprise. Ben will take your things.”

  The man slipped his hat and jacket off. When he turned to follow Anne, we could see him to be Marcus.

  “Let’s talk in my study.” She spun, and he followed her into the next room. “Would you like a drink, a glass of wine, brandy, water?”

  “Water would be nice.”

  Anne motioned to the remaining guard, and he nodded and walked away.

  “Sit.” She tucked one leg under the other as she took a seat on the sofa.

  “Anne knows Marcus well?” I asked.

  “I said he visited in September,” Alena snapped.

  “Sorry, she just looks very comfortable with him.”

  Marcus sat beside her and raised a finger towards the fireplace. The logs glowed until flames erupted from the wood.

  “Thank you.” Anne turned her attention back to Marcus. “So, what can I do for you?”

  “I want to help you get Camille.”

  “Camille?” Anne’s eyes narrowed, and her tone stayed light. If she was surprised to hear the name, you would never know it.

  His eyes bore into Anne’s. “We both know who and what I am talking about.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “I will give you an in if you help me kidnap my granddaughter.”

  “He’s gone mad,” Orm whispered.

  “Who is your granddaughter? Where is she and why would you want her kidnapped?” Anne inquired.

  Marcus gazed into the flames. “My granddaughter Gabrielle was chosen to be the goddess. She is to be wed to Theron. I want you to take Gabrielle from the compound when you rescue Camille. I will get Gabrielle to you, and your team will be the getaway.”

  I let out my breath, grateful they weren’t planning on making Camille marry Theron. I knew Theron wanted to wed Alena, and I’d feared they would match Camille with him.

  Anne cocked her head as a staff member entered with a tray of glasses. Taking one, she handed the other to Marcus. She stared at the flames until the attendant left. “Who says we know who this Camille is?”

  “I know Alena, Hunter, and Camille are the trinity. I know Thanatos has the sword.”

  Anne turned to face Marcus. “What is your timeline?”

  “Before Imbolc.”

  Tyler paced to the back of the room. “Okay, someone seriously has to translate all that for me. How does the Marcus dude know about Camille, and why didn’t he pretend not to know anything in front of the other witches?”

  I cleared my throat. “I’ve met Marcus. Although he doesn’t belong to Michael’s coven, he is of Michael’s line. He attended many of the weekly dinners.”

  Orm stood. “Marcus represents Michael’s line on the council, and Thanatos, as one of Michael’s coven, heads the council. Marcus is close with Thanatos, as they share many council responsibilities. As for Imbolc, it is celebrated the beginning of February. It’s a holiday welcoming the stirrings of spring and the goddess betrothed to the sun god.”

  “Like Groundhog Day? And this Gabrielle is the goddess, and Theron is the sun god?” Tyler rubbed his temple.

  Hunter shook his head. “They have that so wrong.”

  “How does it affect Marcus?” I asked.

  Alena turned to face me. “When Gabrielle and Theron are joined, the two covens become one. Michael’s coven could control Marcus’s.”

  A screen in front of us flickered, and Anne’s
image appeared.

  Alena spun to face the feed. “We’re catching everyone up on Imbolc and the merging of covens.”

  “The biggest question is: Do we trust Marcus?” Chalondra stated the obvious. “It could be a huge ploy to get all the children of light where they want them.”

  “This is the in we needed,” Hunter said.

  I didn’t trust Marcus. “If we do this, we can’t rely on Marcus to help us rescue Camille. We need another person we trust on the inside.”

  “I’ll go.” Tyler raised his hand. “I’m the perfect choice. Marcus could say he found me.”

  “Tyler, I don’t think—” Janine began.

  “Are you listening? Marcus is helping us rescue Camille.” I motioned to the screen.

  Grady knocked on the table top. “Maybe we should all sleep on this.”

  I raised my hand. “I vote yes. If we put Tyler inside, then we have a backup if Marcus falls through.”

  “Tyler will be locked up,” Janine emphasized.

  “Not if we strike right when he arrives.”

  “He isn’t strong enough to do much,” Hunter pointed out.

  “Ugh.” Tyler hung his head.

  “All he has to do is create a diversion,” I suggested.

  “Now, I’m a distraction?” Tyler pushed his seat back. “I’m turning in.”

  “We should all get some rest,” Orm advised. “This is a good start to a plan. We’ll develop it more tomorrow.”

  “If we can go to Italy soon, I’m all for that.” I stood and stretched.

  Too jumpy for sleep, I made my way to the gym. The guards had claimed most of the weight equipment, so I started to run.

  “Can’t sleep?” Alena’s voice startled me.

  “Lots going on.”

  “You think Marcus is a good bet?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t trust him, but we have to get in there and get Camille out, sooner rather than later.”

  “She’s lucky to have you.”

  “Well you have Hunter and Tyler too now.”

  “Yeah, not sure that is in the plus column.” The corner of her lips turned down.