Blood and Fire

Page 23

“Swearing at yourself?” The werelioness, half of the husband-wife team on Andreas’s security unit, strolled in, glancing at the magical paraphernalia. “I’ve heard of people talking to themselves, but this has to be a new low. Something go wrong with the magic?”
“It’s these damned witches.” Ari stormed. “They’re too clever by half.”
“Yeah, well, I guess I caught you at a bad time. If you’re going to stay in this mood, I may leave again. I only came by because Russell went to Toronto with Andreas.”
Ari’s wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, right. And what about your orders to stay close to me?”
“Huh, now that you mention it, Andreas may have said something about that.” Lilith didn’t look at all perturbed that Ari had guessed her real mission. The lioness dropped her lanky body into a chair, shifting one of two holsters carrying her guns.
Ari sighed. “It sucks that they’re in Canada without us. Ursula is an uber vamp, and she’s had her way for too long. She’s not going to put up with opposition from anybody.”
“I heard all about her when I tracked down Gabriel earlier this evening. He’s really rattled. And I’ve never seen him that way before.”
Ari’s heart skipped a beat. Neither had she. “What exactly did he say?”
“Only what you said. But it sounded much scarier coming from a master level vampire.” She glanced at Ari’s worried face. “Maybe we shouldn’t let Gabriel’s mood worry us so much. He’s got more responsibility than usual. The guards are still missing, and he’s convinced there will be another attack on the caves. That’s a lot to deal with for someone who never wanted to be in charge.”
At least part of what Lilith said was true. Gabriel had made it clear often enough that he had no ambitions to be a prince. It was one of the reasons Ari had eventually learned to trust him. She didn’t have to worry that he’d plot a rebellion against Andreas. But despite his lack of ambition, Gabriel was one smart vampire. If he was worried, they should all be ready for trouble. Gabriel’s concerns only reinforced all the bad feelings Ari already had.
* * *
When Andreas called upon arrival in Toronto, his report did nothing to calm her fears.
“Ursula has collected three or four vampire leaders around her—the older, more traditional ones—but the younger ones are keeping their distance. They are not accustomed to Europe paying attention to them and do not welcome a change. Daron and I hope to encourage their independence. Still, it is a dangerous game. A rebellion could provoke a more serious response from the O-Seven.”
“Like what? What can they do from Europe? Are you saying they would all come traipsing over here?”
He was silent a moment. “They might not need to come. Their combined power is tremendous and can be wielded over distance. I am not sure we want to find out just how far.”
“What would that be like? Would more enforcers come?” she persisted. “Would they start a magical war using their powers? If it comes to a fight, do they do their own fighting or leave it to others?”
“If we were in Europe, they would do all of that and more. The elders fight with their minds, not their bodies.”
“You think they can really reach this far with just their minds?”
“I am afraid so. Probably less effectively than in Europe.” He sighed. “But it could be more than enough against the defenses we could raise.”
“There’s got to be something we can do.”
“I welcome any suggestions.”
“What about this mind thingy we have? Could we do something with that?”
“Mio Dio, Arianna. We are just learning to use the gateway. You cannot expect to take on the O-Seven in that manner.”
Since she didn’t have other immediate ideas, they moved on to talk about his uneventful plane trip and the current status of things in Riverdale. Long after the phone call ended, she thought about the frightening abilities of the O-Seven. Maybe there was something she—as a witch—could do. After all, the O-Seven had failed to wipe out the witches in Europe. The time had definitely come for her to approach Zylla, the wise woman living in the caverns. Nothing like talking to a firsthand historian.
Ari glanced at the clock on her dresser. Midnight. Perfect time to chat with an eight-hundred-year-old vampire.
Chapter Twelve
Once Ari explained Zylla had approved a meeting, Gabriel readily agreed to lead the way into the caverns.
“Consider yourself privileged.” Gabriel carried a lantern through the narrow pathways connecting the caverns. “Zylla doesn’t talk to many.”
Loose pebbles stirred occasionally under their feet, but most of the path was worn smooth. The bouncing light of the lantern made the caves even more mysterious. The musty scent from the damp walls and the presence of vampiric energy blocked any ability for Ari’s magic to give accurate readings on where she was and what dangers might be surrounding her. It made her edgy, and she noted every dark recess along the way.
“What’s she like?” Ari’s voice echoed in the tunnel. “Andreas never said much about her, except she’s old.”
“She was a soothsayer before her transformation.”
