Blood and Fire

by Ally Shields

  “The stone is there. I felt its presence. The sign is on the floor, a foot-length south of the lines of life. I scattered dirt and debris to cover it.” He drew a figure on his napkin of zigzag lines that looked like a Z with a tail on the bottom and another mark going up from the top. “It looks like this.”

  “What does it mean?”

  Hawkson shrugged. “I wish I knew.”

  Chapter Eight

  Once her meeting with Hawkson was concluded—with a mutual agreement to keep one another informed—Ari hurried to the caves. She intended to check out what Hawkson had told her and was too eager to wait for Andreas. She called his cell and left a message about where she was headed and briefly detailed her meeting with Hawkson. Andreas would receive it as soon as he awoke within the next hour.

  The same dwarf greeted her at the entrance. Today he wore bib overalls and smoked a pipe. Same axe and club. He made no comment about her being there without a vampire escort, and she hurried on. Quickly reaching the Chamber of Ages, Ari found two of Andreas’s weretigers sitting near the tunnel to Spirit Cave. They rose to meet her as she entered the chamber.

  “I want to look around inside Spirit Cave. Can one of you come with me and hold the flashlight?”

  After a brief argument between the tigers over who stayed and who went, Ari and the female tiger entered the cave and knelt on the floor. They brushed the dust and dirt away, its accumulation obviously unnatural now that she knew what to look for. The tigress held the flashlight in one hand and helped with the other, while Ari explained she was looking for carvings in the rock floor or anything else that didn’t belong.

  Ari found the first indentations, and they quickly uncovered the rest. The symbol was etched deep into the rock but was filled with sand and silt. She used her fingernails to dig out the fragments.

  “Looks like a pointy three.” The tigress turned her head to view it from various angles. “From the sides, it looks like a slanted M or W. Except they all have this extra straight line.”

  “Or a Z with two extra lines,” Ari mused, remembering her first impression at the diner.

  “What’s it supposed to be?”

  “A sign left by Chief Blackhawk to lead to something he’d hidden. Maybe the M or W stand for a native word. But Z? Or if it’s a three, three what? Could it be distance? As in steps, feet, or inches?”

  “I doubt if an Indian back in the 1800s would be carrying a tape measure, so I’d guess steps.” The tigress looked around. “Which direction?”

  “Maybe that’s what the extra line is for. It’s at ten o’clock on the M.” Ari stood and walked around the symbol. “About one o’clock, if the figure is a three. Four o’clock on the W. The Z seems to have arms at both one and seven o’clock. To be safe, let’s search three steps out in every direction.”

  They ended up checking the entire cave floor. Ari tried to keep their efforts away from the ley lines, but in truth the minor interruptions wouldn’t be noticed. All ley lines simply re-drew themselves through inanimate objects and around living beings.

  After an hour of examining and patting, attempting to pry up pieces of rock and cleaning more surface to looking for additional etchings, they were no closer to a solution than when they arrived. Finally, ignoring the symbol, they conducted another search of the entire room, checking every niche in the walls that was large enough to hide something the size of a hawk’s egg.

  The male weretiger stuck his head into the cave entrance, asking questions and offering his own suggestions. When Andreas suddenly appeared behind him several minutes later, the tiger’s face reflected immediate guilt.

  “Fine job of guarding the Chamber,” Andreas said dryly.

  “Sorry, Andreas. I was just—”

  “Yes, I can see what you were doing. No harm done, but I suggest you return to your post.”

  “I don’t think you need me either.” The tigress brushed past Andreas, ducking her head to hide a knowing smile.

  “Thanks for helping.” Ari rolled her eyes at the tigress’s actions. Why did everyone assume she and Andreas always wanted to be alone?

  “Any luck?” He focused his attention on Ari.

  “We found the symbol, but it’s done us no good. Is this anything you’ve seen before?”

