Vampire's Crucible

by Yvette Bostic

  “I felt the same pain,” I added. “I’m not willing to risk our lives either. If one of us doesn’t make it, we’re both done.”

  Kellen’s perpetual frown deepened. “I can’t change the portal’s access, because we’d have to change all of them. Not only is that a security risk, we’d have to explain ourselves. I’m not prepared to do that.”

  “So, we’ll be traveling the normal way,” I said. “I hope you have a passport, Logan.”

  He smiled, but it wasn’t very convincing. “I’ve never been able to use the portals, princess. Of course I have a passport.”

  “That’ll complicate things for AJ, though,” Kellen stated, giving me his attention as he sat down again. “They’ll expect you to use the portal to attend your field trip at the castle.”

  “I’m not willing to chance it, Kellen,” I argued.

  “Even if I create the illusion of a live body around you?” Kellen asked. “If your tiny body could fool the portal’s magic into thinking Logan was alive, surely mine can protect you. Especially because you’re very much alive.”

  His logic made sense, even if it didn’t explain why our method no longer worked with me and Logan.

  “What about Logan?” I countered. “Will he be boarding a plane the day before in order to get to our field trip on time?”

  “I won’t be going,” Logan replied.

  My eyes searched his, finding the same sadness. I should’ve guessed as much. If King William discovered a vampire at his castle, we’d both be dead. A tiny crack in my heart beckoned the beginning of our separation from each other.

  “It’ll take time to plan this event,” Kellen said, pulling me away from my morbid thoughts. “It’s not happening tomorrow or even next week.” He rose from the sofa once again, reminding me of one of those bouncy toys. Up and down, up and down. “We should make sure the king and his son are given a proper send off. Jim will likely entertain them with his tales for a while, but even he has his limits.”

  I unfolded my legs and stood, trying to straighten my shirt where I’d twisted it in knots. “Lead the way,” I mumbled, still tugging at my clothes and not at all comfortable with the decisions we’d made. My future didn’t look very bright, not that my past was full of sunshine either. But it would’ve been really nice to meet a great guy, get married, and raise kids. None of that was in my future.

  William and Thomas weren’t ready to leave when we found them in a full dining hall. The Australian mages mingled easily with ours, surprising me. They were all native Aborigines. I guess my naïve brain assumed there would be prejudices, but the mages proved me wrong. They ate and drank until long past midnight.

  The royal father and son seemed to enjoy the stories running rampant around the room, each of them expressing genuine interest. Thomas’ interest lingered on me more often than I liked, but I played along, smiling like it mattered.

  We bade them farewell at the portal just after one in the morning. I collapsed in Kellen’s new room shortly after, with Logan by my side. A twinge of guilt poked at my conscience for kicking Kellen out of his space and filling it with my vampire. It was rude and heartless, but it didn’t keep me from snuggling next to Logan and falling asleep.

  Chapter 19

  The sun rose over the courtyard, chasing away the chill air that had settled in the early morning hours. The dark swirling portal stood in front of me, again. Its murkiness could never look innocent, not in my eyes, regardless of Kellen’s reassurances. I rubbed my chest, the memory of our last attempt still very fresh in my mind.

  Logan’s hand brushed against my lower back, and I pulled my eyes away from the portal.

  “We’ll be okay,” he said. “It’s better to test it now than find out later.”

  “Yes, I’m so anxious to throw…” I stuttered, almost saying his life, “my life away.” It was unlikely anyone was listening, but I didn’t want to chance it. The courtyard appeared empty, but there had to be guards patrolling.

  “We’ll be right back,” Kellen said. He scooped one arm under my knees and the other behind my shoulders, then stepped through the portal without waiting for me to object.

  The world spun around me like it always did, but nothing hurt as we arrived at Kellen’s estate. There was just a brief tightening in my chest. He lowered me to my feet, but his hands stayed on my shoulders, his dark eyes searching my face.

  “I’m okay,” I said. “No pain, not even any nausea.” I rubbed my chest. Something was different.