“Yeah, I guess he mentioned she was a wise woman. Did he mean witch?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. She has powers beyond those of a vampire, but I haven’t heard what they are. I didn’t meet her until I came to Riverdale, but it’s rumored she’s been in America since the first settlers came. Perhaps she’ll tell you more, if you ask.” He ducked into a smaller tunnel. “We’re almost there.”
As he spoke they turned another corner, and the path opened into a small chamber. Ari took in the sight before her. A woman with white hair falling to her waist sat next to a wood fire, stirring a pot of boiling liquid. Or so it seemed. The fire wasn’t real; it was a very realistic illusion. The pot emitted a faint smell of root beer that tickled Ari’s nose. Sassafras oil. What would a vampire do with that particular witches’ brew?
Finally, Ari took in the old-fashioned, multicolored skirt, the black top, and matching shawl draped over the woman’s arms. It all seemed like a carefully staged scene from the past.
Zylla looked up, her eyes glinting with interest at sight of Gabriel. “Ah, I had not expected to see you tonight. You honor an old woman.”
Gabriel bowed to her. “As if I could keep my distance from a beautiful woman.” He gave a flirtatious grin. “I have brought someone who is most anxious to meet you.”
“The Guardian.” Zylla turned her head to study Ari. “Andreas says you have many questions for me.”
“Yes, I do. If you don’t mind.” Ari stood a little awkwardly, not knowing what she was supposed to do. How did you greet an eight-hundred-year-old vampire who looked about as scary as your grandmother? “My name is Arianna, and I’m honored that you agreed to see me.”
The old vampiress laughed. “How could I resist Andreas’s request? I am old, but I still have a weakness for the flattery of handsome young men. He spoke fondly of you.”
Ari blushed, wondering what he’d said. Did this woman know they were lovers? Would she care?
“I had heard of you before he came and was curious.” Zylla peered at her. “You are a witch.”
Relieved the woman had steered the conversation onto safe grounds, Ari answered readily enough. “Yes. From the Calin bloodline.”
“I knew Talaitha. Lovely woman.”
Ari immediately warmed toward the vampiress. “My great-grandmother. She raised me, and I still miss her.”
“Very proper that you should. Come, sit, child. I once had some of your skills. Not many, for my witch blood was sadly thinned, but I had some ability to see the future and for healing. I can still make a comforting illusion and a useful potion or two.” She pointed her wooden spoon at the pot. “A dwarf I know suffers from rheumatism.”
Ari nodded. A logical use of sassafras. She sat down cross-legged next to the fire and immediately noticed there was no heat radiating from it. If she placed her hand in it, she’d feel nothing. That meant the pot was being warmed by a separate spell and Zylla had retained more tricks than she’d implied. Gabriel perched on a rocky ledge, a smile tugging at his lips as he watched the two women assess each other.
“I have no talent for prophecy,” Ari confessed. “My witch mentor, Moriana, is very good at practical prophecy involving the near future. Visitors coming, phones ringing. That sort of thing. I never could get the hang of it, even though I tried several times.” She stopped, realizing she was babbling. The old witch made her nervous. Ari took a steadying breath. “Did Andreas tell you about our problems with the O-Seven?”
Zylla waggled her white head. “He mentioned it. Don’t take them lightly, my dear.”
“I’m not. That’s why I’m so interested in the vampire-witch war back in 1329. How did the witches survive? Is there a spell or enchantment that will protect us from the elders?”
The old woman pursed her lips in thought. “Nothing is foolproof. And the witches never won that war. The conflict continues today, carried on by the Witches’ League. I will tell you what I know, but I cannot predict if it will help you. My gift of prophecy was changed by the vampiric transformation. I no longer see the future with clarity.” She grinned, showing yellowed fangs. “Nothing wrong with my memory though. I can tell you about the past as if it was yesterday. How much do you know of that time in history?”
“Almost nothing, except humans call it the Middle Ages.”
Zylla nodded vaguely as she stirred her pot again. “By 1329 the crusades were over. So was the famine. The Knights Templar had been murdered, and the plague was not yet upon us. Europe was in turmoil; the Hundred Years’ War was brewing. In that atmosphere, it is not surprising that Otherworlders would begin their own quests for power. The vampires began to extend their influence beyond the forests of Germany into territories that had long belonged to the witches. Clashes were inevitable.” The old woman stopped and gave Ari a questioning look. “But perhaps you do not want to hear the details of this ancient history.”