by Holly Hook
“He was joking,” Alyssa said. “That would make his point, but you don't want her as an enemy. Leon had power, and she's his daughter.”
“I know he was kidding,” I said.
The voices approached. Primrose was still telling Xavier that she'd get to it when she got back from Italy. What was she going to do in Italy, anyway? Drink fine wine with the other Elders?
“This is an important trip,” Primrose said. “It will enable me to research our family history and our connection with the god Mars.”
The two appeared in the hallway that led to the tearoom. Xavier had flushed, and the air smelled of wood smoke times two. Primrose gave off eggs and biscuits, along with the wood smoke. The air electrified as Xavier approached.
“That can wait,” Xavier said. “You want to go because it makes you feel better about yourself. Isn't it good enough to be the leader of Cumberland's Underground? The Elders almost didn't give you the position. My mother should have gotten it.”
He hit one of Primrose's buttons, because she flushed. Her fists clenched, and the air got more electric as the two of them stepped into the room. It was as if Alyssa and I no longer existed.
“Do not speak like that, young man,” she said. “If your mother wasn't back, then you wouldn't be staying in this house.”
“My mother should be the leader, and you know it,” Xavier said.
The biscuits and eggs smelled amazing. It was flowing through Primrose's blood and calling my name.
I shook my head. Trying to bite the leader of Cumberland's Underground wouldn't get me far in this new life. I backed away, and it was the most painful thing I'd ever done.
“What's going on down here?” someone else asked.
Xavier's going-on-fourteen sister, Liliana, stood in another doorway. She wore her kitten T-shirt today, complete with pink sparkles. The two of us had been the map girls while Alyssa and Xavier went out to rescue the mayor's captives, and we'd become sort-of friends during that time.
She had been the one to first suspect I was Turning and had brought up the idea when I first felt queasy and feverish.
And she smelled like pizza. Fresh, glorious pizza.
My stomach gave one last demanding roar, and I rushed for her.
“Janine?”
“Janine!” Xavier roared.
Liliana backed into the hallway, raising her hands to defend herself. A magenta glow burst to life around them as I closed the distance.
Xavier wrapped his arm around my neck and pulled me back.
He must have moved fast—faster than any human should.
“Let me go!” I shouted. My hair stood on end as Liliana, wide-eyed, backed away and kept that War Magic aimed at me. She had once set a demon's pants on fire. Her T-shirt might make her look harmless, but she was anything but, even though she had no battle partner yet.
“See?” Xavier asked his aunt. “We're already having problems!”
“Let go of me!” I shouted. All logic fled.
“Xavier?” Primrose asked in shock. “How did you do that?”
A god had me in a chokehold. His wrist slipped up my neck and closer to my face. The blue vein waited under his skin. The wood smoke and the familiar scent of Mom's brownies filled the world. Xavier had processed it into a form I could use.
“We've got to get her out of here,” Xavier said, turning me around. He was stronger than me. In his shock, he might not notice yet. “Alyssa, help me.”
I couldn't hold back anymore.
His wrist was at the right angle for me to sink my teeth into his flesh.
Chapter Six
“Janine—ouch!”
A liquid form of brownies and exotic wood smoke gushed from Xavier's vein as I kept my teeth in his wrist. He tensed with pain and cursed. I couldn't control what I was doing. This chased the pain in my gut away and filled me with what felt like life itself. Strength flowed into my limbs. My senses popped. Colors grew more vibrant. Life crackled through every cell of my body, electric. I didn't want to stop. Xavier cursed with greater volume and added some creative ones, but I maintained my grip.
Alyssa shouted my name. “Get off him!”
Her voice broke my hunger.
I was betraying my best friend.
I let go, aware of the two holes in Xavier's wrist, and he let go of me.
Catching my breath, I staggered away, a new life pulsing through me. Before I could say a word or utter an apology, the world flashed magenta and a ball of crackling light sailed for me.
It struck.
I flew off my feet, pushed by the magic, and landed on my back. The chandelier hung above me and the candles flickered as if laughing at me. My back hurt from the impact with the floor.
Liliana had attacked me.
And I'd deserved it.
I blinked, stunned, watching the candles settle into more steady flames. Could I see better than before? Even through the glass of the chandelier, I could see the grains of the candle wicks. Or maybe I was just noticing things better now that the gnawing hunger had vanished.
Liliana stood over me, fists clenched. “Don't do that to my brother again.”
I sighed, unsure whether to feel relieved or horrified. “I deserved that.”
“Yes, you did!” she shouted.
“You know,” I said. “You're a lot like Xavier.”
Liliana raised her hands again. “Don't say that!”
“Maybe it's true, sis,” Xavier said. He seethed with pain. “I'm healing. It's okay, and it made my point.”
I blinked and sat up. The whole Lovelli residence had become more vibrant since biting Xavier's wrist. I hadn't even taken that much, but I felt like I'd stay sated for the rest of the week. Was this how it would feel every time this happened? Alyssa hadn't told me anything about her senses getting stronger after biting anyone.
I had just bitten her boyfriend.
Her god boyfriend.
In front of her.
And I liked every second of it.