  A look of relief washed over his features. “Good. I was worried you were no longer human.”

  I took a step away and glared at him, his hands falling to his sides. “Did you think Logan turned me and we didn’t tell you?”

  “What was I supposed to think?” he answered with his own question. “You have these new vampire traits without being a vampire.”

  I put my hands on my hips and glared at him. “I explained that.”

  “Yes, but you have to admit it’s rather unbelievable.” A rare smile lit up his eyes, reminding me of a time when I thought I loved him. “You’ve changed so much.”

  I looked away, not sure what he meant and really not wanting to know. “Let’s get back so Logan isn’t standing in the middle of your courtyard by himself.” He reached for me, and I took another step back. “We need to find a way to do this that doesn’t involve me being carried like a child.”

  He closed the space between us and replaced my hands with his on my hips. “Wrap your arms around my neck, that way it looks more like an embrace and less like a carry.”

  An uncomfortable feeling wiggled in my stomach. This was the same man who tried to have me killed, and now I was supposed to pretend that I cared for him. Life was so unfair.

  I took a deep breath and placed my hands on his chest. Before my fingers reached his collar, he pulled me tight against him and stepped back through the portal. Logan’s low growl greeted us, and I hoped I was the only one to hear it. Kellen didn’t immediately let me go, and I dropped my head on his chest to hide my frustrated emotions. Was he going out of his way to piss off Logan?

  “There are several mages in the courtyard,” he whispered in my ear.

  Kellen didn’t linger, though. He released me and walked away. I followed his path to two men walking towards us. I recognized one from the battle the night before. His name might have been David or Daniel or something. He smiled at me, then gave his attention to my partner. I had the sudden urge to run away really fast and never look back.

  “Let’s get you some breakfast,” Logan said, taking my elbow.

  We stopped next to Kellen, and I looked at my worn-out sneakers. I should buy a new pair.

  “We’re getting breakfast, then going to pick up AJ’s stuff from the house. She also has a training session with her water elemental,” Logan said. “Do you need anything while we’re gone?”

  “No,” Kellen replied. I couldn’t force myself to look at him. “When can I expect you back?”

  Neither of us answered, and I reluctantly drew my attention away from my shoes. Kellen looked at me expectantly.

  “Probably tomorrow evening. I’m not sure how much time my elemental needs,” I replied.

  “Be safe,” he said, his expression softening for a moment.

  “Never.” I couldn’t stop my lips from smiling, despite my efforts. Nothing in my life was safe. It was ridiculous that I found it funny.

  David snorted, and his companion laughed. At least I wasn’t the only one.

  “Sorry, Magister,” David said. “It sounds a little funny coming from such a small person, even though I got a firsthand demonstration of your strength.”

  “It’s okay, being underestimated has turned out to be good for me,” I replied. “Just like someone said it would.” I gave Kellen a smile, and he returned it. Maybe he remembered that conversation as well as I did.

  “Are you sure you don’t want a bigger entourage to protect you?” David asked.

  “No, i
t’s easier for two people to disappear in a crowd,” I replied. “And I will be careful. Logan won’t let me do anything stupid.”

  “Yes, because I’m so immune to your commands, princess,” Logan said, eliciting laughs from the mages. Apparently, they didn’t carry suspicions about my vampire, or Kellen had already given them orders to act normal. Probably the latter. Either way, it was thoughtful and appreciated.

  “Take your phone in case I need you back earlier,” Kellen stated.

  “Yes, dear.”

  Logan and I walked away, with him holding my elbow to make sure I didn’t sprint. He led me to the dining hall and waited our turn to order food. My heaping plate of eggs, bacon, toast, and fruit looked odd next to his single cup of coffee.

  “How are we getting back to your place?” I whispered, just in case someone was trying to eavesdrop.

  “We’re running to the outskirts of Salt Lake,” Logan replied in an equally soft tone. “Yun will have a car waiting for us.”

  “Okay, good.” I stuffed a forkful of eggs in my mouth.

