Vampire's Crucible

by Yvette Bostic

  “It’s good to finally meet you, Alisandra,” the older man said with a clipped British accent. “My name is William, and this is my son, Thomas.” Though the father and son bowed, neither offered to shake hands. Not that I minded. I hated when people tested my magic.

  I returned his smile. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  Kellen cleared his throat and pulled out the chair directly across from William, motioning for me to sit. “This is King William and Prince Thomas,” Kellen said. “They are the European mages’ royal family.”

  My face flushed with embarrassment. He could’ve told me that before we walked in the room. I’d made a complete idiot of myself.

  “Please excuse my rudeness,” I said, trying not to scowl at my partner. “My knowledge of the mage families is extremely limited, including my own ancestry.” I bowed slightly and took my seat, my face still flaming.

  Kellen sat on my right, directly across from Thomas, and Logan sat on my left. Jim and Ezekiel filled the two chairs separating us from the rest of the mage council.

  “Consider it forgotten, my dear,” King William replied, taking his seat. “We are not here to judge your etiquette. We were invited by your partner to discuss your proposed… field trips.”

  His smile deepened along with my embarrassment. I clasped my hands in my lap to keep from slapping Kellen. I’d expected Marshall to repeat the conversation we had, but I’d also expected Kellen to clean it up. Just one more reason I shouldn’t be leading the North American mages.

  King William chuckled. “You are a joy to watch. I would’ve loved to hear that conversation coming from you.” He glanced at my partner. “Kellen lacks the required facial expressions.”

  I suppressed my grin. Even though William was right, I wouldn’t publicly demean my partner. “I might have been a little too harsh,” I said, “but I believe many of our problems could be solved by socializing our mages with the others. Am I correct in assuming that you also have single mages who are unable to find partners?”

  “You’re correct, princess. My son has been single for much longer than is suitable for a prince.” He laughed, the wrinkles on his face bouncing with the movement.

  My face flushed again, the heat reaching my ears and neck. I’d meant mage partners, not romantic partners, though I had a feeling King William knew that and was toying with me. Thomas coughed and I glanced at him. The edges of his mouth twitched, his eyes gleaming with humor.

  “I apologize, my dear. It’s refreshing to have someone speak to me like a person and not a king. Too many of my court watch every word that flows from their mouth.” He ran his bony fingers through his thin hair. “But you are correct. We need to coordinate times for our mages to meet. The vampires’ offer of a life free from insanity is too tempting. You are not the only ones to suffer from it.”

  “Forgive my ignorance, but would it be too difficult for our first meeting to be one great big party?” I turned to Jim. “Would that be acceptable for your people?”

  “I think it would put a target on our backs,” Kellen replied before anyone else. “Having that many mages together in one place would put our strongholds at risk.”

  “Do we have that many single mages without partners?” I asked, frowning at him.

  Kellen shifted in his seat, angling his body to face me. “No… I assumed you meant a party for everyone.”

  “Oh, I guess I should’ve clarified that.” I tried not to sound trite, but I was pretty sure I failed. “If the number isn’t too large, do we have a facility to accommodate it? Do we have the resources to make it happen?”

  “Why wouldn’t we start with smaller groups?” Thomas’ deep baritone surprised me. It was melodious and so unexpected from his thin frame.

  “Forgive my bluntness, but Jack is going to retaliate after last night’s losses,” I replied, giving my attention to the prince and trying to sound more refined than I really was. “We need to convince our mages that there’s an alternative to the vampires’ offer. They have to know that we’re fighting for them.” I shifted my gaze to Kellen. “That their lives have more meaning to their mage family than the vampires who wish to take them.”

  My partner’s impassive stare softened, and the man I followed blindly a month ago emerged. His people had his heart, which was exactly why I relinquished my leadership to him. Kellen was an ass, but he still cared about what mattered most.

  “I wish I had found you years ago, princess,” William said, drawing my attention. “But we can’t languish in the past. We’ll plan a party at the castle for all the single mages. It will be a three-day event, which will hopefully be enough time for their elements to find each other.” He turned to Jim. “Please be sure to pass the invitation to those in your care. I’ll send messengers to our Asian and African counterparts.”

  “I’ll send word to our South American friends,” Kellen offered. “I also have several people here who excel at coordinating large events and would likely abandon me if I didn’t offer their services to you.”

  “We’ll gladly accept their help,” William said. “Now, tell me about this battle. It’s beyond me why everyone refuses to tell me anything when every mage here witnessed it.”

  “I was late to the party, so I’ll let someone else tell it,” I mumbled.

  “Pardon me, Your Highness, but we have some very important items on our agenda that need to be discussed.” An older gentleman at the far end of the table raised his gravelly voice to be heard. “We would be honored if you’d stay while we make these decisions.”

  “By all means,” William waved a hand at the older man and smiled. “I didn’t mean to monopolize your time.” He leaned back in his seat and folded his arms over his chest. I didn’t miss the smug look on his face. He enjoyed people kowtowing to him. Why wouldn’t he? He called himself a king.