I sat up, wanting nothing more than to run away, but Alyssa rushed over and offered her hand. She stood between me and Liliana, which was a relief.
I wanted to ask if she were mad, but I had the sense that letting her calm down first might be a good idea. Even though she wore her brown contact lenses, I could detect the anger in her eyes, an anger she was trying to hide. In fact, I could see the crimson on the other side of those lenses with more clarity than before. What was happening?
“Get up,” she said.
I took her hand and obeyed, standing with more grace than I had ever managed.
Xavier had the blood equivalent of an energy drink.
“Alyssa, I didn't mean to do it,” I managed.
“I know you didn't,” she said, glaring at Primrose. The new Elder stood at the doorway of the main room, tight-lipped. I knew she was trying to come up with a way to make this Xavier's fault. The woman would not let go of her prejudices.
Liliana stood against the wall.
And Xavier still clutched his wrist, which had brilliant red blood smeared on the surface. I had never seen a red so alive. It was beautiful.
I forced myself to look away before Alyssa caught me watching. I felt as if I had just been checking out Xavier naked.
He seethed one last time as I focused on a Primrose painting. Alyssa kept her hand on my wrist, trying to keep me from pulling that stunt again.
I had just—
But every ounce of my hunger had vanished. I felt strong.
The donor blood in the basement had done nothing compared to this.
“Xavier,” Primrose said. “Why did you do that?”
I could hear the nerves in her voice. The air took on that metallic smell. She was asking how he had managed to pull me away from his sister. Everyone in the room must have seen his superhuman speed.
He also shouldn't have been able to hold me in place.
“Let's go,” Alyssa said. She was speaking to all of us.
“
Liliana stays here,” Xavier said. He released his wrist. There was still some blood on his skin, which had healed. I knew Alyssa and Xavier's bond had always made him heal fast, but it had never been within a minute.
“I do not,” she said.
“Yes, you do,” Xavier said, ruffling her hair.
“I'm not useless.”
I had almost attacked her instead. Liliana would have taken a bite much harder than her brother. She was a regular War Mage, and one who hadn't taken on a battle partner yet. So she wasn't even as powerful as a normal War Mage like Primrose.
I turned away and left the Lovelli residence.
Alyssa walked out right behind me.
“Janine,” she said.
“I know you're mad,” I said.
“I'm not,” she lied. Voices betrayed everything now. Was my hearing better, too? I could detect undertones and emotions in words.
“I didn't know what else to do,” I said.
“I know you didn't. It's not your fault you're here.”
The two of us walked in silence away from the Lovellis' doors, and Xavier came out after us a moment later. “Girls,” he said. “We can't separate. Whoever's kidnapping vampires might be down here. They have access. I hope that my aunt thinks about what just took place.”
I gulped. “That's not something I want to think about."
“Janine, you didn't hurt me,” Xavier said. “You still should have bitten my aunt.”
“She would have killed me. Your sister already tried.”
“She was in shock,” Xavier said. He held up his wrist. A few tiny drops of water clung to the hairs on his skin. My vision had just taken steroids. How powerful was Xavier's blood, anyway?
“You were swearing,” Alyssa said.
“It didn't feel good.”
“Which means I hurt you,” I said. I had to smooth this over. The tension made the air thick. I felt as if I were walking underwater. “I shouldn't have done it, but I lost control.”
“Our favorite bartender didn't have much to give her,” Alyssa said. Why wouldn't she say she was angry at me? I wished she would. It would help clear the air.
Xavier eyed the floor as he walked. His breathing had a nervous catch with each breath. I hadn't heard that before, either. The colors on the tiles popped as if I were walking through the world's most brilliant painting. I couldn't stop staring at everything.
But I knew now wasn't the time to bring my enhanced senses up. Maybe this was normal after biting someone. I didn't want to turn the attention to Xavier's changes when Alyssa didn't want me to. That would do wonders to calm the tension between us.
Xavier kept trying. “It happens. Maybe it's a good thing, because Primrose saw how you got. It wasn't your fault.”
I couldn't get Xavier's curse words out of my head. “We need a solution, so it doesn't happen again.”
I heard Alyssa give a relieved sigh. I was heading in the right direction with dissolving the tension.
“Why don't you two find an empty room?” Xavier asked. “I'll ask around to see who else has gone missing. There's still the possibility that Trish is down here, and we missed her.”
“I thought we had to stick together?” Alyssa asked.
He made another right move. Xavier kissed Alyssa for what dragged out into seconds, which dropped the tension level even more. “They're not after me,” he said.
“Good point,” Alyssa said. “I've got my sword.”
“Good,” he said, smiling at her. The violet in his eyes gave off more energy than before, but maybe that was just me. Alyssa didn't seem to notice. “Find a room and hang tight. The one Janine and her mom stayed in might still be open, so you can take that.”
“Or the one I stayed in,” Alyssa said.
Xavier gave her a charming smile and walked down the corridor, toward Thorne's dojo. I had only seen it once, along with the underground garden, so I did not need to go.
Alyssa found a wooden door that opened into a room with a single bed. It had a fur blanket and a dresser full of clothes in her size. She closed the door, and we didn't bother to light any candles. I could see in here even though the color vanished.