  The vampire took his time, circling the crude etching twice. He finally crouched and ran his long fingers over the carving. “I have seen this before in other cave drawings. I think this part is a lightning or energy symbol.” He traced the marks. “No doubt referring to the ley lines. This extra line is puzzling.”

  “Lightning.” Ari blew out a puff of exasperation. “It’s so obvious, when somebody points it out.” She ruffled his hair with one hand. “Think you’re smart, don’t you?”

  “No, but I am glad you think so.” He reached over to wipe a smudge from her forehead. “Are you about through playing in the dirt?”

  “For today, I guess. I don’t know where else to look. We’ve searched everywhere. If the stone is in here, it’s well hidden.” She squatted and began to cover the carving.

  “Why are you hiding it? We have the guards outside.”

  Finished, she stood, scuffled the area with the toe of her shoe, and dusted off her hands. “Being careful. When black magic is involved, anything is possible, and I don’t intend to make it easy for anyone else. He or she got in once before without being noticed.”

  * * *

  Two hours later, Ari had put the puzzle of the cave aside in favor of a more personal issue. She watched Gabriel and Claris fuss over Sneaky, the kitten that was so adept at laying traps for his unsuspecting siblings. The lively white male with the black nose and black tips on his ears was undoubtedly striking, and his loud purr signaled his contentment to be Gabriel’s selection. Ari was glad to see they’d made a strong connection.

  “Claris told me you were worried about his care when I’m not home,” Gabriel said, glancing at Ari. “So we agreed he’d come to visit here at the shop at least twice a week. Claris would be around, and he’d also have cat time with Hernando.” He sent her an impish look. “Sound good?”

  Ari hid her dismay behind a feeble smile. Actually, it sounded awful. That meant Gabriel would be here twice a week, amusing Claris with his flirtatious manners. What mere mortal could resist that?

  When had they come up with this solution? Gabriel must have arrived very early for his appointment. She had almost moved the meeting to Andreas’s house and even mentioned the odd arrangement to Andreas, but he’d said there was nothing to worry about. Right. At least she’d arrived in time to monitor part of the visit, although it appeared she’d missed a lot.

  No, she wasn’t at all happy with twice-a-week play dates. Gabriel’s open interest in her friend was bad enough, but Ari was more alarmed by how Claris was flirting back. With Claris’s steady boyfriend, Brando, out of town way too often, Ari had a nasty suspicion Gabriel was thinking about stepping in. And Claris wasn’t ready to handle the vampire scene—would never be ready.

  “Um, well, he could come visit Bella,” Ari said. “There’s always someone at our place.”

  “Great idea. That would mean even more company for him. Time with both of his parents.” Gabriel grinned at her, and Ari was sure he knew she’d meant instead of coming to Claris’s. “This will work out fine.” The kitten turned his head and rubbed against Gabriel’s chin. “See, Edmund thinks so too.”

  “Edmund?” Despite her annoyance with him, Ari chuckled. “Wasn’t that your given name?”

  “It was. Named after my maternal grandfather. Doesn’t he look like an Edmund?” Gabriel held the cat aloft. “There was supposed to be an Edmund in every generation. This is the best I can do.” A cloud flitted across his face and quickly disappeared.

  Ari looked to see if Claris had noticed. On rare occasions Gabriel acted as if he still regretted his vampire life, even after two centuries, but Ari hadn’t seen him so transparent before. Something had triggered those old regrets. Was it Claris who
was making him think about what could have been? Her friend seemed oblivious to Gabriel’s fleeting mood. A moment later, the vampire was again laughing at Edmund’s antics.

  “So, where’s Andreas?” he asked. “I thought he’d be here. I wanted to talk with him about the dwarves guarding the cave entrance. It’s drawing attention.”

  “Can’t be helped. We have to have them. When we left the caves this afternoon, I think Andreas went straight to the club. Some problem with the chef’s staff.”

  “Why were you in the caves?” Gabriel’s tone was curious. “Are the rumors true about a buried treasure?”