  “Your hearing gets better every day. You shouldn’t be able to hear me.”

  “Just like I shouldn’t be able to hear you growling?” I raised my eyebrows at him and popped a piece of bacon in my mouth.

  And there was my favorite grin. I washed down my breakfast with orange juice and took the cup of coffee he hadn’t touched.

  “What if I wanted to drink that?” he asked, obviously pretending to be offended.

  “It’s awful when it’s cold,” I replied. “And it’s already lukewarm.”

  He chuckled, standing up from the table in one fluid motion. “Let’s go before too many people are out of bed.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  As promised, Logan’s SUV waited for us at the same train station where I thought I’d killed the female vampire. Her body was nowhere to be found. Logan gave me a funny look when I voiced my guilt over leaving her.

  “Hi guys! Long time, no see.” Yun’s cheerful voice forced me to smile.

  It felt good to be away from the palace and the responsibilities threatening to squash me. In the two days I’d been there, the place had smothered me.

  “It’s good to see you, too,” I said, accepting her hug. It was also good to find someone my own height, but I wasn’t saying that out loud. Short people tended to be sensitive about their shortness.

  “I need you to drop me off at the red house,” she said, hopping in the back seat. “They’re delivering new furniture today.”

  “That was quick.” I pulled myself into the front passenger seat as Logan adjusted the driver’s seat before getting in. “They’ve already repaired all the damage we did?” I asked.

  “Yep,” she squeaked. “It was mostly just a mess, except for the furniture and kitchen island.”

  “Do you have a ride back to the desert?” Logan asked, steering the vehicle onto the highway.

  “Yep,” she said again. “Otto is bringing the furniture. He’ll take me home.”

  “Okay, good. AJ and I have a lot to get done.” He glanced over at me, and I didn’t miss the anxiety darting between us. So much for getting away from my stress.

  “We’ll start with my bank account,” I stated. “I’m tempted to automatically transfer the funds to another account just in case someone changes their mind.”

  “I planned to suggest that,” Logan said.

  “I agree,” Yun added from the back seat. “It’s never a good idea to have all your eggs in one basket.”

  “Can I use your mailing address, Logan?” I asked, turning sideways in my seat. “Or should I pay for one of those mailbox-store-things?”

  He glanced at me again. “Of course you can use mine, but I also have one of those mailbox-store-things.”

  I laughed, letting the humor drain away some of the tension from the last two days. I didn’t want to think about Kellen or the vampire council or anything that had to do with a war between supernatural families. I needed a break; an escape from my reality. If I didn’t force myself to take one, there would never be time.

  “Can we go to the movies?” I asked.

  “What?” Logan asked in return.

  “You know, a theater that plays movies with actors,” I replied, rolling my eyes.

  “There’s a great new chick flick out!” Yun exclaimed. “Been at the theater for a week, but I’ll never get any of these guys to go with me.”

  I turned further in my seat, my smile growing. “That sounds great. For two hours, I can forget about everything else and just be normal.”

  Logan just shook his head and remained silent as Yun and I planned a girl’s night out. Smart man. I wasn’t taking no for an answer. A break from reality was exactly what I needed.

  “So, tell me about this battle the rumor mill is burning up,” my new best friend said after we made a date for the evening.

  “I’d prefer to hear the rumor mill version, first,” Logan said.

  “Well, according to Marissa, who heard it from her brother, our little mage single-handedly killed over a hundred vampires from Ernesto’s clan,” she explained, her eyes simmering with excitement. “I know Marissa exaggerates. So which part is true?”

  “I didn’t realize they were Ernesto’s,” Logan said, not really answering her question. “It’s interesting that he and Sergey were both there.” He tapped the steering wheel with his fingers. “I’d say one hundred is about right, but AJ didn’t do it by herself.”

  “Just a sec,” I interrupted. “Who are these men? Members of the vampire council?” I asked, needing clarification.

  “Yes,” Logan replied. “Sergey is leader of the Russian clan and Ernesto has the South American.”

