Blood and Fire

Page 5

He shrugged, a familiar mannerism that could mean anything. “I have not heard of any lost treasures in this area. There are stories of smugglers and Indians in the caverns. We’ve found evidence of early inhabitants. Pottery shards, wooden boxes, tools, debris left by ancient workers when they widened the passages. Nothing important that could be carried away and sold.” He grinned down at her. “No pirate gold.”
“There must be something, or Barron wouldn’t have been interested. If only we’d had more time at the boat,” she mused, instantly sorry she’d said that when his eyes narrowed. She hadn’t meant to bring up the explosion, not unless she absolutely had to.
“Were you involved in the fire at the marina?” he asked softly.
“Sort of. Ryan and I were searching the boat just before it blew up.”
“How soon before?”
“Um, we had to jump overboard. But I’m fine, and Ryan’s fine.”
“Arianna, when were you going to mention this?”
He was trying to remain calm, but she heard the tension in his voice.
She stood on tiptoes and kissed his unyielding mouth. “I hoped I wouldn’t have to bring it up.”
His eyes widened. “Did you think I would miss the sirens or that gossip would not eventually reach me?”
“I didn’t want to start another fight. Not today.”
He unbent then. “I am not angry, cara mia. I worry about you.”
“Too much,” she said. “So can we drop it? I’d really like to talk about the caves.”
Andreas sighed, his dark eyes brooding, unconvinced. “Very well. I will take you to the caves whenever you want, but the marks you saw at the cave opening might not be from your victim. They could have been left by children, who venture inside more often than I would like.”
Diverted, Ari asked, “In spite of all the no trespassing signs? What do you do about them?”
“Nothing. We have escorted a couple of the older ones out, but mostly they dart in and out without doing damage. Caves seem to hold a natural fascination for human children. More so when forbidden.”
“I’d like to look anyway. First, I’ll do some checking on local legends. Maybe the historical society can tell me what would tempt a treasure hunter.” She nodded at the papers on his desk. “I’ll let you get back to work. The cats and I will meet you at the house later tonight.” She started to leave but turned back when he spoke again.
“I visited someone today who would interest you. Have you heard of Zylla?”
“No, who is she?”
“An ancient wise woman, who is also an eight-hundred-year-old vampire. She lives inside the caverns and rarely sees outsiders. I told her about our problems with the O-Seven and that you had asked me about the 1329 witch-vampire war. She was part of those deadly battles and agreed to speak with you.”
Ari’s interest sparked. “Really? That would be awesome. Eight hundred years old…is she scary?”
Andreas threw back his head and laughed. “You can decide for yourself when you meet her, but Zylla was seventy-eight when she was transformed.”
“That’s just creepy. Who bites old women?”
“Not all biting is about sex,” he said dryly. “But we will never know her sire’s motivation. Zylla’s existing magical powers were greatly increased by her transformation, and her maker barely lived long enough to regret his actions.”
“Sheesh. She definitely sounds scary.”
“I doubt you will find her so. We will visit soon, but not tonight.” His look made her cheeks grow warm. “Tonight I look forward to settling you and your cats in my home.”
* * *
Ari went to her apartment to pack those things she would need for the next few weeks. Clothes, shoes, potions, her family Book of Shadows, diet coke, her laptop. Strapping her derringer in its ankle holster, she grabbed four boxes of silver bullets and checked that her silver dagger was in its waist sheath. She inspected her sterling silver bracelet to ensure that each protective trinket was there—the miniature cross, the vial of holy water, the amulets. Finally, after begging a sturdy box with a lid from her landlady, Mrs. Morgenstern, she punched air holes in the sides for the kittens. Bella would ride on her shoulder, but the lively young ones would need to be enclosed for safer transportation.
While she waited for some of Andreas’s staff to arrive and help with the move, she took one last look around. Her apartment would be fine in her absence; the landlady had promised to watch for any sign of trouble. Still, the move felt way too permanent. Ari rubbed her neck muscles to relieve the growing tension. It wasn’t long ago that she’d resisted the idea of having any kind of relationship with Andreas. That was before fate, some mysterious magical stuff, and, yes, maybe her hormones got involved. So far she’d chosen not to think about whether her heart had also been lost in the process.