  “Goddess, no. There’s no hidden treasure. Well, an Indian artifact could be hidden there, but it may not be worth much except to the Indians. A few trespassers have been looking for it, or maybe just messing around.” She decided not to mention the ley lines in front of Claris. It wasn’t a trust issue, but Claris would be safer if she didn’t know. Ari tried to shelter her best friend from Otherworld matters whenever she could. She gave Gabriel a pointed look, hoping he’d understand not to mention Spirit Cave. As Andreas’s second in command, he must have known about the ley lines before she did. “One of the trespassers may have been Jase Barron. I’d like to find and remove this artifact before someone else gets hurt.” She suddenly grinned. “I guess you heard about the ghost.”

  His eyes twinkled in response. “Woo woo. I wished I had seen it. Any idea who put it there?”

  “What ghost?” Claris broke in. “Nobody said anything about a ghost. Is it real?”

  “No, of course not. Real ghosts don’t appear as white apparitions.”

  “How was I to know?” Claris muttered. “You come up with some strange things.”

  Ari explained the enchantment they’d found and how she’d gotten rid of it.

  “So, who put it there?” Gabriel repeated.

  “I don’t know, but whoever it was, they’re very skilled at magic.”

  “You mean another witch?”

  “Maybe. Or a wizard. I’ve felt…something in the air around town, and the lab at the Magic Council has noticed fluctuating energy readings. I don’t like it. It’s creepy.” She twitched her shoulders.

  Claris turned to stare at her. “You think it’s creepy? Now I’m worried.”

  “Don’t be.” Gabriel put a playful arm around Claris’s waist. “Edmund and I will keep you safe.”

  Claris giggled. Yes, giggled, and Ari suppressed a groan. Gabriel was too damn charming.

  * * *

  Thirty minutes later, Ari gave up waiting for Gabriel to leave first and stood to go. When he said he’d walk with her, she hid her surprise and waited while he put the kitten in a box.

  Edmund complained so loudly at this indignity that they covered the first two blocks without any conversation. The kitten finally quieted.

  “I promise I won’t hurt her,” Gabriel said.

  Ari kept walking without comment. He didn’t have to explain he was referring to Claris, but Ari was hesitant to get into this conversation. Andreas had rather strongly hinted it was none of her business. He might be right, but it didn’t change the worry she felt.

  “You remember how I once told you about Miss Charity Worthington and the London Spring Ball?” he asked.

  “The girl you admired but never had a chance to dance with.”

  “Yes, that’s the one. Claris is very like her. When I look at your friend, she reminds me of a different life.” He fell silent.

  So that was the regret she had seen in the kitchen. Nostalgia for 1815, the year Andreas and Gabriel became vampires. Their carefree lives of parties and dances as young aristocrats during England’s Regency period had been ended by the same vampiress, transforming them only two months apart. Ari couldn’t imagine how traumatic that event must have been, but surely Andreas’s acceptance was healthier than holding on to all this angst.

  “Claris’s life is different than ours too,” Ari said softly. “She may live and work among Otherworlders, but she’s not one of us. She’s human. She’s gentle. Inside, very deep where it counts, and I want to keep her that way.”

  “I understand…and I agree.” He shifted the box in his arms, and they walked in silence. When he spoke again, he turned the conversation to the missing bloodstone. “So, tell me more about your visit to the caves and what’s going on.”

  Ari frowned over his abrupt change of subject but decided to let it go. After all, what more was there to say? She filled him in on the other events as they walked, including the autopsy and the search for the bloodstone.

  Gabriel’s normally smiling face was solemn by the time she finished. “How are you going to find this psychic killer? Or the artifact?”

  “If we find the bloodstone, the killer may find us. I’ll see what I can learn about Blackhawk online, but I don’t expect to discover anything there to interpret the cave drawing.”

  “Have you considered that you’re over thinking this? Surely this Indian chief wouldn’t have made it that complicated. He didn’t have precision instruments, did he?”