  I frowned. Jack really wanted the shifters out of the picture.

  “I hadn’t heard that Sergey was there,” Yun stated, her enthusiasm waning. “Between the two, there should’ve been closer to three hundred vampires.” She leaned forward across the center console, craning her neck to see Logan.

  “Do you know if Ernesto survived?” my vampire asked, glancing at her.

  “Pretty sure he did,” she replied. “What happened with Sergey?”

  “AJ sent him packing, along with three ogres.”

  Yun transferred her focus to me. “What did you do to scare the Russian? He’s fierce.”

  I looked away from her needy eyes and picked up a penny from the cup holder. “I drew the blood from several of the vampires’ bodies and attempted to make a weapon with it.”

  “With their blood?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s gross, but I’m surprised it had any effect on the Russian.” She leaned back in her seat. “Like I said, he’s fierce. I’ve heard some really nasty stories about stuff he’s done to folks.”

  I shrugged, not having an answer for her. My thoughts drifted to Braden and his desire to overthrow Jack. Was Sergey trying to do the same thing? Did he use my display of power as an excuse to back away? Another thought struck me.

  “Yun, was Sergey also responsible for the first attack on Victor’s lodge?” I asked, trying to connect my thoughts.

  “Yeah….” Her eyes lit up. “He retreated then, too, after your elemental tossed them about like ragdolls.”

  “Is he trying to sabotage Jack’s plans?” I asked. “He ran from both fights when he didn’t really need to. Or is he just a coward?”

  Logan glanced at me, his thick brows drawing together. “As Yun said, he’s not a coward. We need to consider his loyalty compromised,” he said. “Although, Jack might not see it that way, not yet. If Sergey hadn’t left when he did, most of his soldiers would be dead alongside Ernesto’s.” He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel again. “Jack will initially applaud the Russian for recognizing an overwhelming threat, until he hears the rest of the story. I’d love to be a fly on the wall in Jack’s office.”

  The SUV slowed to a stop, and I recognized the cedar cottage with a red door where that nasty ogre nearly suffocat
ed me. Trees surrounded the cottage, and the nearest house was at least a mile away. No wonder none of the neighbors reacted to our destruction. There were no neighbors.

  A moving truck filled the dirt driveway, and Otto leaned against the front fender. Yun immediately hopped out. Logan followed her, but I hesitated. My last confrontation with Otto hadn’t been good. The two vampires shook hands, and the little shifter unlocked the door to the cottage. I sighed and got out of the car.

  “You bring two tiny women to unload the truck?” Otto asked as I approached. “Yun might be some help, but not this one.” He smiled at me. “But it’s good to see you again, little mage. I’ve heard some great stories about you.”

  “Don’t believe everything you hear,” I mumbled.

  “Lies are always more entertaining.” He laughed and moved towards the back of the truck, winking at me as he strode by. “Especially when the enemy’s trying to guess which part’s true.”

  His words made sense. I’m sure Jack was pretty unpleasant to be around right now, with Sergey deserting and a hundred or more of their soldiers dead. “I’ll be inside with Yun,” I said, making my way up the steps and leaving the heavy lifting for the vampires who wouldn’t notice it anyway.

  New wood floors spanned the entire living area, including the dining room and kitchen. Fresh paint covered the walls, and a new window replaced the one that Niyol tossed a tree through. A blank space occupied the spot where the kitchen island should have been.

  “Why didn’t they replace the island?” I asked, moving farther into the living room.

  She shrugged. “They ordered a larger dining table,” she replied. “I would’ve preferred the island, but it wasn’t my decision.”

  Logan and Otto deftly maneuvered a large sofa through the doorway, setting it down against the far wall. They didn’t hang out, leaving immediately to get more.

  “Do you think Logan and Otto will go with us to the movie theater?” I asked.

  “Logan, maybe. Otto, definitely not.” Yun hoisted herself onto the counter, swinging her legs back and forth. “But if I don’t go back with Otto, you guys are stuck with me.”