Before she had time to get more anxious about the move, two weretigers arrived with Andreas’s Lexus. They had her, all her belongings, and the cats loaded within minutes.
“Sorry it took us so long to get here.” One of the tigers pushed the final box into place. “Samuel kept us busy today. We’ve been rearranging and adding more security. You’ll see what I mean.”
Ari couldn’t imagine what was causing the fuss, but the weretiger seemed reluctant to talk about it. She figured she’d find out soon enough, so she didn’t push. Her interest piqued again and her trouble antenna went up the moment they reached the gate to Andreas’s property and she spotted the armed guards. The underground garage looked like a military checkpoint, with a mixture of weretigers and wolves.
“Is Andreas at home?” she asked as she exited the car.
The driver swung the car door shut. “He should be. He wanted to be here when you arrived.”
“Good.” She’d save her questions for him. It was obvious something had interrupted the well-oiled routine of his household staff.
Before she got any further in her speculation, Andreas bounded down the stairs and grabbed the box of kittens. He leaned over and planted a quick kiss on her forehead. “Follow me. I think we have everything set up for you.” The smile on his face, like a kid at Christmas, proved she’d made the right decision.
They entered the main Victorian house with its gleaming polished wood, brocaded window dressings, and genuine antiques. Andreas lead the way up the wide staircase, stopping on the second floor to balance the box of kittens under one arm before swinging open a bedroom door. Ari stepped inside, once again admiring the gorgeous stateroom she’d stayed in a time or two in the past year. The Chantilly Suite was decorated in blue and white, cool and frilly, with pillows you could get lost in and Queen Anne furniture; the elegant suite had its own spa area. She stopped at the sight of the adjoining sitting room. It had been kitten-proofed—the furniture removed and replaced by two cat trees, kitty snuggle bags, toys, dishes, and covered litter boxes. A temporary barrier, a latched door that looked like stacked baby gates, would keep feline claws from shredding the rest of the house. The “kitten yard” was larger than Ari’s entire apartment.
“Ooh, perfect.” She watched Andreas open the box of mewing kittens in the center of their playroom. When her children came tumbling out, Bella leaped gracefully from Ari’s shoulder and joined them in sniffing around. “I love it. Thank you.”
Andreas backed out of the kitten yard and closed the gate. There was still plenty of room at the top for Bella to get out when she wanted. The kittens probably wouldn’t climb that high, but Ari decided she’d close the bedroom door whenever she left. Just in case. Better one disaster area than the entire house.
While she unpacked the rest of her things, Andreas lounged against the door frame with a faint smile on his face. For an inscrutable vampire, he could be pretty transparent when he got his way. Which was far too often.
“Are you just going to stand there?”
“I like watching you.”
She looked at him then. “Well, don’t get used to it. This is only temporary.”
He ignored her comment. “Are you about ready to eat? I thought we could go to the club.”
“Through the underground passage I assume.” She turned toward him with a blouse still in her hands. “I noted the added security. Has something happened?”
His face clouded. “A precaution only. Daron called to tell us one of the elders’ enforcers has arrived in Toronto.”
“Enforcer? That sounds bad, like an assassin. Has the O-Seven put a price on Daron’s head?”
“They would not go that far. The enforcers assess compliance with the council’s laws, then take or recommend action to eliminate noncompliance.”
She drew her brows into a scowl. “Isn’t that just a fancy way of saying he’ll try to kill Prince Daron?”
“She. The enforcer is a vampiress named Ursula, one of the first daughters. And she will not move against him directly. Daron still has his sire’s protection.”
“And his sire is one of the O-Seven, although you won’t tell me anything else about him. I guess this mysterious sire got outvoted on the enforcer’s visit. But you still think he can veto an execution order, right?”
“Yes. He has proven that repeatedly.” When she opened her mouth to interrupt, Andreas eyed her. “No, don’t use this as an excuse to question me about his sire. I have told you before that is Daron’s secret to tell. He has what he thinks are sound reasons for concealing the relationship.” Andreas rubbed his chin in thought. “Being a first daughter—”
“I think I know what that is, but can you explain?”
“The first female transformed by an elder. Each elder has a first son and first daughter. Most of them became enforcers and are almost as powerful as the elders. Ursula is physically strong and intimidating, but also skilled in deception. Not a surprise they chose her as a negotiator.”