  “Thank you, Your Highness.” The older man turned to me, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Magister, the council would like you to stay at the palace and teach our water mages how to create the enormous shield you created. Several have also requested your healing knowledge.” He paused and looked around the table at the other members. A young man with green eyes nodded. “We’d also like to discuss your air elemental.”

  “May I ask a question?” Thomas interrupted, leaning forward and looking towards the older gentleman.

  I needed to find out his name but couldn’t think of a way to do it without making myself look stupid. As Magister, I should know my council members.

  The old man nodded. “Of course.”

  “You’re asking for the expertise of a young woman who has only known her magic for a month?” the prince asked.

  Several of the council members blushed, but the young man with green eyes spoke up. “I was at the battle last night. We don’t possess the knowledge to do what she did.”

  “But you do,” I argued. “Please don’t be offended, but I believe your ignorance is born of outdated traditions.” I scooted my chair back and stood, leaning over the table so I could see everyone. “As you all know, I have very little training. Kellen and Logan did the best they could in the few weeks they were given. What I do have is the humility to listen to my elementals. I don’t command them, even though I could.” Not. There was no way I’d command either of them.

  I looked down at my vampire. “I love and respect them. I ask for their help and trust their decision when they say no.” Logan winked at me and I smiled, then turned back to the group. “The shield we created last night was not only my doing. Jim’s water mages helped.” I pointed at the dark-skinned mage next to Kellen. “Without them, it couldn’t have happened. The rift in the earth was the same way. They worked together and pooled their strength to create a crevice deep enough to swallow hundreds of vampires. Without the fire and air mages, the crevice was nothing more than a hole in the ground. The fiery tornados raging through the battlefield drove the vampires to the death that waited them.”

  My gaze landed on my partner. “You h
ave all you need except a new perspective. Everything that happened could’ve just as easily been coordinated by you.” I chuckled. “Actually, you probably could’ve done better. I was flying by the seat of my pants hoping nothing fell apart.”

  I dropped back into my chair. The following silence was deafening, and too many eyes stared at me with looks of disbelief.

  “Does that mean you will not stay?” the old man asked.

  “I have a training schedule with my water elemental,” I replied. “After the power he sacrificed for me last night, I won’t deny him my time. I’ve also made promises to continue the search for our stolen mages. None of that can happen here in the palace.”

  “Your elemental is training you?” Thomas asked, not hiding his surprise.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. After my conversation with Göksu, I assumed all royal families had the same relationship with their elements. “Yes. And most everything I know about using air came from my air elemental.”

  He started to ask another question, but his father interrupted. “Who will rule your people if you leave to do these things, Alisandra? Your place is here, leading, not doing the work of a common mage.”

  There it was, the superiority complex of someone born to wealth and privilege.

  “There is no one more qualified to rule our mages than my partner,” I replied, glancing at Kellen. “I trust his decisions completely. Our new council provides guidance and relieves some of the burden required of a single ruler. I don’t wish to insult your method, as it obviously works well for you.” I looked down the table at the group of council members whose names I should I know. “But our people need to have confidence that their interests are being considered. My mother failed to do that. Her selfishness nearly led to our demise. I have complete faith in our council to remember the Magister’s shortcomings and make the best decisions for our people.”

  Smiles of gratitude spread across the faces of the council. They needed to hear that their hard work mattered, even if I wasn’t around to see it.

  “As for my absence, I’ve been granted gifts that I can’t and won’t discuss with you. Staying at the palace doesn’t allow me the freedom to learn how to use them.” I leaned forward, trying to keep my expression polite. “Jack’s retaliation will be brutal. Our fight with him has only just begun. In case you hadn’t heard, he’s using the ogres to fight in his army. It would be wise for us to recruit the other supernatural families before he takes them as well.”

  A hostile look crossed the king’s face for the briefest moment, instantly replaced by a smile. A fake smile, one born from years of practice. “Such wisdom from one so young and ignorant of our ways. We will assist in every way possible, princess.”

  It was impossible to miss the implied insult, but I ignored it. “I never doubted your dedication, Your Highness.” I stood and turned to the old man at the end of the table. “Is there anything else on our agenda?”

  “No, Alisandra, nothing that cannot wait until our next meeting.”

  “You don’t hear it enough, especially from me, but none of this would be possible without you,” I said. “The quick mobilization of our warriors yesterday and the continued functioning of our people is a testament to your dedication and sacrifice. Thank you.”

  Murmurs of acknowledgment followed as everyone stood. I placed my hand on Kellen’s arm, and he looked down at me. “I need to talk to you in private,” I said.

  He raised an eyebrow at me and nodded. I remained by my chair as the others filed out of the room. King William corralled Jim, asking him to tell the story of last night’s battle. Jim glanced at me. Was he asking my permission?

  “I trust you to tell what needs to be told, my friend,” I said, smiling. I had to trust that he wouldn’t reveal Logan. I wasn’t sure how King William would react to a vampire in his midst.