And I could still see with amazing clarity that trumped anything I'd had before.
“Alyssa, I'm sorry.”
She sighed and sat on the bed. “I know you didn't do it on purpose. Thanks for not mentioning anything about how fast Xavier healed.”
“Why can't you tell him he's like a god?”
“He is a god, Janine. Thoreau said so, and after what I've seen, I believe it. He moved too fast for a human when he stopped you from attacking his sister. I don't think he even realized because he feared for her.”
“A War God?” I asked.
Alyssa shook her head. Maybe this was the reason she'd been sharp with me. “When the mayor chained him in the place of the dead War God, his eyes changed. The energy in the room got intense. Mars's eyes were pure violet, and now Xavier's are. Thoreau needed a War God for his rite, just as he needed the other Dark Council members.”
“Hasn't he noticed?” I asked. “How has he not figured it out?”
“You've seen Xavier's family,” Alyssa said. “I've been around him long enough to know how he is. People make fun of him for being a Lovelli because they're not well liked in the poorer parts of the Underground. They call him a snob and a peacock, and he hates that label. He might suspect that something's different about him, but I know he will freak out at the thought of being a god.”
“Because?” I asked. What had drinking his blood done? I had just ingested divine blood. Even Alyssa hadn't done that. She had bitten Xavier before his changes.
“He's been dodging around it, trying to find any other explanation for what's happened to him,” Alyssa said. “Xavier knows he's different. He keeps saying that the mayor just infused him with a bunch of extra War Magic that was lying around, and that it might wear off after a while. Xavier might want his honor, but he doesn't want to stand out. And if Primrose finds out about this, she'll kick him out of the house or maybe even try something worse. He'd be too big of a threat to her power.”
“Okay,” I said. “I can understand that.” Had I put him in danger? Primrose had seen how fast he healed. If he were lucky, she'd chalk it up to Alyssa's influence. She had excuses she could pull.
But if not—
And if Primrose were anything like her father—
Or my mother—
“You did a good job glossing things over,” Alyssa said.
“Liliana attacked me,” I said.
“You even smoothed things over with her by saying you deserved it,” Alyssa said. “She will be powerful, so it was a good thing to do. The two of you need to stay friends.”
“I will forever associate kittens with War Magic and getting blasted across the room,” I said.
Alyssa laughed.
“Their meows are deadly,” I said.
“That just put a picture in my head,” Alyssa said. “How are you feeling?”
The tension returned. “Better,” I said. “Much better. I didn't even take that much.”
“Xavier's not human anymore,” Alyssa said, turning her gaze to the dresser. “We don't know what effect his blood will have on you.”
“I can see better,” I said.
She stared at me. “What?”
“Everything has more detail. Maybe it's like one of those energy drinks that promises you some wings?”
She laughed, even though there was a tension in it. “It could be a temporary thing,” Alyssa said.
“I think I can hear better, too.”
“I'm not surprised. Do you feel different in any other way?”
“No. I'm not, like, Bound to Xavier, am I?”
“You're not. There has to be a special rite to get marked. The bite was only to make our bond strong.” She rolled up her sleeve to show the crossed swords on her skin. It was a silent plea for me to do the same. I did, and turned over my arm, but
found nothing on the soft skin of my forearm. Alyssa sighed in relief. “It looks like it might just be a temporary effect. Like an energy drink as you said.”
“Only stronger,” I said. “I'll keep this a secret from him."
I knew the threat of getting kicked out of your home all too well.
And Xavier already hated that he was a War Mage. Being a deity would only worsen the situation for him. He must fear letting power get to his head, just as I feared screwing up in front of my mother or hurting someone. I'd trust Alyssa's judgment on that.
“Thanks,” Alyssa said. “He'll figure it out when he stops aging, or something. Hey, we won't age past twenty-five, either.”
“No wrinkles,” I said. “Ever.”
“At least you've still got your sense of humor,” Alyssa said.
* * * * *
Xavier never found Trish anywhere. She was missing as she had no reason to leave the Underground during the daytime.
He looked worried, too, when he got back in the hallway. I heard him coming before Alyssa did. We were sitting on the bed, talking about how Mr. Connors would ding us on missing homework when we started classes, when I heard his footsteps approaching. I recognized his gait now. He dragged his left foot the tiniest bit and had worn out the sole of that shoe more than the other thanks to that.
I cracked open the door, letting the color explode again. Xavier met us in the hallway and cast his violet gaze on me. He looked as if he had magenta flames in his eyes. I hadn't noticed that before, either.
So far, the effects of his blood weren't wearing off.
“I checked around,” Xavier said. “Thorne must not be down here so I can't ask him if he has any missing students. But I saw no other vampires. I ran into Les though.”
Les was a werewolf who didn't like the Lovellis. It brought back Alyssa's point.
“I'm sorry,” Alyssa said.
“He hasn't seen any vampires, either,” Xavier said. “I think we have a big missing person's case going on here.”
“Then where do we look next?” Alyssa asked.
“Where would Bathory hide?” Xavier asked. “She's not in the Underground. Even Primrose wouldn't tolerate having her down here."