  “Not likely. The tigers and I talked about whether it was something obvious. Simple and obvious.” She stopped and turned to look at him, her voice eager. “At the time we didn’t know what the symbol was, but Andreas pointed out it could be lightning. But if he’s right, there’s an extra arm. What if it’s a simple pointer? We searched the floor around the symbol, but maybe we should have been following the direction of that line instead.”

  “No time like the present to test the theory.” Gabriel’s face lit as he caught her enthusiasm. “I’ll drop Edmund off, so he can start getting used to my place, and I’ll meet you at the entrance. I haven’t been on a good treasure hunt since…never.”

  * * *

  As Ari crossed the road that led to the cliffs and rounded the trees concealing the opening to the cave, she was still thinking about Claris and Gabriel. In spite of this distraction, she noticed it immediately. The stench of sulfur. Her witch senses began to race, and she came to a stop, staring ahead in shock. The tunnel entrance was totally blocked by large boulders, as if the earth had heaved up and crumbled in upon itself. Nearby trees and brush had been uprooted. A black fog hung over the scene.

  Black magic. And recent.

  She punched in Andreas’s number, in this case, the equivalent of dialing 911. She told him what she’d found. The vampires could open this faster than anyone else. The tunnel guards could be crushed or trapped inside. At this hour of night, it should have been protected by vampires, and yet there was no evidence of them. She heard nothing. Felt no trace of vampiric life.

  What she did feel was like worms crawling up her arms and legs. Ari shivered as she waited.

  Andreas and Gabriel arrived together with a group of vampires and staff from the club. They began pulling at the boulders, tossing trees, bushes, and rocks aside as they worked to free anyone who might be trapped. Ari had also called Ryan, and the human crew soon set up spotlights on the area. Gabriel took four vampires and shimmied over the cliff edge to enter the caverns from the riverside. He planned to backtrack to the Chamber of Ages, check the ley tunnel and eventually reach the collapsed tunnel entrance from the inside.

  “This goes deep.” Andreas emerged from between the mounds of rock and debris they were creating. “We are already in fifteen feet, and it is still a dense mass. No sign of our guards.” Ari felt his smoldering anger, a gnawing presence against her witch senses. “I cannot sense their life forces. Black magic or not, someone is going to suffer for this.”

  She laid a hand on his arm. “Don’t give up. Perhaps they were taken captive.”

  He waved an impatient hand. “Unlikely. They are of no value to a conjurer. Consider what he did to Barron. Do you really think he would spare a couple of vampires?”

  Ari watched his angry steps as Andreas strode back to the excavation. He might be right about his vampire guards, but he was wrong about one thing. She’d gathered her own impressions by wal
king around the area, and whoever had done this wasn’t merely a conjurer. Too many separate traces of energy lit up the immediate area. It was a group of conjurers, most likely a witches’ coven—a coven invoking the dark arts.

  Chapter Nine

  Ordered to stay out of the way by the frantically digging vampires, Ari bit her nails and paced circles around the debris until she heard Gabriel’s voice coming from the other side. She ran over to tug on the last boulder. As Andreas rolled it to one side, Gabriel stuck his head through the opening. Like everyone else in or near the digging, rock dust streaked his face and clothes.

  “No sign of the guards.” He smeared the grime with one hand as he attempted to clear his face. “But the intruders were inside. Spirit Cave is barricaded by a field of fire. I couldn’t get close enough to see if there was anyone or any damage inside.”

  Clever witches. Fire was the one element vampires feared. If it touched them, they would ignite and burn to cinders in less than a minute or two. A quick but very painful death. Not even the bravest vampire would consider testing a fire barrier.

  Clever, yes, but not nearly as clever as they thought. Ari tapped her right-hand fingers against her leg and smiled grimly at their mistake. Fire held no terror for a witch who could shoot flames from her fingertips and command the ancient fire spirits.

  “Let’s take a look.” She glanced at Ryan, who had stayed with her throughout the rescue attempt. “Can you finish things up out here?” In order for the area to be safe again, more excavation and cleanup needed to be done.