  The two leaders left, leaving me, Kellen, Logan, and Thomas. I suspected the prince had questions about my elementals, questions he should already know the answers to but didn’t. He stood behind his chair, towering over the rest of us. His lanky frame eliminated any sense of intimidation.

  “There’s something you want to ask,” I stated, breaking the silence.

  “I don’t know where to begin,” he said, gripping the back of his chair. “Anything I say will disrespect my family.”

  “Then let’s find a better place to talk,” Kellen suggested, “where there aren’t unwanted ears.”

  “Thank you.”

  Thomas’ obvious relief worried me. Maybe this wasn’t about his elementals.

  “My home or the Magister’s rooms?” Kellen asked, looking down at me.

  “The Magister’s rooms would be best,” I replied, trying to hide my frown. I hated those rooms, but I wasn’t leaving Logan here, and he wasn’t using the portal. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter 18

  Kellen led the way to the rooms that used to belong to my mother. Logan and I fell in line behind the prince. My heart raced as we traversed the winding staircase and stopped in front of the double wooden doors. So much happened behind those doors. My entire life changed in so many ways. We fought my mother and won, releasing the mages from her grasp. Logan revealed the truth of our bonding, creating an unhealable rift between me and Kellen. I glanced at my vampire. He’d also give me his friendship and love, something I’d never had before.

  My partner pulled open the left-hand door and waited for us to enter. My feet wouldn’t move. I hadn’t been in there since we fought my mother and her mage-vampires. Had Kellen cleaned up our mess? Did he replace the broken furniture? I had to assume so or he wouldn’t have offered the room to the prince. Logan gently pushed me forward, and I crossed the threshold.

  A smile slid across my face once I entered. The gaudy pink wallpaper was gone, replaced by a soft sand-colored paint. Hardwood floors ran the length of the room and two dark leather sofas faced each other beneath the undressed windows. Paintings of green meadows and waterfalls hung on each of the walls, adding splashes of color to the room. Everything was now a reflection of Kellen.

  “Please have a seat,” Kellen said, motioning to the sofas. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Wine would be wonderful,” Thomas replied. “Red, if you have it.”

  Kellen nodded. “AJ? Logan?”

  “Water is fine,” I replied, appreciating his efforts to protect Logan.

  “Whiskey,” Logan answered. “You know my favorite.”

  I sat on the sofa facing the door, and Logan joined me. Thomas sat opposite of us, a frown marring his pointed features.

  “What’s on your mind, Your Highness?” I asked.

  “Please just call me Thomas,” he replied. “I’m not my father.”

  “Fair enough. I’m AJ.”

  A faint smile replaced his frown, but only for a moment. “We’ve heard so many rumors about you and Kellen,” he said. “Then the talk of last night’s battle.” He looked out the window at the fading light. “I don’t know what to believe. Does your elemental really talk to you?”

  “They both do,” I replied. “But I’m beginning to think I’m an exception and not in a good way. Kellen would argue differently, but only because I haven’t shared with him everything that’s happened. The more I learn, the more I realize that some higher being controls every part of my life.”

  Kellen handed out drinks and took the space next to Thomas. “Please share, AJ. I’m all ears,” he said, painting on that impassive expression that seemed to become his norm. Before my mother’s death, I got to see his smile frequently.

  I sighed but couldn’t be mad at his resentment. “When that ogre attacked Logan and I the other day, it became obvious I wasn’t equipped to handle what was coming. Not just the physical fight but the strategic one as well. There are too many players and not all of them have our best interest in mind. I fear some of our allies are really the enemy. The story about the attack on Jim’s people doesn’t add up. Compound that with the attack on Victor’s lodg
e, and, well, there are too many inconsistencies. We have traitors we don’t know about.”

  “And that answers none of Thomas’ questions,” Kellen said.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “After our near death with the ogre and its vampire master, my elementals gave me gifts to help fight against them,” I explained, knowing I couldn’t tell the whole truth. “As well as Logan. I’m pretty sure they come with a price. At some point, I’ll be expected to use those gifts to protect us. In order to do that, I need to learn how to use them. We can’t do that here.”

  “So last night was a result of your gifts?” Kellen asked.

  “Yes and no. Everything I said in today’s meeting was the absolute truth,” I replied. “What we accomplished could’ve been done without me, except maybe the healing part at the end. That was another gift from my water elemental.”

  “The increased speed I noticed last night is yet another gift?” My partner gripped his glass of whiskey with both hands, but didn’t drink it, giving away his efforts to maintain his impassive expression.

  I glanced at Thomas, then back to Kellen. I had to assume the prince would tell his father everything we said. Is that why he asked for a private audience? Did he try to make us feel comfortable, hoping we’d reveal more than intended?

  “One of my gifts was increased speed, to level the playing field when the vampires get antsy,” I answered. “It’s proven to be extremely useful.”

  “How many times have you been attacked?” Thomas asked.

  “Once is too many and several is overwhelming,” I replied, evading his question.

  “Yes, I suppose you’re right. Why was Logan given these gifts and not your partner?” the prince questioned. “Would your partner’s magic not be stronger?”